Course Descriptions

PHYS 381 - Electromagnetic Theory I

• Develop an appreciation of and facility for applications of the principles of electromagnetic theory (and specifically electrostatics) and the consequences thereof for a variety of systems of intermediate complexity.
• Develop familiarity and facility with some commonly used analytical tools for physical problems: coordinate systems, vector calculus, integration techniques, potential theory, multipole expansion, differential equations, application of boundary conditions, separation of variables, physical intuition.
• Develop understanding of the overall structure of the discipline of physics particularly with respect to classical field theories.

PHYS 382 - Electromagnetic Theory II

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of principles of electromagnetic theory (and specifically systems containing moving charges).
• Demonstrate an ability to effectively apply this knowledge in solving problems.
• Demonstrate quantitative reasoning skills and mathematical analysis skills appropriate for classical field theory.

PHYS 383 - Electromagnetic Theory III

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of electromagnetic theory (and specifically applications of the Maxwell equations, electrodynamics and electromagnetic waves).
• Demonstrate an ability to effectively apply this knowledge in solving problems.
• Demonstrate quantitative reasoning skills and mathematical analysis skills appropriate for classical field theory.

PHYS 392 - Exploring Physics Teaching II

• Plan a basic physics lesson about a specific skill or concept.
• Demonstrate research-based teaching practices.
• Effectively self-assess and reflect on teaching practice.
• Develop pedagogical content knowledge in physics.

PHYS 396 - Individual Study

PHYS 397 - Honors

PHYS 398 - Special Topics

PHYS 399 - Seminar

PHYS 433 - Experimental Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics

• Design, set up, and evaluate an accurately aligned multi- component optical system
• Interpret the results of a modulation spectroscopy measurement
• Set up and test the frequency locking of an external cavity diode laser
• Set up, operate, and evaluate the performance of a magneto-optical trap
• Measure the properties of a sub- micron scale object using an optical trap (optical tweezers)
• Test the predictions of quantum mechanics using a CHSH formulation
• Formulate a high temperature superconductor and perform and interpret measurements of the sample
• Evaluate material properties using positron annihilation spectroscopy
• Measure and interpret physical properties using an NMR apparatus

PHYS 441 - Solid State Physics

• Develop a conceptual understanding of the basic principles of solid state physics
• Apply concepts and mathematical methods to solve problems in solid state physics
• Apply their conceptual understanding of solid state physics to describe how certain modern devices and technologies work

PHYS 454 - Acoustics

• Develop mathematical models of sound radiation, outdoor propagation, and structural vibration.
• Solve problems in acoustics using the following mathematical techniques:
  • differential equations
  • Fourier analysis
  • eigenvalue equations
  • complex variables
• Predict the behavior of vibrational and acoustic systems using computational methods.
• Design, set up, and evaluate acoustics and vibration measurement systems.
• Analyze measurement data with signal processing tools.

PHYS 461 - Advanced Computational Physics

• Characterize the mathematical equations corresponding to common types of physics problems (e.g. hyperbolic differential equations for wave propagation) and identify appropriate numerical solution methods
• Use Mathematica and MATLAB to solve a variety of physics problems and to effectively display the results of computations
• Implement finite-difference algorithms to solve time dependent partial differential equations using either the c or FORTRAN programming language
• Implement finite-element algorithms to solve boundary condition driven problems using either the C or FORTRAN programming language
• Quantify the numerical errors associated with discretization

PHYS 463 - Fundamentals of Lasers (Put on reserve 9/16/18)

• Select a laser for a given application in terms of desired wavelength and power.
• Select a detector for a given application in terms of desired wavelength and power.
• Apply the ABCD law to determine whether a laser cavity is stable or unstable.
• Apply Gaussian beam optics to explain the characteristics of laser radiation.
• Apply the principles of Fourier mathematics to explain optical phenomena.
• Apply electromagnetic theory to explain the principles of optics.

PHYS 474 - Quantum Mechanics I

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of principles of quantum mechanics.
• Demonstrate an ability to effectively apply this knowledge in solving problem.
• Demonstrate enhanced quantitative reasoning skills and mathematical analysis skills.

