Bulletin of the Graduate Division 1998-99

The San Diego State University 1998-99 Graduate Bulletin on the World-Wide Web cannot be considered the official publication for the University. Please refer to the printed Graduate Bulletin

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Political Science
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Faculty

General Information

Admission to Graduate Study

Advancement to Candidacy

Specific Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree

Courses Acceptable on Master's Degree Programs in Political Science

UPPER DIVISION COURSES

GRADUATE COURSES

Faculty

E. Walter Miles, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, Chair of Department
Charles F. Andrain, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science
James J. Conniff, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science
Edward V. Heck, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science
C. Richard Hofstetter, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science
David H. Johns, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science
Brian E. Loveman, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science
William A. Schultze, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science (Graduate Adviser)
John W. Soule, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science
Paul J. Strand, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, Dean of the College of Arts and Letters
Louis M. Terrell, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science
Lyndelle D. Fairlie, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science
John A. Hobbs, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science
K. Robert Keiser, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science
Harlan J. Lewin, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science
David V. Carruthers, Ph.D.,Assistant Professor of Political Science
Hongying Wang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Science

General Information

The Master of Arts degree in political science is designed to meet several objectives: (1) The general master's degree provides the fundamental theoretical and analytical skills for those students seeking a doctoral degree in political science or placement in an academic setting. (2) The specialization in public policy prepares students for further graduate work toward a doctoral degree, as well as trains students with skills for placement in nonacademic careers in both the public and private sectors. Areas covered in the public policy specialization include American public policy, U.S. foreign policy, and national security policy. (3) The international relations/cross-national politics specialization supplies expertise to graduate students planning to obtain a Ph.D. degree in this field or intending to work in jobs with an overseas focus. Research facilities available to the Political Science Department include the Social Science Research Laboratory. The Department is an associate member of the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research.

Admission to Graduate Study

All students must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the University with classified graduate standing, as described in Part Two of this bulletin. In addition, students seeking the Master of Arts degree in political science must attain a score of 500 or above on the verbal and 500 or above on the quantitative portions of the GRE General Test. Students must have completed 30 units of social science, including at least 12 upper division units in political science, as approved by the department, and must have earned a grade point average of 3.0 for the last 60 semester units of undergraduate work, a 3.0 grade point average for upper division courses in political science, and a 3.0 grade point average for all work taken in political science. Application deadline is May 15 for the Fall semester and December 1 for the Spring semester.

Advancement to Candidacy

All students must satisfy the general requirements for advancement to candidacy as stated in Part Two of this bulletin. In addition, students must complete Political Science 515A.

Specific Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree

(Major Code: 22071)

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the master's degree as described in Part Two of this bulletin, the student must complete a graduate program of at least 30 units of upper division and graduate courses' approved by the graduate adviser.

Students must complete a minimum of 24 units in political science from courses listed below as acceptable on master's degree programs. Students must take Political Science 515A and at least 21 units in 600- and 700-numbered courses, including Political Science 601.

The Master of Arts degree in political science includes three foci: general political science, a public policy specialization, and an international relations/cross-national specialization.

To fulfill the requirements for the general political science focus, students may choose either Plan A or Plan B. Plan A requires Political Science 515A, 601, five additional graduate seminars in political science, and the writing of a thesis under Political Science 799A. Plan B requires Political Science 515A, 601, six additional graduate seminars in political science, and the completion of a comprehensive written examination. The examination committee shall consist of a chairperson and two other faculty members selected by the graduate adviser. The committee shall prepare and grade the examination, which tests the students' general knowledge in their program of study in the department.

Specific requirements for students selecting the specialization in public policy are:

1. Political Science 560. Comparative Public Policy (3) OR Political Science 676. Seminar in International Political Economy (3)

2. Political Science 601. Seminar in the Scope and Method of Political Science (3)

3. Political Science 603. Seminar in Theory and Method of Public Policy Analysis (3)

4. Political Science 635. Seminar in Politics of Public Policy (3)

5. Two graduate seminars chosen from among the following:

Political Science 605. Seminar in Political Theory (3)
Political Science 620. Seminar in American National Government (3)
Political Science 625. Seminar in Political Behavior (3)
Political Science 630. Seminar in Politics (3)
Political Science 646. Seminar in Public Law (3)
Political Science 655. Seminar in General Comparative Political Systems (3)
Political Science 675. Seminar in International Relations (3)

6. A three unit course in political science research methods preferably Political Science 515A, Research Methods in Political Science (3).

