American Politics

A large proportion of research in political science draws its data from the American context. There is one required course for American Politics: POLS 6100 (Pre-Seminar in American Politics). In addition to the seminars listed below, several in Public Administration and Policy might also be approved in the field, mainly PADP 8620 (Policy Process).

Comprehensive examinations in this field will be so constructed such that questions will require a deep knowledge of two subfields: Government Institutions and Political Behavior. In addition to completing other courses, students taking comprehensive examinations in American Politics will be held accountable for basic works, as well as journal articles and major books published during the previous five years.

Comparative Politics

Using the comparative method, students working in this field examine such phenomena as behavioral patterns and systems, governmental institutions and structures, policy processes and outcomes, and political goals and strategies. These phenomena are considered both within and across national systems. Nation-states are taken as the primary, but not exclusive, units of analysis.

Students preparing for comprehensive examinations in this field should expect some general questions that deal with the comparative approach to politics:  its evolution, its major practitioners, its leading conceptual frameworks or paradigms, its utility, its contributions, the difficulties or problems in its application, and ways of surmounting these problems. In addition, students will be required to answer questions from two subfields. The principal subfields are Communist and former Communist systems, developed (Western, democratic) systems, and developing systems.

In order to qualify for the field examination in Comparative Politics, students are required to take a core seminar:  POLS 6350 (Comparative Analysis and Method). Additional courses will be selected in consultation with the student’s major professor and advisory committee.

International Relations

The field of International Relations focuses on the important agents and structures of international politics. These include nation-states, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations. Studies in this field examine the preferences and strategies of these actors, as well as the nature of the economic, military, political, and social interactions among them.

In preparing for the comprehensive examination in International Relations, the student should seek to understand the major actors on the international scene, their policies, and the sources of cooperation and conflict. Comprehensive exam questions will test the student’s general knowledge of these matters, as well as proficiency in selected subfields.

A course in the theory of international relations (normally POLS 6200, Pre-Seminar in International Relations) is required of each student. In addition, at least one course is recommended from each of the following subfields:  International Cooperation, International Conflict, International Political Economy, and Foreign Policy.

Law and Courts

For most of this field’s history within universities, research was conducted under the general rubric of public law and concentrated on constitutional law. That has changed. Today the Law and Courts field examines the substance of law; the social scientific analysis of law, legal processes, judicial behavior; and public policy related to the third branch of government.

Students in this field begin their course work with the Pre-Seminar in Law and Courts (POLS 6400). The general portion of comprehensive examinations requires that students address theories, concepts, and empirical research from law, courts, and judicial process more generally. In the specialized portion of the exam, questions focus on more narrowly defined areas covered by specific course work.

Political Theory

This field encompasses both normative political philosophy and empirically oriented theory. Its leading questions concern the ends or purposes of political action, the nature of a good or just political order, the proper relationship of individuals to their political communities, and the appropriate criteria for evaluating and designing voting systems. Empirically oriented theory seeks to explain regularities in politics such as how and when political actors come into conflict or behave cooperatively.

There is no pre-seminar in this field.  Instead, students will take a series of distinct courses. A major in Political Theory involves a combination of the three subfields below. A minor in Political Theory is built around the first two subfields. There is no major in Formal Theory, but a distinct minor is available. Students in Political Theory often take related courses in other departments, such as Philosophy and Economics.

History of Political Philosophy. In this subfield, it will be the student’s responsibility to become familiar with the most influential works of major political philosophers from Plato to Rawls, and to understand something of the importance of these works in the development of political thought. Attention is given to the distinctive ways that problems are resolved and concepts defined during the history of political philosophy.

Normative Theory. In this subfield, students address fundamental issues of justice, fairness, political legitimacy, and individual rights. Study in this subfield develops the student’s ability to assess the standard approaches and positions associated with leading political philosophers.

Formal Political Theory. Students will be expected to understand formal political theory, particularly rational choice theory, and applications that contemporary political scientists have developed to explain political behavior and to account for individual decisions and collective outcomes. Rational choice theory in general, social choice theory, game theory, and political economy are among the approaches that are relevant to this subfield.

Formal Theory

Rational choice theory in general, social choice theory, game theory, and political economy are among the approaches that are relevant to this minor. In addition to the SPIA courses below, students who minor in Formal Theory can take approved courses in other UGA departments, particularly Economics and Philosophy.

Methodology

This minor was approved in spring 2005 and is designed by individual students subject to the approval of their advisory committee and the Graduate Coordinator. In addition to POLS 7050, students complete more advanced work such as directed readings and topics courses in Political Science and seminars in other UGA departments such as Economics and Statistics.

Available as Minors:

Public Administration

This minor is offered through SPIA’s Department of Public Administration and Policy. Students should select courses for the minor in consultation with the relevant faculty.

Public Policy

This minor is offered through SPIA’s Department of Public Administration and Policy. It involves intensive course work on issues and approaches in the study of public policy generally, as well as in substantive policy areas.