Courses

One of the best ways to discover a degree program is to check out the course listings. By simply clicking on the course titles below, you can get a preview of the classes you will attend as a student at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Preview your classes

Core Courses

+ expand all

POL-100 American Government3 Hours
- A study of American federal government in all its important phases with an introduction to the major fields of political science, including political thought, domestic politics, political economy, and international politics.
MAT-112 General Statistics3 Hours
- An introduction to elementary concepts in descriptive statistics and inferential statistics using applications from various disciplines and supplementing with statistical software. Topics include data collection and summarization, random variables and probability distributions, linear correlation and regression, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing. Prerequisite: Math SAT above 460 (Math ACT above 18) or a grade of "C" or above in MAT-104.
POL-240 Public Policy Processes3 Hours
- This course is an introduction to public policy processes in the United States. An important part of the course involves helping students to develop the potential to formulate, assess and evaluate public policy in terms of ideas, actors, and steps, and to begin to develop expertise in policy in issue areas of concern to them. The course is also intended to develop students in analytical thinking, primary and secondary research, and social science writing.
POL-322 Research Design and Methods in Political Science and Economics3 Hours
- This course will provide students with an introduction to research methods and statistical techniques used in social science research, particularly in the fields of economics and political science. This will include basic knowledge of the concepts and models employed for conducting experimental research, policy analysis and program evaluation, and unobtrusive research from data sets. Emphasis will be placed on using and applying the qualitative and quantitative techniques most widely utilized in social science research. This course gives credit for political science and history majors. Prerequisite: MAT-112 or BUS-320.
POL-360 Policy Formation3 Hours
- This course is intended as an inquiry into the process of policy formation at the national level in the U.S., in the developing country context, and at the transnational (international, multilateral) level. The emphasis will be on social and environmental policy, with some discussions of other issue areas. Prerequisites: POL-100 and POL-240 or consent of department.
ECO-365 Public Administration and Finance3 Hours
- A penetrating analysis of public administration and expenditures. Explores revenue including taxation, budget examination, and the effect of fiscal policy on the economy. Gives credit for majors in Economics or Political Science. Prerequisite: ECO-212, ECO-213 or POL-100.
ECO-315 Urban Economics and Policy3 Hours
- An introduction to urban economic theory, urban spatial form, and urban policy problems. Topics include theories of urban evolution and form, regional comparative advantage and trade, urban economic growth and development, the limits to metropolitan size, land-rent gradients, public goods and externalities in urban areas, and urban policy problems: poverty, housing, segregation, transportation networks, congestion, land use planning and issues in local and regional governance and public finance. Pre-requisites: ECO-212 or ECO-213. Student should also be proficient in basic math, algebra and geometry. Knowledge of statistics will also be helpful.
PBP-479 Public Policy Capstone3 Hours
- The Public Policy Capstone provides students with opportunities to study policy issues of local and/or regional scale from multiple perspectives. The objective is to enable students to recognize policy processes in public, private, and/or nonprofit sector organizations and to identify, refine, and integrate the analytical policy skills they have acquired from the various public policy courses taken during their studies. Prerequisites: Students will take the Public Policy Capstone after completing the core requirements for the Public Policy major.

+ expand all

HST-290 Making History: Historians, Historical Techniques and Historiography3 Hours
- This course is an introduction to the philosophies of history and the techniques of historical inquiry and research and writing. Prerequisites: Students must have basic writing skills, and general survey knowledge. The student should have passed both HST-185 Foundations of Civilization to 1648 and HST-190 The West and World after 1648. If only one has been taken, enrollment in the other concurrent with HST-290 is acceptable with permission of the division. Gives credit towards the history major.
POL-350 Political Science Practicum1-3 Hours
- Directed experience in politics or law. Required of all Political Science majors. (POL-371, POL-401, or HST-450 may be substituted for this requirement.) May be repeated. Prerequisite: Consent of the department. Offered every semester.
HST-450 History and Social Science Seminar3 Hours
- A survey of historical writing and philosophies of history. Practice in the methodology of research and writing. Required of all History majors. Prerequisite: Upper-division status.
POL-471 Political Science Research Seminar3 Hours
- This is an advanced seminar in the methodological study of political phenomena serving as a cumulative and integrative capstone experience. Students will enhance their research, analysis and critical thinking skills through practical experience in the process of scholarship. As a capstone experience students will design, research and write a scholarly piece addressing an empirical puzzle relevant to their interests. Prerequisite: POL-215 and POL-322 or consent of the department.

