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The Freshman Seminar in Political Science introduces students to some central aspects of thriving and surviving at Fredonia in academic and social terms and to what is going on in political science. It is an opportunity for freshmen in Political Science to get to know one another, since they will be sharing classes and learning for the next four years. It is also an opportunity for students and political science faculty to get to know one another, their interests, and fields. It is a modest effort to ensure that some fundamental ideas about learning at college are offered to students.

Critical examination of key aspects of the American political system. What are the major institutions of political power? How is power obtained? Which groups or social classes tend to possess more power in these institutions and why? How does the political system manage change?

Introduction to the political economy of policy formation. Emphasis is placed upon the questions of why government intervention in the economy is necessary and the cost-benefit evaluation of the intervention. Political failure is contrasted with market failure in evaluating government public policies. Substantive policy areas such as health care and education policies will be analyzed.

Studies key reasons for how and why countries behave as they do in international politics. Emphasis upon the changing sources of international power, colonialism, the Cold War and U.S-U.S.S.R. struggle for power, and contemporary issues such as the arms race, Middle East conflicts, and struggle for economic power between rich and poor countries. Close study of the usefulness and morality of U.S. interventions abroad from the Gulf War to Panama, Haiti, and Bosnia.