Course Descriptions
Glossary
Search Course Descriptions
UW Bothell Course Descriptions
UW Seattle Course Descriptions
Detailed course offerings (Time Schedule) are available for
To see the detailed Instructor Class Description, click on the underlined instructor name following the course description.
TPOL S 201 Introduction to Political Values and Ideas (5) I&S Forman, Nascimiento
Surveys a variety of implicit and explicit values that inspire political action. Explores whether there is such a thing as a universe interest and what it might be, who should rule, and whether justice will be done. Offered: AWSpS.
TPOL S 202 Introduction to American Politics (5) I&S
Institutions and politics in the American political system. Ways of thinking about how significant problems, crises, and conflicts of American society are resolved politically.
TPOL S 203 Introduction to International Relations (5) I&S
The world community, its politics, and government.
TPOL S 204 Introduction to Comparative Politics (5) I&S
Political systems in a comparative framework. Traditional and contemporary approaches to the study of governments and societies in different countries.
TPOL S 270 Introduction to Political Economy (5) I&S
Political economy as a tool for understanding and evaluating the political world. Combines theory, methods, and insights derived from economics and political science and applies them to a range of substantive issues.
TPOL S 321 American Foreign Policy (5) I&S
Constitutional framework; major factors in formulation and execution of policy; policies as modified by recent developments; the principal policymakers-President, Congress, political parties, pressure groups, and public opinion.
TPOL S 328 International Organizations (5) I&S
Explores historical, theoretical, and empirical aspects of the United Nations, its specialized agencies, and other international organizations, both governmental and nongovernmental.
TPOL S 340 Middle East Politics (5)
Investigates crises that plague the Middle East. Critically examines a wide range of viewpoints on these issues.
TPOL S 361 United States Courts and Civil Liberty (5) I&S
Cases and literature bearing on protection of constitutionally guaranteed private rights, with particular reference to the period since 1937.
TPOL S 363 Law in Society (5) I&S
Inquiry into how law matters in social practice. Examines general theories of law, the workings of legal institutions, and the character of legally constituted practices and relationships in diverse terrains of social life.
Instructor Course Description:
Yuksel Sezgin
TPOL S 368 The Politics and Law of International Human Rights (5) I&S
Studies the international human rights movement in its legal and political context. Focus on institutions which influence, enable, and constrain the international promotion of human rights.
TPOL S 382 State Government (5) I&S
Focus on the structures, processes, and policy outputs of state governments in the United States.
TPOL S 400 The American Presidency (5) I&S Williams
Examines the American presidency, its evolution, its occupants, and its place within the American system. Topics include presidential character, war, elections, the economy, and the Constitution. Offered: Sp.
TPOL S 423 International Law (5) I&S
Origin and present status of efforts to make rules of conduct for sovereign states; simulation of a treaty-drafting conference, with students playing roles of legal advisers to foreign governments.
TPOL S 426 World Politics (5) I&S
The nation-state system and its alternatives, world distributions of preferences and power, structure of international authority, historical world societies and their politics.
TPOL S 431 International Relations in the Middle East (5) I&S
Study of domestic sources of foreign policy in the Middle East; politics of oil; the East-West rivalry in the arena; and conflict and collaboration among the local powers.
TPOL S 440 American Foreign Policy in the Middle East (5) I&S
Examines the Middle East through the lens of US foreign policy objectives, focusing on the developments of US policy towards the Middle East from 1945 to the present. Recommended: either TSMIN 200, TPOL S 203, or TPOL S 321.
TPOL S 460 Political Economy of the European Union (5) I&S
Historical foundation of the European Economic Community; major phases of its development; theoretical explanations for European integration.
TPOL S 465 Law and Public Policy in the United States (5) I&S
Relationship between law and public policy, with particular attention to problems of social, economic, and political change. Considers legal and constitutional processes as they relate to such problems of public policy as race relations, the environment, and the economy.
Instructor Course Description:
John Laakso
TPOL S 496 Politics, Philosophy, and Economics Internship (5-10) I&S
Internships in federal, state and local government; international organizations; non profit and lobbying organizations; and research and advocacy organizations.
TPOL S 497 Political Internship in State Government (5-15, max. 20)
Students serving in approved internship program with state government agencies.