+ expand all

BIO-106 Environment and Society4 Hours
- This course is an introduction to ecological principles and their relevance to human impact on the natural environment. Issues to be covered include natural resources, legislative changes, terminology, urbanization, energy, pollution, environmental ethics, and population dynamics. Co-requisite: BIO-106L. This course with its co-requisite laboratory fulfills the general education lab science requirement. Considered an elective in the Biology Minor for Education Majors.
ECO-212 Microeconomics3 Hours
- Provides a background for advanced economics courses. A special emphasis is placed upon microeconomics topics including scarcity, division of labor, the economics of the firm, demand and price elasticity, and profits and competition.
ECO-275 Economics of Poverty3 Hours
- An interdisciplinary analysis of one of the most publicized issues in America. Discussed are the roots and history of poverty, alleged solutions, and the social and economic consequences of these solutions. Emphasized are the discovery and application of solutions from a Biblical perspective. Prerequisite: ECO-211, ECO-212 or ECO-213.
ECO-340 Globalization and Economic Development3 Hours
- An intensive study of recent globalization trends and their impact on both developing and developed economies. A survey of economic development theories in developing economies; the role and influence of the U.S. economy in global markets. Students will discuss current theories of economic development and the arguments for and against globalization, free trade, open immigration, technological change, and the free flow of financial capital. Development topics include population growth and fertility rates, gender equity, educational opportunities for women, private property rights, regime corruption, and the role of the IMF and World Bank in developing economies. Prerequisites: ECO-211 or ECO-213 or consent of the Department.
GEO-202 Political and Cultural Geography3 Hours
- An historical, cultural, and regional approach to the study of contemporary world geography. A consideration of individual countries and their problems as related to their physical and cultural environments. Meets General Education Intercultural Experience requirement but does not meet General Education Social Science requirement. Gives credit for geography or for majors in Political Science.
POL-200 State and Local Government and Politics3 Hours
- A study of the design and operation of state and local government within the American federal system with an emphasis on practical issues, citizenship principles, and Christian involvement. Gives credit for majors in Criminal Justice, Political Science, or Social Work.
POL-230 World Politics3 Hours
- The purpose of this course is to introduce the study of world politics. By surveying the key concepts and theories utilized to assess contemporary global affairs this course provides a framework for analyzing world politics in a systematic and sophisticated manner. Course topics will provide a brief overview of the major areas of study within the field of international relations including foreign policy analysis, global politics and governance, international political economy and the continuing evolution of the international system.
POL-355 American Political Processes3 Hours
- The purpose of this course is to examine the various political processes and linkages that connect citizens to political outcomes. Course content will focus on theoretical frameworks from political scientists regarding the formation, nature, and function of political parties, interest groups, and political action committees. The primary focus will be on current scholarship, including both books and journal articles from respected scholars in the field of Political Science. However, students will also be introduced to important works by political scientists that date back to the 1950s. The course format is a combination of lecture and discussion; therefore, relevant questions and other student contributions are an essential element of the course. Prerequisite: POL-215.
POL-375 Foreign Policy Analysis3 Hours
- This course examines the way international actors make decisions regarding how they will interact with other members of the international community. Students will be introduced to the variety of ways in which the foreign policy making processes within and across countries operate and can be explained. A number of influences on foreign policy are discussed, including individual policy makers, characteristics of the domestic political environment, and international systemic factors. The course surveys these influences, concepts and theoretical approaches in preparation for the in-depth and hands-on analysis students will undertake in the later part of the semester. Prerequisites: POL-230 and POL-232.
PBP-320 Environmental Economics and Policy3 Hours
- This course is an examination of the interrelationships between benefits and costs of economic growth and the environment in the formation of environmental policy. Emphasis is placed on the economics of environmental quality and the social costs of environmental care. Prerequisites: POL-240 and ECO-212.
POL-425 Federalism and Public Policy3 Hours
- This course is designed to understand different federal contexts for policymaking and policy implementation from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and North & South America. The primary objective of the course is to help students understand the relationship between federalism and democracy as the growing debate about the future of democratic governance in a globalizing world is increasingly cast in federal terms. Prerequisite: POL-100 or permission of the department.

