POL 397 - Seminar in American Government

FDR: SS2
Credits: 3 in fall and winter, 4 in spring
Planned Offering: Offered when interest is expressed and departmental resources permit.

Prerequisites: POL 100 or permission of the instructor.Examination of selected topics in American political institutions, ideas, and processes. May be repeated for degree credit with permission and if the topics are different.

Topic in Spring 2011:

POL 397: The Politics of Barack Obama (4). Prerequisite: POL 100 and at least sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. This seminar examines the political thought and practice of Barack Obama. Students read his two books, Dreams from My Father (1995) and Audacity of Hope (2006), many of his speeches, and critical commentary and assessments of his life and politics. Key topics explored include President Obama’s emphasis upon hope and America’s ability to change. In addition, students assess Obama’s military strategy for the war against terrorism, and his connection to the American founders and iconic figures like Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. (SS2) Morel. Spring 2011 and 2012