What This Document Is
This is a course syllabus for POSC 695, a graduate-level seminar offered at the University of Southern California in the Spring 2002 semester. The course focuses on “Social Science Theory,” specifically exploring the field of institutionalism within political science. It delves into how institutions – the formal and informal rules, norms, and organizations – shape political processes and outcomes. The syllabus outlines the course structure, expectations, and required materials for a deep dive into this critical area of study.
Why This Document Matters
This syllabus is essential for students enrolled in, or considering enrolling in, POSC 695. It provides a comprehensive overview of the course’s scope and objectives, allowing prospective students to determine if the subject matter aligns with their academic interests and research goals. Current students will find it invaluable for understanding course requirements, scheduling, and the intellectual framework guiding the semester’s exploration of institutionalist thought. Researchers interested in the course’s focus on historical analysis and state-society relations may also find the syllabus useful for understanding the professor’s approach.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This syllabus provides a roadmap for the course but does not contain the actual course content – lectures, discussions, or detailed analyses of specific theories and case studies. It lists required readings but does not include the readings themselves. It outlines the broad themes to be covered, but doesn’t reveal the specific arguments or findings presented within those themes. Access to the full course materials requires enrollment or purchase.
What This Document Provides
* Course logistics: Meeting times, location, and instructor contact information.
* A clear statement of the course’s central focus: the study of institutionalism in political science.
* An overview of the key theoretical approaches to be examined (rational choice, sociological, historical).
* A list of required books for the course, covering topics like privatization, working-class formation, welfare states, and federalism.
* Information regarding reserve readings available at the university library.
* A general outline of the course’s thematic structure, including sections on constitutional orders, state-society relations, and federalism.