PHYS 475 - Quantum Mechanics II

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of principles of quantum mechanics.
• Demonstrate an ability to effectively apply this knowledge in solving problems.
• Demonstrate enhanced quantitative reasoning skills and mathematical analysis skills.

PHYS 489 - Senior Assessment

• Identify their academic strengths and weaknesses specific to the physics major core and elective areas of interest and the Department’s program goals.
• Synthesize and demonstrate their cumulative physics knowledge and physics problem-solving abilities.

PHYS 490 - Cooperative Education

PHYS 491 - Workshop

PHYS 492 - Laboratory Experience in Teaching Physics

PHYS 495 - Undergraduate Research

• Formulate meaningful and testable research questions
• Effectively utilize scholarly literature to advance a research project
• Demonstrate an ability to apply content knowledge associated with Physics major curriculum outcomes
• Demonstrate an ability to apply laboratory and/or computational and/or pedagogical skills associated with Physics major curriculum outcomes
• Appropriately interpret data and/or computational results and quantify sources of uncertainty
• Appropriately reflect on lesson plan/classroom activity results/assessment data and make instructional decisions based on this reflection
• Effectively communicate scientific ideas

PHYS 496 - Individual Study

PHYS 497 - Honors

PHYS 498 - Special Topics

PHYS 499 - Seminar

POSC 101 - Introduction to Politics

• Identify the basic terminologies, concepts, political processes, and theories in the study of politics and power structure
• Students will distinguish the issues of “what to see,” “why,” and “how to see” in real world situations:  recognize the dynamic and complex structure of power within which diverse political issues occur.
• Analyze and identify political actors, their resources of power, and the interconnections between political, social and economic power.
• Appraise how citizens in a given society can effectively participate in political processes and impact government’s policy decisions
• Explain how various types of political ideologies, political culture, government institutions, levels of industrialization, geographic location and current globalization phenomena affect people’s lives.
• Apply knowledge and critical thinking skills to about “things political” to stimulate continued inquiries in the study of politics.

POSC 210 - American Politics

• Recognize the procedures and purposes of the major US institutions (Congress, Presidency, Courts and Federalism.)
• Describe and explain the historical development of US political culture and voter preferences.
• Analyze how individual citizens collect political information and develop values and policy preferences, and express them through political participation.
• Examine evolving rights & responsibilities in US Constitution, Bill of Rights and appraise their effects upon US political development, culture, diversity and citizenship.
• Evaluate major historical and current public policy debates and differentiate arguments and positions.
• Identify collective decision making procedures of the US government; apply disciplinary models to explain outcomes.
• Identify and explain basic concepts of American politics and government used in political science and the real world.

POSC 230 - State and Local Government

POSC 250 - Language and Power

• Recognize, define, and explain key concepts in cultural politics, identity politics, and sociolinguistics
• Recognize and reflect on how key concepts in cultural politics, identity politics, and sociolinguistics inform their own experiences with language, power, and wellbeing in their personal, social, professional and economic lives
• Identify and describe relationships between the exercise of power and use of language in politics, public policy, education, the work place, media, and the arts
• Recognize, appraise, and compare beneficial and detrimental consequences to individuals, communities, and societies of different uses of language for specific purposes and in different places and historical periods
• Propose and outline plans to use language to improve political participation, systems of justice, community development, employment policies, public funding for the arts and media, K-12 education, second-language education, or language revitalization programs to make multicultural and multilingual communities and societies more healthy, just, and sustainable.

POSC 260 - Comparative Politics

• Identify basic concepts, processes, and theories of Comparative Politics
• Identify comparative political issues in an historical and contemporary context
• Explain the formal connections between political, social and economic power and governmental performance across countries
• Analyze the impact of politics, culture, history and economics on contemporary political systems and develop answers to address these problems.
• Explain how the structures of governance affect comparative institutional performance as concerns issues of equality and equity.
• Apply knowledge and critical thinking skills to address the performance of diverse national political systems.

