THE HONORS PROGRAM AT ALVERNIA COLLEGE

Excellence, Interaction, Enthusiasm

Political Science Course Offerings

Religion, War and Politics
This class will focus on the interplay of relation and politics in countries around the world. What is the relationship between church and state in the United States, and how does it differ from other countries? To answer this question, we will look at different types of governments and different world religions. Is there a good way to accommodate both secular and religious interests? We will also look at the role religious beliefs play in contributing to contemporary civil and international wars.

History of Political Thought
Survey of significant questions that have been asked by philosophers in the course of the study of politics and some ways in which they have been answered. Political science is the study of people, power, and justice. This class focuses on humanity’s recurrent quest for justice in public life. This semester we will examine competing definitions of justice. The focus will be on the great questions of contemporary politics-industrialization, political mass movements, and the globalization of Western-style politics.

Utopian Societies
This course will examine visions of the ideal society as presented in some of the great utopia and anti-utopia novels, with an emphasis on comparison of different ideals and with the goal of thinking critically about the features which would comprise a perfect society.

Law and War in the 20 th Century Europe
We will use 20 th century European history to examine the interaction between laws and war, to figure out the distinction between jus ad bellum and jus in bellum, and to figure out if what ‘legal’ means when set against Somme, Pear Harbor, Hiroshima, the Holocaust and the Khmer Rouge.

 Peace and Justice
Through a series of lectures, research, and service learning experiences, the Peace and Justice course will explore a variety of themes that explore contemporary issues such as war, justice, poverty, globalization, and the Franciscan response to these critical issues. An integral part of the course will be participation in the Peace and Justice Conference scheduled for April 7-8, 2005.

America ’s Second Revolution
This course examines the development in politics, literature, science, popular entertainment, communication, and sociology during the turbulent in American history fro the assassination of John F. Kennedy (1963) to the election of Jimmy Carter (1976). Students will gain a better understanding of events and individuals that shaped the country and the world in which they live. They will also develop an appreciation of military, social, and cultural changes that have had lasting impact on America. They will learn from individuals who lived through many of these experiences how “history” comes to be made.

Cold War America
Spies, commies, nukes—the Cold War in America! This course takes you back to a divided world, a world teetering on the brink of nuclear annihilation. Explore the historical roots, cultural implications, and political realities of the Cold War. From the fall of the iron curtain in Europe to the worldwide expansion of the American military, investigate how the Cold War changed the ways Americans interacted with the world and with each other.

Economic Issues & Terrorism
From the World Trade Center to Wall Street—what is the overall economic impact of the terrorist attacks on both the American and the global economy? Students will research how the terrorist attack on America has impacted the stock market, the job market and the federal budget. This class will investigate what economic theory can teach us about strategies for winning the war on terrorism. This is an opportunity to learn about a topic that relates directly to your life today. Freedom is never free!!!

Media and Politics
No Course Description Given

Reporting on the Middle East
Students will read and write about the Middle East, its crises, and the United States' roles in them. The intent is to duplicate the activities of a Middle East news bureau, complete with a Middle East consultant.

International Human Rights
Does the United States have a right or responsibility to stop genocide or human rights abuses in other countries? This course examines the issue of human rights, focusing on the role of international politics in defining, causing, monitoring, and preventing human rights abuses. This interactive course will focus primarily on case studies of genocide and human rights abuses in the post-World War II era. We will investigate the development of international law with regard to human rights, including the role of international and domestic tribunals, the United Nations, and the International Criminal Court.

For More Information, Contact:
Dr. Victoria Williams, Director of the Honors Program
Francis Hall 406
Office Phone (610) 796-5511
Victoria.williams@alvernia.edu

Updated: October 12, 2006

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