Undergraduate Program

Graduation as a Political Studies major requires a grade of 70 in PSPA 201, 70 in PSPA 203, and a 70 in PSPA 202; for Public Administration students, a grade of 70 in PSPA 202, 70 in PSPA 203, and a 70 in PSPA 201.  Transfers to the PSPA major need to fulfill the above requirements of PSPA 201 and PSPA 202, plus a minimum grade of 70 in ENGL 203 and ENGL 204.  Transfers are not normally accepted in the senior year.

For purposes of meeting departmental requirements, students are not permitted to take PSPA 201 ,PSPA 202, and PSPA 203 more than twice.  Prospective majors in their first year must complete PSPA 201 ,PSPA 202, and PSPA 203.

Students majoring in political studies are required to complete 39 credits in the department, which must include PSPA 201, PSPA 202, PSPA 203, PSPA 210, PSPA 211, PSPA 212, and PSPA 213.  Six additional courses are required, three from one of the three sub-disciplines in which the student chooses to concentrate, and three other courses, including a senior seminar, to be selected from political studies courses.  These sub-disciplines include political theory: PSPA 215, PSPA 217, PSPA 223, and PSPA 292; international relations: PSPA 225, PSPA 232, PSPA 233, PSPA 234, PSPA 235, PSPA 236, PSPA 237, PSPA 238, and PSPA 293; and comparative politics: PSPA 250, PSPA 251, PSPA 252, PSPA 253, PSPA 254, PSPA 255, PSPA 256, PSPA 294, and PSPA 296.

Students majoring in public administration are required to complete 39 credits in the department, which must include PSPA 201, PSPA 202, PSPA 203, PSPA 210, PSPA 211, PSPA 212, and PSPA 213.  Six additional courses are required: four core courses (PSPA 273, PSPA 275, PSPA 276, and PSPA 277), and two other courses, including a senior seminar, to be selected from public administration courses.

PSPA majors are required to take the following courses outside the department: one economics course numbered 200 or above, CMPS 206, and an introductory course in statistics from among STAT 201, EDUC 227, or ECON 213, and one course from among SOAN 201, PSYC 202, or a history course numbered 200 or above.  Majors are expected to choose, in consultation with their advisers, a number of electives from the humanities and social sciences.

The completion of PSPA 201 is required for all political studies courses, and the completion of PSPA 202 is required for all public administration courses.

Minor in PSPA

Students choosing a minor in political studies are required to take a minimum of 15 credits from the following courses: PSPA 201; one course from PSPA 210, PSPA 211, or PSPA 213; and any three upper-level courses in political studies.

Students choosing a minor in public administration are required to take a minimum of 15 credits from the following courses: PSPA 202, PSPA 212, and any three upper-level courses in public administration.

Students majoring in political studies or in public administration are required to take 21 credits.

A course that examines the global context of politics, focusing on the changing world order in the twentieth century.   Special attention will be given to themes like democratization, civil society, ethnic conflict, human rights, and globalization.   Annually.

An introduction to the study of politics with emphasis on the basic concepts, ideas, and issues relating to the process of government in the modern state.   Annually.

A course on the nature of public administration.   Basic concepts, processes, and approaches in the field of public administration are introduced so that the student will develop a sense of appreciation of the role of public administration in modern society.   Annually.

A course that focuses on the problems involved in asking and answering questions about political science and public administration.   This course presents the various analytical frameworks and methodological tools used for this purpose with emphasis on empirical approach, data collection, and analysis.   Students cannot receive credit for both SOAN 210 and PSPA 203.   Annually.

A survey of the main issues in the political theory of government, authority, and citizenship from the philosophy of the ancient Greeks to the twentieth-century Western political thinkers.   An attempt will be made to recapture the dimensions of these problems as understood by some great political thinkers and relate them to our experience and historical context.   Students cannot receive credit for both PSPA 210 and PHIL 216.   Annually.

A survey of concepts and issues in comparative politics.   This course acquaints the student with basic theoretical frameworks for the study and analysis of political phenomena, and establishes criteria for comparing political systems.   This course also examines closely the application of these concepts, frameworks and criteria in selected countries.   Annually.

A course that deals with the contemporary transformation of the public sector and its relationship with government and society.   This course evaluates managerialism in the public sector, privatization, and entrepreneurial government.   Annually.

A survey of the basic forces and factors determining relations among states, with special emphasis on the international system, foreign policy, national power, the restraints on determinants of state action, contemporary problems and major issues faced by states, and the patterns of interaction which prevail among states.   Annually.

A survey of Islamic political thought from IbnKhaldun to the nineteenth century, with special reference to institutional growth.   Annually.

A survey of Western political thought from the Renaissance to the present.   Annually.

A course that examines the constitutions and the development of constitutional practices in selected Middle Eastern and Western states.   Constitutional mechanisms in general and institutional variables are discussed as well as their impact on public policy, democracy, and political stability.   Offered occasionally.

A survey of the fundamentals and principles of International Law.   This course emphasizes the origins, the subjects, and the sources of international law and its relation to state law.   Recognition, territorial sovereignty, jurisdiction, state responsibility, succession to rights and obligations, diplomatic envoys and consuls, and the law and practice of treaties are discussed in this course.   Annually.