36-37 credit hours

Concentration or Cognate

In cooperation with the sponsoring department and the student's advisor, a concentration or cognate should be selected by students based on their vocational goals. Potential concentrations: Political Science, History, International Relations, or Economics. Suggested cognate areas include, but are not limited to, the following: Addictions Counseling, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Communications, Computer and Information Sciences programs, Criminal Justice, Earth Science, Education, Intercultural Studies, International and Community Development, Journalism, Leadership Studies, Mathematics, Nursing, Public Relations, Social Studies, Social Work, and programs in Health, Recreation, and Sports Studies.

10-12 credit hours

+ expand all

POL-100 American Government3 Hours
- A study of American federal government in all its important phases with an introduction to the major fields of political science, including political thought, domestic politics, political economy, and international politics.
POL-240 Public Policy Processes3 Hours
- This course is an introduction to public policy processes in the United States. An important part of the course involves helping students to develop the potential to formulate, assess and evaluate public policy in terms of ideas, actors, and steps, and to begin to develop expertise in policy in issue areas of concern to them. The course is also intended to develop students in analytical thinking, primary and secondary research, and social science writing.
POL-360 Policy Formation3 Hours
- This course is intended as an inquiry into the process of policy formation at the national level in the U.S., in the developing country context, and at the transnational (international, multilateral) level. The emphasis will be on social and environmental policy, with some discussions of other issue areas. Prerequisites: POL-100 and POL-240 or consent of department.
POL-365 Religion and Politics3 Hours
- The purpose of this course is to provide an in-depth analysis of the connection between religion and politics. The course will explore some historical examples demonstrating various relationships between Church and State. The place of Christianity and/or involvement of the institutional church with government is central; however, students will examine other religions and political arrangements to see if there are universal principles. Course content will focus on scholarly research in these and related areas. This course is designed for Political Science and History majors, but also will have strong relevance and appeal to Religion and Education majors. Prerequisite: POL-100 or consent of department.