POSC 270 - International Relations

• Identify the basic concepts, processes, and theories of international relations.
• Identify global issues in an historical and contemporary context.
• Explain ithe connections between global inequality and political, social and economic power.
• Analyze the impact of politics, culture, history and economics on contemporary global issues and develop answers to address these problems.
• Explain how gender, economic class, ethnicity and sexuality impact human rights in international relations.
• Apply knowledge and critical thinking skills to address global problems.

POSC 280 - Introduction to Western Political Thought

• Identify basic concepts, processes, and theories of normative political theory
• Identify normative political issues after reading the works of normative political theorists
• Explain the connections between the normative concepts and insights of the past (ancient, medieval, etc..) and contemporary issues including religious freedom, democracy, and social justice.
• Analyze western normative concepts and interpretations of the human experience with concepts and interpretations from non-western thinkers and traditions.
• Identify and analyze how our normative assumptions and presuppositions shape our response to issues of social justice around the globe.
• Analyze how religious traditions and normative political thought have shaped the human experience.
• Explain and analyze how ideas concerning gender, sexuality, race, class and ethnicity have been utilized to promote social justice over various historical periods.
• Discuss social justice from multiple historical, religious, and ethical perspectives and explain what factors that make social justice difficult to obtain and maintain.

POSC 298 - Special Topics

POSC 299 - Seminar

POSC 311 - Women and Politics

POSC 313 - The Legislative Process

POSC 314 - American Presidency

POSC 315 - Political Campaigns and Elections

POSC 316 - Latinos and the U.S. Political System

• Demonstrate knowledge of the history of the Latina/o population political relations with and experiences in the US political system.
• Demonstrate knowledge on the variety of methods and theories utilized to approach, analyze, and understand the Latina/o political experience in the United States.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the history of political organizations from mutual aid societies to contemporary civil rights organizations.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the nature of Latino electoral behavior and political participation.
• Demonstrate knowledge of basic policy issues (Immigration, education, criminal justice, language policy, foreign policy, and the economy) affecting the largest ethnic racial minority in the US.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Latina/o community experience towards power, authority, role of government, and actions taken by governmental bodies.
• Use library resources and Internet research tools to find scholarly information about research questions.
• Incorporate knowledge acquired in the course in a written report on a topic of students’ choice.

POSC 318 - Political Parties and Interest Groups

POSC 320 - Public Administration

POSC 325 - Introduction to Public Policy

POSC 340 - Politics and American Capitalism

POSC 341 - Politics and Religion

POSC 342 - U.S. Foreign Policy

• Understand something of the historical background and context of American foreign policy.
• Recognize the existence of multiple “actors” in the making of American foreign policy at the national, governmental level.
• Gain an appreciation and comprehension of the interrelationships between internal, domestic factors such as fundamental cultural values and interest groups, and the formulation of policy at the national, governmental level.
• Critically analyze and evaluate the appropriateness of given policies from the standpoint of different participants and from the standpoint of those to whom such policies are directed.
• Understand the different models and frameworks utilized by political scientists in the study of American foreign policy.
• Understand the basic theoretical or comparative framework for identifying similarities and dissimilarities among the world’s varied political systems.

POSC 343 - The Politics of the U.S. Mexico Border

• Demonstrate knowledge of the various terms associated with the study of borders, frontiers, borderlands, and boundaries.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the various theories of the state, power and political economy and their application to the US-Mexico border region.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the history of US-Mexico relations and their impact in the development of the border region from the Mexican American War to contemporary times.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the basic policy issues, specific to the US-Mexico border region (economic development, immigration, urbanization, ecological degradation, and security concerns).
• Use library resources and Internet research tools to find information about research questions.
• Incorporate knowledge acquired in the course in a written report on a topic of the student’s choice.
• Properly document sources in research and writing, as well as organize, present, and communicate opinions in thoughtful and coherent fashion.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the US-Mexico border region in comparative perspective with other regions in the world.

