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Courses Taught
 PSC 100 : This detailed survey course is designed to acquaint students with American government as widely taught in U.S. universities. At the course’s completion, successful students should have a testable familiarity with the design and evolving function of the American political enterprise, insight regarding the interdependence of the elements of our system, and an understanding of how interested citizens may involve themselves in politics. PSC 102: This is a survey course, designed to acquaint students with the subject of state and local government as it is widely taught in U.S. universities. At the end of the semester, the successful student should understand the basic theory and typical design of American state and local governments as well as the challenge of operating these governments for the good of the people. Additionally, good students will have an apprentice level familiarity with the unique history, features, and processes of state and local government in Alabama.
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 Political Parties(PSC 342):This course is designed to help students examine the factors, considerations and influences that affect the formation, maintenance, and evolution of the U.S. two-party system. Also, the course explores the political policies the party system tends to generate, especially in the current climate of balanced parties and frequently divided government. The course is designed to provide practical as well as theoretical knowledge; hence, a significant amount of attention is given to state level party activity — the level on which most students are likely to develop familiarity with party politics and electoral activity. The Legislative Process(PSC 352): This course is designed to help students examine the factors, considerations and influences that affect the formation, maintenance, and evolution of the U.S. Congress, its institutional processes, and the policies it generates. In studying national legislative process the objective is to examine the procedural mechanics as well as to move beyond these details to an understanding of the principles and ends of representative democracy. The course is designed to provide a “real world” experience. This objective is facilitated by examining the governmental relations process as well as pertinent lobbying strategies. |
 Religion, Politics, and Policy(PSC 410): This course is designed to help students examine the place of religion in American political life. Attentive students should gain an improved understanding of the policy arena from multiple viewpoints that reflect the diversity of religious thought in America today. The main objective of the course is to help students understand how the intersection of religion and politics produces policy outcomes at all levels of government. These policy outcomes influence culture and educational institutions, often impact business and commerce, help shape the nation’s approach to economic challenges, affect the distribution of resources, inform the exercise of judicial justice, and give us a sense of ourselves as a people. Public Opinion (PSC 447): This course is designed to help students examine the influences (factors, forces, elements, considerations, groups, movements, etc.) that affect the formation, maintenance, and alteration of public opinion in matters of national and state governance. Each of our three texts are current and are authored or edited by individuals recognized as opinion leaders in their respective fields. The texts support the objective of making this course a fruitful experience for the acquisition of critical thinking skills as well as demographic knowledge and political understanding. The National Executive (PSC 450) This course is designed to help students examine the foundation, evolution, nature, powers, and consequence of the American presidency. A further objective is to provide understanding of the American presidency in light of global challenges. While an important goal of the course is to help students understand the modern presidency, the underlying theory of the course is that knowledge of the historical development of the presidency is essential for a proper appreciation of the hazards, benefits, and political potential embedded in the great powers of the modern presidency.
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  Dr. Barnett- Dr. Tim Barnett, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Administration. Biography / Blog / Discussion Boards
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