7. Political Science 796. Internship in Public Policy (6)

8. Political Science 799A. Thesis (3) Cr/NC/SP. Thesis must be in the public policy area.

Specific requirements for students selecting the international relations/cross-national politics specialization are:

1. Political Science 515A. Research Methods in Political Science (3)

2. Political Science 601. Seminar in the Scope and Method of Political Science (3)

3. Political Science 655. Seminar in General Comparative Political Systems (3)

4. Political Science 675. Seminar in International Relations (3)

5. Political Science 676. Seminar in International Political Economy (3)

6. Six additional units selected from Political Science 658, 661, and 667.

7. Six units in international relations or cross-national politics chosen from (a) 500- or 600-numbered political science courses, (b) Political Science 795, 797, and 798, (c) courses outside the political science department, e.g., history, economics, language, and area studies.

8. Political Science 799A, Thesis, which must be in the international relations or cross-national politics area.

Courses Acceptable on Master's Degree Programs in Political Science

UPPER DIVISION COURSES

515A-515B. Research Methods in Political Science (3-3)

Prerequisite: Political Science 201. Political Science 515A is prerequisite to 515B.
The research process, from research design through data processing, analysis and interpretation. Problems of application to election statistics, census data, roll call records, sample survey data and biographical information.

530. Political Par-ties (3)

Prerequisite: Political Science 102 or 320.
The political party as a part of the process of government; party organization and activities; nominating and campaign methods; theories and functions of the party system; party responsibility. The functioning of political parties in the American political system. May include a substantial amount of material about foreign political systems.

531. Interest Groups and Political Movements (3)

Prerequisite: Political Science 10 1 or 10 2.
Pressure group activity, lobbies, mass movements; factors which explain origins and motivations of group behavior; votes, money, information, protest as political resources; theories of pluralism, power elite and mass society; class and ethnic politics. May include a substantial amount of material about foreign political systems.

537. The Politics of Bureaucracy (3)

Prerequisites: Political Science 101 and 102.
An analysis of the bureaucracy as an actor in the political system. May include a substantial amount of material about foreign political systems.

555. Comparative Political Systems (3)

Prerequisite: Political Science 103.
An examination of selected political and governmental systems for purposes of comparative study and analysis to determine similarities, differences and general patterns and universals among political systems.

560. Comparative Public Policy (3)

Prerequisite: Political Science 103 or 335.
Ways that political and social factors shape policy choices, implementation strategies, and policy outcomes in selected countries, emphasis on industrialized nations. Policy areas chosen from: education, health, nutrition, crime, transportation, housing, energy, population control, poverty, unemployment, inflation.

562. Government and Politics of Japan (3)

Prerequisite: Political Science 103 or 362.
Governmental structures, political processes, and public policies of Japanese political system. Recent political history and cultural factors which shape Japanese politics. Japanese foreign policies, especially the Japan-United States relationship.

566. Political Change in Latin America (3)

Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or 103.
General pattern of politics and political development in Latin America with an emphasis on those features which condition domestic and foreign policy making.

567. Political Systems of Latin America (3)

Prerequisite: Political Science 566.
Domestic and international politics of selected Latin American states.

568. The Mexican Political System (3)

Prerequisite: Political Science 101 or 103.
Principal factors in Mexican governmental decision making. Ideology, political groups, tactics of leaders and governmental structure.

575. International Relations of the Pacific Rim (3)

Prerequisite: Political Science 362 or 375 or 482.
Dynamics of conflict and cooperation among nations of the Pacific Rim. Stress on political and economics factors that shape interstate relations.

577. Principles of International Law (3)

The function of law in the international community. The historical development of the ideas and rules of international law and their place in the modern diplomatic and legal structure.

596. Topics in Political Science (3)

Prerequisite: Upper division or graduate standing
Selected topics in political science. May be repeated with new content. See Class Schedule for specific content. Limit of nine units of any combination of 296, 496, 596 courses applicable to a bachelor's degree. Maximum credit of six units of 596. Maximum credit of three units of 596 applicable to a master's degree. Maximum credit of six units of 596 applicable to a 30-unit master 's degree.