POSC 344 - Environmental Politics

• Recognize and identify roles of political systems and institutions, policy processes, movements, and relations of power in creating outcomes observed in environmental policymaking and public administration
• Examine and describe environmental problems and related ecological processes that pose challenges to sustainable development that must be addressed by political and policy processes
• Examine contemporary political conflicts and debates related to a particular environmental problem and appraise how these are informed (or not) by research findings on dimensions of the environmental problem
• Apply models from public policy and the social sciences to assess how relations of power influence the efficacy of solving environmental problems and addressing challenges to sustainable development
• Formulate and propose political and policy solutions to a particular contemporary environmental problem

POSC 350 - Introduction to Public Law

POSC 361 - Latin American Politics

• Demonstrate knowledge of political systems typical in Latin America
• Demonstrate knowledge of political cultures of Latin America
• Explain theories of political and economic development
• Explain theories of democracy
• Demonstrate knowledge of one of five countries studied in-depth during the term

POSC 362 - European Politics

• Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the essential functions of democratic governance.
• Demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge of the nomenclature used in each country.
• Explain how the functional components of states fit together (congruence) and interact to represent and govern polities.
• Trace the institutionalized patterns through which a given function is accomplished in the selected countries.
• Deal effectively function/nomenclature problems.
• Draw lessons and make recommendations to improve effectiveness and/or congruence for countries with problems from successful countries.

POSC 363 - Russian Politics

• Identify, describe, and explain major concepts, themes and theories relevant to non-state actors, institutions, and political behavior of Russian polity/political system
• Explain and demonstrate effects of Russian history (prerevolutionary, Communist era, post-Communism) on contemporary politics, especially transitions from Communist rule to political system of today
• Apply political science models and methods of comparative political analysis to Russian system through comparative examination of European and other relevant nations to critically evaluate Russia’s political development
• Explain and assess Russia’s geopolitical contexts and analyze relations with other nations, international state and non-state actors
• Develop and ask appropriate questions and utilize appropriate research tools such as comparative case study approaches or expert analysis to critically evaluate a specific topic or controversy in course subject matter and/or current event(s) as well as demonstrate effective written communication

POSC 365 - African Politics

• Demonstrate basic knowledge of African political geography (e.g., country locations, names, colonial rulers, leaders, etc.)
• Demonstrate mastery of various analytic concepts, facts, and political science models (within sub-field of comparative politics) and how they apply in the African context and/or to African political systems
• Improve research, analytical and written communication skills

POSC 366 - Government and Politics of East Asia

POSC 367 - Politics of Japan

POSC 369 - Korean Politics

POSC 372 - Politics of Globalization

• Demonstrate an understanding of basic terms, concepts, dominant ideologies and theories of globalization since the 1970s.
• Demonstrate an understanding of major actors, institutions, systems and structures of globalization as powerful new forces of social change.
• Identify and understand both state power and non-governmental organizations as powerful political actors in the current system of globalization.
• Identify current issues in globalization studies such as global campaigns for democracy, the economic and cultural dimensions of globalization, and the gendered nature of globalization.
• Demonstrate an understanding of political resources in globalization (e.g., information technologies, global networking ability, finance, oil, gender, etc.), and their impacts on our daily lives.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the meanings of Americanization and globalization through analysis of economic and cultural dimensions of current path of globalization.
• Demonstrate how to investigate the dynamic nature of globalization that involves many countries in multi-dimensional areas (e.g., politics, economics, culture, security, environment, gender, etc.).

POSC 373 - International Politics of the Pacific Rim

POSC 375 - The Middle East and International Politics

POSC 376 - International Organization (Put on reserve 9/16/17)

POSC 378 - International Political Economy

• Demonstrate an understanding of basic terms, concepts, dominant ideologies and theories of international political economy (IPE) since WWIl.
• Demonstrate an understanding of major actors, institutions, systems and structures of IPE in contemporary society.
• Identify current issues in IPE such as trade regime, transnational corporate structure, international debt trap, politics of industrialization and development, and the gendered nature of IPE.
• Demonstrate an understanding of political resources in contemporary society (e.g., oil) and how they are used in real world situations affecting people.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the U.S. economic policies and their impact on contemporary IPE system.
• Demonstrate how to investigate the dynamic and symbiotic relationships between politics and economics in contemporary society.