+ expand all

BIO-106 Environment and Society4 Hours
- This course is an introduction to ecological principles and their relevance to human impact on the natural environment. Issues to be covered include natural resources, legislative changes, terminology, urbanization, energy, pollution, environmental ethics, and population dynamics. Co-requisite: BIO-106L. This course with its co-requisite laboratory fulfills the general education lab science requirement. Considered an elective in the Biology Minor for Education Majors.
ECO-212 Microeconomics3 Hours
- Provides a background for advanced economics courses. A special emphasis is placed upon microeconomics topics including scarcity, division of labor, the economics of the firm, demand and price elasticity, and profits and competition.
ECO-275 Economics of Poverty3 Hours
- An interdisciplinary analysis of one of the most publicized issues in America. Discussed are the roots and history of poverty, alleged solutions, and the social and economic consequences of these solutions. Emphasized are the discovery and application of solutions from a Biblical perspective. Prerequisite: ECO-211, ECO-212 or ECO-213.
ECO-340 Globalization and Economic Development3 Hours
- An intensive study of recent globalization trends and their impact on both developing and developed economies. A survey of economic development theories in developing economies; the role and influence of the U.S. economy in global markets. Students will discuss current theories of economic development and the arguments for and against globalization, free trade, open immigration, technological change, and the free flow of financial capital. Development topics include population growth and fertility rates, gender equity, educational opportunities for women, private property rights, regime corruption, and the role of the IMF and World Bank in developing economies. Prerequisites: ECO-211 or ECO-213 or consent of the Department.
GEO-202 Political and Cultural Geography3 Hours
- An historical, cultural, and regional approach to the study of contemporary world geography. A consideration of individual countries and their problems as related to their physical and cultural environments. Meets General Education Intercultural Experience requirement but does not meet General Education Social Science requirement. Gives credit for geography or for majors in Political Science.
POL-200 State and Local Government and Politics3 Hours
- A study of the design and operation of state and local government within the American federal system with an emphasis on practical issues, citizenship principles, and Christian involvement. Gives credit for majors in Criminal Justice, Political Science, or Social Work.
POL-230 World Politics3 Hours
- The purpose of this course is to introduce the study of world politics. By surveying the key concepts and theories utilized to assess contemporary global affairs this course provides a framework for analyzing world politics in a systematic and sophisticated manner. Course topics will provide a brief overview of the major areas of study within the field of international relations including foreign policy analysis, global politics and governance, international political economy and the continuing evolution of the international system.
POL-322 Research Design and Methods in Political Science and Economics3 Hours
- This course will provide students with an introduction to research methods and statistical techniques used in social science research, particularly in the fields of economics and political science. This will include basic knowledge of the concepts and models employed for conducting experimental research, policy analysis and program evaluation, and unobtrusive research from data sets. Emphasis will be placed on using and applying the qualitative and quantitative techniques most widely utilized in social science research. This course gives credit for political science and history majors. Prerequisite: MAT-112 or BUS-320.
POL-355 American Political Processes3 Hours
- The purpose of this course is to examine the various political processes and linkages that connect citizens to political outcomes. Course content will focus on theoretical frameworks from political scientists regarding the formation, nature, and function of political parties, interest groups, and political action committees. The primary focus will be on current scholarship, including both books and journal articles from respected scholars in the field of Political Science. However, students will also be introduced to important works by political scientists that date back to the 1950s. The course format is a combination of lecture and discussion; therefore, relevant questions and other student contributions are an essential element of the course. Prerequisite: POL-215.
POL-375 Foreign Policy Analysis3 Hours
- This course examines the way international actors make decisions regarding how they will interact with other members of the international community. Students will be introduced to the variety of ways in which the foreign policy making processes within and across countries operate and can be explained. A number of influences on foreign policy are discussed, including individual policy makers, characteristics of the domestic political environment, and international systemic factors. The course surveys these influences, concepts and theoretical approaches in preparation for the in-depth and hands-on analysis students will undertake in the later part of the semester. Prerequisites: POL-230 and POL-232.
PBP-320 Environmental Economics and Policy3 Hours
- This course is an examination of the interrelationships between benefits and costs of economic growth and the environment in the formation of environmental policy. Emphasis is placed on the economics of environmental quality and the social costs of environmental care. Prerequisites: POL-240 and ECO-212.
POL-425 Federalism and Public Policy3 Hours
- This course is designed to understand different federal contexts for policymaking and policy implementation from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and North & South America. The primary objective of the course is to help students understand the relationship between federalism and democracy as the growing debate about the future of democratic governance in a globalizing world is increasingly cast in federal terms. Prerequisite: POL-100 or permission of the department.

Menu "Areas of Study" Begins - Skip Menu

Menu "About" Begins - Skip Menu

Menu "Introduction" Begins - Skip Menu

Menu "Maxwell Building" Begins - Skip Menu

Courses

Preview your classes

Core Courses

Public Policy Electives

Concentration or Cognate

Public Policy Minor