GRADUATE COURSES

601. Seminar in the Scope and Method of Political Science (3)

The discipline of political science and systematic training in its methodology. Required of all applicants for advanced degrees in political science.

603. Seminar in Theory and Method of Public Policy Analysis (3)

Prerequisites: Political Science 601 and admission to the specialization in public policy.
Theoretical approaches used to explain and evaluate public policy performance. Focus on quantitative and qualitative methods of appraising the validity of theories.

605. Seminar in Political Theory (3)

Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.

620. Seminar in American National Government (3)

Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.

625. Seminar in Political Behavior (3)

Prerequisite: Political Science 601.
Political science literature focusing on major areas of political behavior including study of political attitudes, voting, and political communication.

630. Seminar in Politics (3)

Prerequisite: Six upper division units in political science, three units of which must come from political science courses 320 through 338, 422 through 436, 530 through 537.
Process by which individuals and groups make demands upon political decision makers; emphasis on the styles, structures, channels and consequences of interest articulation. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.

635. Seminar in Politics of Public Policy (3)

Prerequisite: Political Science 601.
Examination of public policies, e.g., energy, environment, protection, taxation, income maintenance, population, health care, education, housing. Use of research findings to analyze policy process, to estimate probable consequences of alternative decisions, and to appraise governmental programs.

646. Seminar in Public Law (3)

Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.

655. Seminar in General Comparative Political Systems (3)

Prerequisites: Political Science 555, and three additional upper division units in political science.
The field of comparative politics, including historical developments, major theoretical approaches, substantive concerns, uses and limitations of the comparative method, methodological innovations in study of foreign political systems.

658. Seminar in Post-Communist Political Systems (3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Nature of Communist political systems and processes of transition to post-communist forms of government. Possibilities for development of democratic institutions examined theoretically and empirically.

661. Seminar in the Political Systems of the Developing Nations (3)

Prerequisite: Six upper division units in political science.
Theoretical analysis of political development, modernization and industrialization in the emerging nations. Search for valid generalizations about the non-Western political process. Political trends and developments in the developing nations.

667. Seminar in Latin American Political Systems (3)

Prerequisite: Political Science 555 or 566.
Political developments in selected Latin American nations. May be repeated with new content. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree

675. Seminar in International Relations (3)

Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.

676. Seminar in International Political Economy (3)

Prerequisite: Six upper division political science units in international relations.
Major theoretical approaches applied to various interstate issues of the world economy.

790. Practictun in the Teaching of Political Science (3)

Prerequisites: Political Science 601, six additional units of political science graduate seminars, and consent of instructor.
Instruction in the teaching of political science, including conduct of discussion sections, presentation of lectures, preparation of syllabi, evaluation of students' performance, and use of computers and audiovisual materials. Not applicable to the master's degree.

795. Problem Analysis (3)

Analytical treatment of selected problems in political science. Review of methods for investigation and reporting of data. Consideration of problems in preparation of project or thesis.

796. Internship in Public Policy (6)

Prerequisites: Political Science 601, 603, and eighteen units on official program for M.A. degree in political science with a specialization in public policy.
A 320-hour internship approved by instructor in public or private agency. Grade based on instructor's evaluation of supervisor's report, student consultation with instructor reviewing experience and required readings, and extensive paper relating internship experience to theories of public policy.

797. Research in Political Science (3) Cr/NC/SP

Prerequisite: Consent of the department chair.
Research in political theory, political parties, comparative government, international relations, public law or American government.

798. Special Study (1-3) Cr/NC/SP

Prerequisite: Consent of staff; to be arranged with department chair and instructor.
Individual study. Maximum credit six units applicable to a master's degree.

799A. Thesis (3) Cr/NC/SP

Prerequisites: An officially appointed thesis committee and advancement to candidacy.
Preparation of a project or thesis for the master's degree.

799B. Thesis Extension (0) Cr/NC

Prerequisite: Prior registration in Thesis 799A with an assigned grade symbol of SP.
Registration required in any semester or term following assignment of SP in Course 799A in which the student expects to use the facilities and resources of the university; also student must be registered in the course when the completed thesis is granted final approval.

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