POSC 396 - Individual Study

POSC 397 - Honors

POSC 398 - Special Topics

POSC 399 - Seminar

POSC 401 - Nobel Prize Winning Political Scientists

• Examine the thinking and approaches from various scientific disciplines that defined the lives and careers of the Nobel Prize winners.
• Write a short topical review article based on the assigned readings from each Nobel Laureate. (At least one of the articles must deal with the specified criteria in Health and Well Being and the Ways of Knowing pathways.)
• Synthesize and evaluate a trend from class postings in a short class presentation for each segment.
• Propose, compose and write a paper on the Prize, the winner(s) and some idea or body of work and prepare a presentation for the final class sessions and @ SOURCE.

POSC 410 - Contemporary Issues in American Politics

• Identify, describe, and explain relevant disciplinary and topical concepts in current American polity (politics, government, political economy, policy, etc.)
• Analyze, discuss and assess contemporary issues in sub­field and controversies surrounding politics and policy of such issues experts in the field as well as political practitioners
• Develop and ask appropriate question(s) and prepare appropriate research design methodologies to specific topic or controversy in course subject matter and/or current event(s)
• Utilize, illustrate and apply political science models and research tools to come to an appropriate conclusion as well as relate political science literature to “real world” political and policy issues of the day

POSC 411 - American Indian Politics and Sovereignty

• Synthesize the political impacts in the creation of contemporary Indian Country and Indian Governance across the different arenas of interaction and time frames.
• Appraise the relevance of key concepts (e.g., sovereignty, self-determination) in different contexts and revise/modify concepts to fit circumstances (e.g., Dakota Access Pipeline).
• Evaluate the effectiveness of tribal rights under different conditions (i.e., historical eras, court cases, etc.).
• Develop strategies for the effective application of tribal rights in the changing American Political landscape.

POSC 429 - Research Seminar in Public Policy

• Gather factual data and apply them to real societal problems in public policy.
• Demonstrate an ability to select among alternative academic models of the policy process; critically analyze and evaluate existing public policy case studies.
• Utilize a variety of concepts and models to evaluate public policy problems, offer recommendations to guide decision making or evaluate decisions already made for feedback or adjustment in approach.
• Demonstrate and employ effective professional communication of oral and written formats through invention, organization, drafting, revision, editing and presentation.
• Participate, collaborate, and communicate effectively within groups with an emphasis on listening, analytical and reflective thinking, and speaking.

POSC 441 - Politics and Film

POSC 451 - Introduction to Constitutional Law

POSC 452 - The Constitution and Human Rights

POSC 453 - The Constitution and War

• Describe the challenges facing policy makers when balancing freedom and security in times of war and crisis.
• Compare and contrast the American policies during the “War on Terror” with policies during previous wars and crises.
• Differentiate between legal and political solutions to security crises over time.
• Identify and understand major shifts in policy regarding civil liberties in times of war or crises.
• Apply knowledge of war time civil liberties law to current events and topics.

POSC 460 - Contemporary Issues in Comparative Politics

• Identify, describe, and explain concepts and theories relevant to contemporary comparative politics (politics, government, political economy, policy, etc. across more than one polity or national political system)
• Analyze, discuss and assess contemporary issues in sub­field and controversies surrounding politics and policy of such issues experts in the field as well as political practitioners
• Develop and ask appropriate question(s) and prepare appropriate research design methodologies such as qualitative or quantitative comparative case study approaches to specific topic or controversy in course subject matter and/or current event(s)
• Utilize, illustrate and apply political science models and research tools to come to an appropriate conclusion as well as relate political science literature to “real world” political and policy issues of the day

