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public problems and how the government
develops public policies and with
what effect. Emphasizes the characteristics
of the American policy-making
process. Case studies are used to
clarify the process. (3-0-3) (S) (C)
PS 256
Law in American Society
Examines the nature of law and the
legal system in American society.
Special attention will be paid to the
institutions of the legal system, how
they are supposed to function, and
how they actually function. Topics for
study may include the police, prosecutors,
lawyers, judges, juries, grand
juries and public defenders. The
courts, ranging from the U.S. Supreme
Court to local trial courts, are studied.
The impact of U.S. Supreme Court
decisions on the system of justice in
America is explored. (3-0-3) (S) (C)
PS 273
Great Political Thinkers
Introduces students to the ideas of
the world’s great political philosophers.
Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes,
Locke, Rousseau, Marx and others
will be covered. (3-0-3) (S) (C)
PS 300
Introduction to the Social Sciences
The course introduces the foundations
of the social science disciplines,
notably economics, history, political
science, psychology and sociology.
Primary emphasis will be placed on
how the disciplines employ distinctive
assumptions and perspectives, which
are used to generate understanding,
form explanations, and construct theories.
(3-0-3) (S) (C)
PS 301
Introduction to Political Science
Introduces students to some of the
classic literature in modern American
political science, covering theory, the
presidency, Congress and federalism.
(3-0-3) (S) (C)
PS 303
Politics and the Media
Analyzes the media’s role in con
temporary American politics and government.
Emphasis is placed on how
the media, both newspapers and television,
manufacture the news and
how the news influences political and
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Copyright & Disclaimer Information: Copyright © 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. CollegeSource®, Inc. and Career Guidance Foundation. CollegeSource® digital catalogs are derivative works owned and copyrighted by CollegeSource®, Inc. and Career Guidance Foundation. Catalog content is owned and copyrighted by the appropriate school. While CollegeSource®, Inc. and Career Guidance Foundation provides information as a service to the public, copyright is retained on all digital catalogs.
government agenda, decision making
and public policies. (3-0-3) (S) (C)
PS 309
Research Methods in Social and Political Science
Introduces students to explanation in
the social sciences and both qualitative
and quantitative research methods.
Topics covered include formulation
of research questions, measurement,
data collection, survey research,
significance tests, experimental and
quasi-experimental design, sampling,
and various techniques of qualitative
research. Prerequisite: A statistics
course approved by the department.
Same as SOC 309. (3-0-3) (C)
PS 310
Social and Political Thought
Examines central social and political
theories and their ideas concerning
such things as the relationship
between individual and society, social
harmony and conflict, social equality
and the role of the state. Same as
SOC 310. (3-0-3) (S) (C)
PS 312
Contemporary Social Problems
The course investigates various
“social problems” and how they came
to be defined as problematic. General
sociological concepts and theoretical
perspectives include symbolic interactionism,
conflict theory, structural
functionalism, and constructionism.
Students also examine the role of
state advocates and the media in
defining social problems. Case studies
illustrate how different theoretical
perspectives lead to different
“solutions” and policy recommendations.
Prerequisite: A social science
course. Same as SOC 312. (3-0-3) (S)
(C)
PS 315
Urban Politics
Examines city and metropolitan politics
and government. Emphasizes
how economic and demographic
changes influence local politics, how
local politics work, and how state
and national policies influence local
politics. Special attention is devoted
to Chicago politics. (3-0-3) (S) (C)
IIT Undergraduate Bulletin 2006–2008
Course Descriptions
PS 317
Chicago Politics
The study of Chicago’s politics and
government from both historical and
contemporary perspectives. Emphasis
is placed on changes that have significantly
shaped the direction of
Chicago’s politics. Special attention is
devoted to social class, ethnicity, race
and ideology as factors that have
influenced the Democratic political
machine and its opposition. (3-0-3) (S)
(C)
PS 318
Contemporary Constitutional Issues
The course examines how decisions
about some of our basic rights are
made. Emphasizes U.S. Supreme
Court decisions in the areas of criminal
law, desegregation, education, welfare,
housing and consumer law.
Related topics of special interest to
students in the class can be added to
the syllabus. Supreme Court decisions
are read and supplemented by textual
material. (3-0-3) (S) (C)
PS 321
Social Inequality
Evaluates the patterns and dimensions
of social, economic, and political
inequality in American society
and how these compare with other
societies; who gets ahead and why;
the relationship of social class to
other features of society; some consequences
of social stratification; and
outlooks for the future of inequality
in the United States. Same as SOC
321. (3-0-3) (S) (C)
PS 330
International Relations
Examines the relations among
nations from the perspective of both
the international system and the
nation state. Emphasizes the transformation
in the international system
caused by weapons, production and
communications technologies.
Compares the nature, function and
purpose of modern warfare and other
forms of conflict with the prospects for
international order through law,
organization, communications and
arms control. Gives special attention
to the international policies of the
United States toward various regions
and its role in international organizations.
(3-0-3) (S) (C)
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