A course that deals with ethnically based regional and international conflicts and mechanisms of their resolution.   This course focuses on the linkage between internal and external sources of conflict, the evolving concept of international conflict, and peacemaking.   Annually.

A survey of the structure, process and role of international and regional organizations in theoretical terms, and an appraisal of these organizations on the global and regional levels.   Annually.

A course that addresses the changes on the international scene since the beginning of globalization at the turn of the twentieth century and their impact on state sovereignty, nationalism, culture, and the economy of advanced and developing countries.   Annually.

A course that examines the development and relevance of institutions and instruments concerned with human rights, and then considers problems of human rights issues in selected countries and their impact on regional and global actors.   Annually.

A survey of the development of Arab-Western relations since the First World War.   This course focuses on the origins and evolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict both in its regional and international dimensions.   Annually.

A course that examines the place of the Middle East system of states in the international system.   This course covers issues such as Western colonialism, Cold War politics, the oil factor in Arab-Western relations, and the rising factor of Islam in international politics.   The focus is on selected Arab ( Maghreb-Mashrek) countries, Iran , Turkey , and Israel .   Annually.

A survey of the political economy of major powers as they affect the making of foreign policy.   Emphasis will be placed on theories dealing with imperialism, the international market and the world economic system.   Annually.

A survey of post-industrial governments and politics in selected countries such as Great Britain , France , Germany , and Japan against the background of their socio-economic and cultural environment.   Their institutional environment is studied with emphasis on the policy-making process and important issues faced by those governments today.   Offered occasionally.

A survey of the main features of the American political system.   Annually.

A course that examines contemporary European politics with special reference to the politics of the European Union and its external relations, particularly in the Middle East .   Alternate years.

A survey of political institutions and processes in selected Middle East countries.   Annually.

A survey of major issues and controversies in political development and their relevance to nation building in developing countries.   Various components of this course include the impact of military rule, political parties and elites on political change, and modernization.   Annually.

A survey of the Shari‘ain contemporary political practice against the background of its historical evolution.   Offered occasionally.

An overview of Lebanese politics from the mid-nineteenth century to the present.   This course deals with the origins, evolution, and workings of the confessional system with emphasis on the period after independence.   Focus is placed on issues of consensus and conflict in Lebanese society.   Annually.

A course that deals with the legal aspects, organization, and theories of regional and local administration.   This course examines issues of centralization-decentralization, central-regional-local government relations, and balanced development at the national level.   Annually.

A survey of the theories of comparative public administration followed by a cross-national comparison of public administration in different cultural and socio-economic settings.   Annually.

A course that examines the legal aspects, the environment, scope, structure, and problems of public administration in Lebanon with special emphasis on administrative reforms and their institutional products.   Annually.

A course that examines theories, practice, and problems relating to human resources and personnel administration.   This course focuses on key aspects of human resources, planning, and their implications on public policy.   Annually.

A survey of the concepts, principles, and techniques of organization and management with special emphasis on questions of applicability.   In this course students will develop attitudes and acquire skills that should enable him or her to administer organizations effectively and efficiently.   Business students cannot receive credit for both MNGT 215 and PSPA 275.   Annually.

A course that analyzes the nature, scope, and performance of public policy.   This course examines the different approaches and models to public policy as well as the actors, instruments and problems involved, and draws on specific case studies.   Annually.

A survey of the principles and problems of financial organization and management in the public service with emphasis on fiscal planning, formulation and execution of the budget, financial accountability, control, and other aspects related to the role of the budget in development.   Annually.

A comparative analysis of formal and informal means aiming at promoting responsiveness and responsibility in public administration.   This course covers the importance of administrative ethics and the tools and techniques of administrative, legislative, and judicial controls.   This course will also emphasize the controls exercised by the mass media, interest groups, and individuals.   Offered occasionally.

This course explores the impact of information and communication technology on information management, government decision-making and communication, service delivery and public policy in the public sector. Alternative years.

May be repeated for credit. Offered Occasionaly

A specific topic of Islamic political theory selected for intensive examination.   Annually.

A seminar that concentrates principally on the five permanent members of the Security Council.  The current foreign policies of these powers are examined on selected issues for each power against the background of a general assessment of the major determinants of their policies since the end of World War II.   Annually.

A seminar that examines selected critical issues in the field of comparative politics related to the state, political parties and interest groups, political socialization, and leadership and elites in developed and developing countries.   Offered occasionally.

A seminar that deals with the political systems and ideological currents that emerged in the Arab world after the breakup of the Ottoman Empire .   Emphasis is placed on the various nationalist trends that characterized Arab politics, notably Arab nationalism, both within selected Arab countries and in the broader context of inter-Arab relations.   Annually.

A seminar that provides a theoretical framework through which empirical behavior in public organizations might be analyzed.   This course considers that body of theory which has had an impact on modern public administration thought and practice.   Annually.

A seminar that deals with the study of public bureaucracies and their role in political, administrative, and economic development.   Annually.