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.