POSC 470 - Contemporary Issues in International Relations

• Identify, describe, and explain concepts and theories relevant to contemporary international politics (politics, policy and relationships between nations or across the global geo-political system)
• Analyze, discuss and assess contemporary issues in sub­field and controversies surrounding politics and policy of such issues experts in the field as well as political practitioners
• Develop and ask appropriate question(s) and prepare appropriate research design methodologies such as qualitative or quantitative cross-national approaches to specific topic or controversy in course subject matter and/or current event(s)
• Utilize, illustrate and apply political science models and research tools to come to an appropriate conclusion as well as relate political science literature to “real world” political and policy issues of the day

POSC 475 - International Human Rights

• Identify the important political actors (states, IGOs, NGOs) in international relations who affect human rights
• Identify what international human rights consists of
• Demonstrate knowledge of the historical development of international human rights
• Identify international laws that protect human rights
• Identify policies to protect human rights

POSC 481 - Early Political Thought

POSC 482 - Early Modern Political Thought

POSC 483 - Recent Political Thought

POSC 485 - American Political Thought and Culture

• Know different conceptions of democracy
• Know the influence of religion on American culture
• Know the influence of ideas of racial and gender equality
• Know the influence of ideas of economic justice
• Know the implications of the interplay between federal and state governments
• Understand the influence of individual thinkers, religious leaders, and politicians
• Understand the historical evolution of our system

POSC 488 - Introduction to Political Science Methods and Research

• Construct basic causal models using multiple Independent variables and a singular dependent variable.
• Reproduce a literature review of the given research project by examining the previous research on the given topic.
• Collect data for the given research project using the Internet, online databases, and participant interviews.
• Organize and compile collected data into SPSS worksheets.
• Analyze collected data using basic statistical methodologies.
• Compose a research paper summarizing the finding of the collected and analyzed data.

POSC 489 - Senior Assessment

• Develop, or one hopes, further refine students’ writing skills in the context of the study of politics.
• Read primary and secondary sources in the student’s chosen research area.
• Review and be able to demonstrate knowledge of the fundamentals and foundation of the discipline of political science at the undergraduate level.
• Demonstrate an acceptable level of analytical and research skills.
• Evaluate, by way of the end-of-course questionnaire, the faculty of this department, its curriculum, and its program.
• Develop, in the process of the course, a greater understanding of the nature of the discipline of political science.
• Develop, in the process of the course, an appreciation of the diversity and complexity of political life from an historical and from a contemporary perspective.
• Differentiate between subjective values and opinions and objective facts.
• Learn to organize one’s thoughts and communicate those thoughts in a clear, written form.
• Become an all-round good person, eat all one’s vegetables, don’t be cruel to animals (unless they deserve it), and struggle against corporate fascism.

POSC 490 - Cooperative Education

POSC 496 - Individual Study

POSC 497 - Honors

POSC 498 - Special Topics

POSC 499 - Seminar

PRIM 220 - Procedures in Captive Primate Care

• Identify chimpanzees behaviors and their contextual meanings
• Gain familiarity with a system of abbreviations for behavioral observations
• Learn and perform husbandry tasks such as cleaning enclosures around captive chimpanzees. They will understand safety protocols
• Read about the nature of chimpanzees and their social behavior and the history of the sign language research
• Learn basic laboratory management
• Identify individual chimpanzees at CSNW

PRIM 298 - Special Topics

PRIM 299 - Seminar

PRIM 396 - Individual Study

PRIM 397 - Honors

PRIM 398 - Special Topics

PRIM 399 - Seminar

PRIM 450 - Primate Behavior and Ecology Capstone

• Prepare a portfolio of work in primatology.
• Articulate if and how her or his attitudes have changed during the PBE program.
• Identify ways for program faculty to improve research and internships experiences provided by the PBE program.

PRIM 490 - Cooperative Education

PRIM 495A - Directed Research in Primatology

• Create a testable research hypothesis.
• Select appropriate data collection method.
• Collect data relevant to research hypothesis.
• Write a scientific report.

PRIM 495C - CHCI Directed Research

• Interact with data.
• Describe research protocols and procedures at CHCI by readings and research tasks.

PRIM 496 - Individual Study

PRIM 497 - Honors

PRIM 498 - Special Topics

PRIM 499 - Seminar