Special Topics Course Offerings for Spring 2013

KENNESAW, Ga. (Jan 7, 2013) — POLS 4490/02, CRN 10202 - African American Politics, with Dr. Sarita Gregory: This course is an intensive introduction to black ideologies, theories, and empirical scholarship. In particular, we will emphasize black voting behavior, elite policymaking, public opinion, as well as black information networks and their relationship with mainstream media.

POLS 4490/03, CRN 10203, Gender, Youth, & Civic Engagement, with Dr. Sarita Gregory: This course speaks to and about the millennia generation--those born since 1982, ages 18-26, who have only known life with cell phones, the Web, and Facebook. It speaks to those whose musical taste span from Maroon Five and Taylor Swift to LMFAO, Lupe Fiasco, and Nicki Minaj. We include contributions from literature, popular culture, television shows, as well as the role that music plays in youth-led movements. We will incorporate real-time social media into our class space for a dynamic and exciting semester.

POLS 4490/04, CRN 11165, Sports, Conflict & Peace, with Dr. Sherrill Hayes: The course examines sports as a lens for understanding political, religious, and social class conflicts, as well as, a framework and tool for teaching conflict management and peace building. The course will integrate a diverse range of material from readings, case studies, and films such as the ESPN 30 for 30 series.

POLS 4490/05, CRN 15841, Constitution & Public Policy, with Mr. Bob Barr, a former member of Congress: This upper-level seminar will focus on the constitutional foundations of public policy. The course will trace the development of constitutional theory and practice in public policy from the founding of the Republic to the present. The course study begins with the text of the Constitution (and the Bill of Rights), along with early cases and defenses and objections relating thereto (as discussed for example, in The Federalist Papers). The focus will then shift to examination of the various vehicles through which public policy is implemented, and the constitutional bases (or problems with) utilizing such mechanisms (including statutes, resolutions, regulations, executive orders and "signing statements"). Course discussions and readings, and student presentations will then shift to particular areas recent and contemporary public policy. Throughout the course, sections from the required texts will form a principal basis for discussions; supplemented from time to time by outside readings.