Bring your pre-written registration card to class Monday or Tuesday; if you do it correctly it will only take a minute for me to check it and sign. 
Do write in three or four alternate courses, and check the alternate box (right side) for these.  Then I will pre-approve the backup courses so that you won't need a return trip through the registrar's lines! All PSC courses can be listed as alternates -- I'll pre-approve them in just case you need. 

Best days: I will be available Monday and Wednesday and Friday all day 08:00 till 2:45 pm for registration advising, except for my classes & committees; I expect to be at lunch at 11:30 and you can also catch me there if you bring your form. 

Tuesday and Thursday hours are afternoons till about 2:45pm.  (I'm in class most of the morning.) 

Come in with your likely courses and alternatives pre-written on your card! 
Freshmen and sophomores: don't forget to write in REL 102 or 202, ENGL 104, and your language 102, plus at least one core class outside the major field. 
PSC majors: consider HIST 206 and Math 171. 
PATS majors: consider one course in each "leg" of Public Affairs tri-subjects. 

                       Here are the likely choices for PSC courses spring 2005 term:
PSC 212 09:00 MWF (sequel to 201, covers public policy topics such as health care, crime, economics, foreign policy -- the likely war with Iraq -- and AL state politics.) 
This is the basic route for freshmen and any other majors who have not already taken it. 

PSC 303 International Relations 09:30 TTh.  Combines US foreign policy with world politics, includes some crisis decision making such as the Cuban missile crisis.  Is also found in college core. 

PSC 314 Pol. Theory and Const'l. Law.  11:00 TTh.  Requires a 200 level PSC course, or permission.  Freshmen welcome, good "B" in PSC 201 recommended. 
By popular demand, now mostly covers constitutional law and politics of supreme court.  Not an easy class -- yet very popular with our budding lawyers! 

PSC 306 Public Organizations.  10:00 MWF.  Requires a 200 level PSC course, or permission.  Organizational theory with case studies and examples from public and non-profit sector agencies.  Includes decisionmaking, management, reform of bureaucracies --  and case studies of crises and disasters.  Excellent for your future applications to graduate schools in public administration, public policy, political science, psychology, business -- and related programs.

PSC 481 (internship, ungraded) or 483 Fieldwork (graded internship in major) is always available for Juniors and seniors.  (e.g., Alfa employed a legislative research assistant to examine bills for Alfa's interests -- and their VP is an HC alumnus.) 

Spring '05: Explanations of topics covered.
200 Level:
The sequel to PSC 201 is PSC 212, American Policy System, at the same time, MWF 0900.
You can start with that one, without having taken PSC 201.  Both courses are in Core Distribution for the college.

We'll learn (for examples) about taxes, crime, the war on drugs, education, health care, welfare, foreign policy and plenty on Alabama politics. 

We'll also compare US policies to those in Europe and discover some surprises. 
    * For instance, are American taxes actually low -- not high? 
    * Is the US considered by foreign societies barbaric -- for executing prisoners? 
    * Are American parties actually un-ideological -- and mild mannered? 
    * Is the US presidency actually a weak position -- not the world's strongest?
    * Is the social security system actually the best funded -- not the worst?
    * Is the US welfare system actually the meanest -- not the most generous?

There are some good documentary videos for these topics, and we will have discussion and debate.

In some ways it's more fun than Fall Term's American Govt which looks at beliefs and institutions.  The policy system is what directly impacts the people.
 

We'll look at now nation states compete as rivals in the international system, how they form -- and sometimes break -- alliances.

We'll also look at international organizations such as the UN, or OECD.  What are they doing -- and why can't they seem to bring peace and prosperity?

• What causes war -- or peace?
• Is it safer to strive for order in the world -- or for justice?
• If women ruled the world, would there be peace?
• Has the US military been run down excessively?
• How can force best be applied?
• Is there morality in war?
• Between nations, does might make right?

• What is the system of ethics in public administration?
• Can administration really be divorced from politics?
• Are there too many political appointees at the top levels of the US?
• What major bureaucracies are actually missing from the US sustem?
• How does the US system of bureaus differ from those in Canada and Western Europe?
• What kinds of jobs are available in the US public sector?
• Is there a balance between the federal military and civilian services?

PSC 314 Political Theory and Constitutional Law.
T Th at 11:000.  You need to have taken a 200 level course or obtain permission.
Popular with: budding lawyers, judges, civil rights and human rights activists, and even philosophers.

• How did the US Supreme Court develop its ability to challenge the laws of Congress and the actions of the executive?
• Do you have the right to a lawyer if you are a poor defendant?  Who says so?
• Why did it take decades for African American students to be admitted to white schools -- after the Supreme Court said so?
• Is death a "cruel and unusual punishment"?  Why not?

• If man is cruel, do we need government to restrain him?
• If mankind is sociable, are we better off with minimal government?
• Which comes first: Force, Order or Justice?
• Which is a better goal: freedom or equality?