2016-2017 Course Catalog

2016-2017 Course Catalog / Degree Requirements / Democracy Studies
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Democracy Studies

Democracy Studies Program website

The goal of the Democracy Studies area (DMST) is to help students explore and critically examine the foundations, structures and purposes of diverse democratic institutions and practices in human experience. Democracy Studies combines a unique appreciation of Maryland’s democratic roots at St. Mary’s City with contemporary social and political scholarship, to better understand the value of democratic practices to human functioning and the contribution of democratic practices to a society’s development. The primary goal of the program of study is to provide students with a deeper understanding of how democracies are established, instituted and improved.

Any student with an interest in pursuing the cross-disciplinary minor in Democracy Studies should consult with the study area coordinator or participating faculty member. Students are encouraged to declare their participation and intent to minor in the area as soon as possible, and no later than the end of the first week of the senior year.

To successfully complete the cross-disciplinary minor in Democracy Studies, a student must satisfy the following requirements, designed to provide the depth and breadth of knowledge consistent with the goals of the field:

Degree Requirements for the Democracy Studies Minor

General College Requirements

  • General College requirements
  • All requirements in a major field of study

Required Courses

At least 22 credit hours in courses approved for Democracy Studies, with a grade of C- or higher, including:

  • HIST 200 (U.S. History, 1776-1980) or HIST 276 (20th Century World) or POSC 262 (Introduction to Democratic Political Thought)
  • Additional courses from three different disciplines cross-listed with Democracy Studies to total 12 credit hours. Eight of the credit hours must be at the 300-400 level.
  • As part of a course of study, students must fulfill a senior Civic Engagement Seminar consisting of six credits. The seminar includes two credits of class time. Students must also take four additional credits of independent study, internship, or directed research, with the approval of the seminar instructor, that involves participation in civic affairs. This may include, but is not exclusive to, work with or research on local, state and federal government, Historic St. Mary’s City, grassroots organizing, public affairs, media, non-governmental organizations and international affairs that provide a glimpse into the workings of democratic society. (Students who plan to study abroad may enroll in this course prior to study abroad, or upon return, provided there is an action plan for the civic affairs component.)

Courses taken for the minor should form a cohesive program and be selected in consultation with a faculty adviser from Democracy Studies.

St. Mary's Project

Students may pursue a St. Mary’s Project in democracy studies with the permission of their major department and with the agreement of a participating faculty member in democracy studies. Project credit (eight hours) does not apply toward fulfillment of the requirements for the minor in democracy studies.

Approved Courses

A complete list of approved current offerings will appear in the online “Schedule of Classes” for each semester. Regularly offered approved courses in Democracy Studies include the following:

History

  • HIST 200: American Civilization (4E)
  • HIST 219: Atlantic World Survey (4AF)
  • HIST 276: Twentieth-Century World (4AF)
  • HIST 317: In Our Times: 1945-Present (4AF)
  • HIST 324: Women in Modern Western History (4AS)
  • HIST 328: British History to 1688 (4AF)
  • HIST 329: British History Since 1688 (4AS)
  • HIST 334: Europe in War and Revolution (4F)
  • HIST 371: Rise of Modern America (4AS)
  • HIST 375: The American Revolution (4A)
  • HIST 379: Modern Latin American History Since 1820 (4AS)
  • HIST 381: History of Ancient Greece and the Hellenistic World (4AS)
  • HIST 382: History of the Roman Republic and Empire (4F)
  • HIST 384: Medieval Europe (4AF)
  • HIST 386: The Age of the French Revolution (4AF)
  • HIST 393: Topics in European History (DMST topics only)
  • HIST 394: Topics in Asian, African, and Latin American History (DMST topics only)
  • HIST 400: Comparative Slave Systems in the Americas (4AF)
  • HIST 415: Topics in U.S. History (4E)
  • HIST 431: Early American Political Thought (4A)
  • HIST 461: Gender in Latin American History (4AS)
  • HIST 475: Topics in Comparative, Thematic, or Global History (DMST topics only)

Political Science

  • POSC 201: American Politics (4E)
  • POSC 252: Comparative Politics (4E)
  • POSC 262 Introduction to Democratic Political Thought (4F)
  • POSC 266: Women and the Law (2F)
  • POSC 269: International Politics (4F)
  • POSC 303: Law, Courts and Judges (4AF)
  • POSC 312: State and Community Politics (4AS)
  • POSC 316: Religion and the U.S. Constitution (2S)
  • POSC 330: The United States Congress (4AF)
  • POSC 333: Asian Politics (4AF)
  • POSC 341: The American Presidency (4AS)
  • POSC 345: Politics of the Middle East (4AF)
  • POSC 348: Parties and Elections (4AF)
  • POSC 351: Constitutional Law I (4AF)
  • POSC 352: Constitutional Law II (4AS)
  • POSC 405: Democratization (4AS)
  • POSC 461: Studies in American Politics (4S)
  • POSC 462: Studies in Comparative Politics (DMST topics only)

Sociology

  • SOCI 329 Sociology of War and Peace (4AF)
  • SOCI 347 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (4AF)
  • SOCI 365 Social Stratification (4AS)

Anthropology

  • ANTH 313 African American Colonial Culture (4AF)
  • ANTH 348 African American Culture (4AS)

Art

  • ART 369: Art for Educators and Community Activists (4)

Economics

  • ECON 363 Political Economy (4F)
  • ECON 372 Economics of Developing Countries (4AF)

Education

  • EDUC 206 Child in America (4E)

English

  • ENGL 130: Literary Topics (DMST topics only)
  • ENGL 350: Studies in Language: Historical, Linguistic, and Rhetorical Contexts (4A)
  • ENGL 365: Studies in American Literature (DMST topics only)
  • ENGL 390: Special Topics in Literature (DMST topics only)
  • ENGL 430: Special Topics in Literature (DMST topics only)

International Languages and Cultures

  • ILAS 200: Democracy in Latin America (4)
  • ILCS 365: Creating for Social Change (4)
  • ILCS 368: Construction of Nationalism and Cultural Identity (4)

Mathematics

  • MATH 131: Survey of Mathematics (DMST topics only)

Museum Studies

  • MUST 301: Interpreting History to the Public (4F)

Philosophy

  • PHIL 410: Social and Political Philosophy (4A)

Religious Studies

  • RELG 380: Topics in Religious Studies (DMST topics only)