SS480 is the capstone course for American Politics majors in the Social Sciences Department. This course examines the major concepts, theoretical frameworks, and substantive dilemmas of the public policymaking process. The aim of this course is to arm students with a myriad of tools to understand, evaluate, and contextualize specific political problems in the public policy arena. Students will be expected to integrate the concepts of not only basic, toolbox, and elective courses, but knowledge acquired
from other courses from other disciplines. Public policy spans the disciplines of politics, economics, sociology, philosophy, and psychology, as policymakers wrestle with developing and implementing value-laden decisions in a world of scarcity and uncertainty. As such, the student of public policy must use a variety of social science tools - and increasingly, physical science tools, to dissect policy problems, develop viable and feasible alternatives, and fashion methods of adoption and implementation. Consequently, this course is designed to build upon the student's conceptual and analytical base in the quest to establish and refine a systematic approach to public policy analysis, formulation, adoption, and implementation.
Lessons
30 @ 75 min (2.000 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
Analytical writing requirments; compensatory time provided.
SS480 is the capstone course for American Politics majors in the Social Sciences Department. This course examines the major concepts, theoretical frameworks, and substantive dilemmas of the public policymaking process. The aim of this course is to arm students with a myriad of tools to understand, evaluate, and contextualize specific political problems in the public policy arena. Students will be expected to integrate the concepts of not only basic, toolbox, and elective courses, but knowledge acquired
from other courses from other disciplines. Public policy spans the disciplines of politics, economics, sociology, philosophy, and psychology, as policymakers wrestle with developing and implementing value-laden decisions in a world of scarcity and uncertainty. As such, the student of public policy must use a variety of social science tools - and increasingly, physical science tools, to dissect policy problems, develop viable and feasible alternatives, and fashion methods of adoption and implementation. Consequently, this course is designed to build upon the student's conceptual and analytical base in the quest to establish and refine a systematic approach to public policy analysis, formulation, adoption, and implementation.
Lessons
40 @ 55 min (2.500 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
Analytical writing requirments; compensatory time provided.
This course examines the major concepts, theoretical frameworks, and substantive dilemmas of the public policymaking process. The aim of this course is to arm students with a myriad of tools to understand, evaluate, and contextualize specific political problems in the public policy arena. SS480 is the capstone course for American Politics majors in the Social Sciences Department. Students will be expected to integrate the concepts of not only "Sosh" basic, toolbox, and elective courses, but knowledge acquired from other courses from other disciplines as well. Public policy spans the disciplines of politics, economics, sociology, philosophy, and psychology, as policymakers wrestle with developing and implementing value-laden decisions in a world of scarcity and uncertainty. As such, the student of public policy must use a variety of social science tools - and increasingly, physical science tools as well as to dissect policy problems, develop viable and feasible alternatives, and fashion methods of adoption and implementation. Consequently, this course is designed to build upon the student's conceptual and analytical base in the quest to establish and refine a systematic approach to public policy analysis, formulation, adoption, and implementation.
Lessons
40 @ 55 min (2.500 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
Analytical writing requirments; compensatory time provided.
During the post-World War II decades, the relations between the American armed forces and the society they served have been well documented. Military professionalism strengthened in all of the services, defense organizations did adapt to changing needs despite service parochialism, and the interactions between military leaders and political leaders were generally well within the scope of American traditions. Then, starting with the Vietnam War and continuing with the end of the draft, the remarkable changes in soldier demographics during the 1980's and the sudden end of the Cold War in 1989, American civil-military relations frayed and tensions abounded. The Global War on Terror erupted during this time of civil-military tension. Now, the Army is juggling two imperatives: 1) transform the Army into a more adaptable, deployable force and 2) Fight and win the Global War on Terror. Particular focus will be given to the Constitutional and sociological foundations of American civil-military relations, the salient tensions post-Cold War and post-9/11, and the evolving role of the Army profession and its commissioned leaders as they serve the Nation in the early years of the 21st Century.
Lessons
40 @ 55 min (2.500 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
Several short policy memorandums and briefings; compensatory time provided.
This American Politics capstone seminar provides a detailed examination of the process through which domestic (public) policy is formulated within our complex political environment. It focuses on the dynamics and challenges of the policymaking process with an emphasis on problem definition, agenda setting, alternative formulation, and statutory authority; moreover, the course examines the interactions of key political actors and institutions within and across those stages. The course uses several case studies to illustrate concepts and provide timely, "real world" examples of the process in action in selected policy arenas. Contemporary policy issues are examined in-depth to underscore the central themes of the course.
Lessons
40 @ 55 min (2.500 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
Several short policy memorandums and briefings; compensatory time provided.
This American Politics capstone seminar provides a detailed examination of the process through which domestic (public) policy is formulated within our complex political environment. It focuses on the dynamics and challenges of the policymaking process—problem definition, agenda setting, policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation--and the interactions of key political actors and institutions within and across those stages. The course uses several case studies to illustrate concepts and provide timely, "real world" examples of the process in action in selected policy arenas. Contemporary policy issues are examined in-depth to underscore the central themes of the course.
Lessons
40 @ 55 min (2.500 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
Several short policy memorandums and briefings; compensatory time provided.
This seminar provides a detailed examination of the process through which domestic (public) policy is formulated within our complex political environment. It focuses on the dynamics and challenges of the entire policymaking process--agenda setting, policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation--and the interactions of key political actors and institutions within and across those stages. Several case studies are used to illustrate concepts and provide timely, "real world" examples of the process in action in selected policy arenas, and one or more contemporary policy issues are examined in-depth to underscore the central themes of the course.
Lessons
40 @ 55 min (2.500 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
Several short policy memorandums and briefings; compensatory time provided.
