American Politics
The American Politics subfield gives students essential exposure to the institutions, actors, and processes in American government. This area of political science covers a broad range of behavioral and institutional accounts of electoral and campaign politics, the legislative process, political parties, executive power and bureaucracy, the policy process and administration of policy, public law, cultural politics, state and local government, political development over time, and political thought. Furthermore, the study of American politics is hardly confined to one government—50 state governments in a federalist system can act as experimental arenas in which policy is tested and evaluated.
Federalism is the idea that a national government shares power with sub-units of government. In the American case this means that the federal government in Washington DC does not have a monopoly on political power. 50 state governments have their own constitutional foundations, legislatures, executive branch (state governors), and state court systems. Furthermore, state governments must share power with local government entities, such as municipal or county-level governments. Federal, state, and local governments interact in complex ways that make the study and practice of politics in the United States a fascinating and challenging endeavor.
Studying institutions of American government gives FHSU students career readiness that positions them for rewarding careers in various layers of government, NGOs and non-profit organizations, and the private sector.
Program Summary
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University Degree Requirements (Gen-Ed) |
36 credit hours |
|
Foreign Language Requirement/Cognates |
10 credit hours |
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Departmental Core Curriculum |
22 credit hours |
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Electives |
52 credit hours |
|
|
120 credit hours total |
Core for Political Science Major [BA/BS]
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POLS 100 |
Orientation to Political Science |
3 hours |
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POLS 101 |
American Government |
3 hours |
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POLS 230 |
Introduction to International Relations |
3 hours |
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POLS 280 |
Introduction to Public Policy |
3 hours |
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PHIL 201 |
Political Philosophy |
3 hours |
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POLS 455 |
Research Methods |
3 hours |
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POLS 490 |
Senior Capstone |
3 hours |
|
POLS 689 |
Internship in Political Science |
1 hour |
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|
|
22 hours total |
Courses in American Government
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POLS 101 |
American Government |
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POLS 103 |
State and Local Government |
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POLS 361 |
American Political Parties |
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POLS 400 |
Urban Politics |
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POLS 401 |
The Congress |
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POLS 403 POLS 675 |
The Presidency Kansas Politics |