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. 

Come in with your likely courses and alternatives pre-written on your card! 
Don't forget to write in at least one core class outside the major field. 
PSC majors: consider HIST 206 and Math 171 (old catalogs) or 175 (new catalog). 
PATS majors, old catalogs: consider one course in each "leg" of Public Affairs tri-subjects. 
IS majors, old catalogs: one course in each "leg" of International Studies.

                          Here are the choices for PSC courses spring 2006 term:
PSC 212 American Policymaking System, 08:00 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 305 Presidency and Congress. [09:30 TR?].  Requires a 200 level PSC course, or permission.  Freshmen welcome, good "B" in PSC 201 recommended. History, theory and behavior of  both the presidency and the congress, inlcuding the relations between them.  How these two branches connect to interest groups, the media and the public.  How they struggle over foreign and domestic policy.

PSC 307 Public Policy analysis.  [12:30 TR?].  Requires a 200 level PSC course, or permission.  Freshmen welcome, good "B" in PSC 201 recommended. 
How American public policy compares with west European, how we can amalyze the policymaking process, interest group pressures -- and understand policies on education, the environment, crime and defense.

PSC 321 British Politics (11:00 MWF?] comes in two flavors, for graded credit or just for travel information as INDP##.  Those wishing just to prepare for the British travel experience will participate in class discussion for two hours per week but be spared the research paper and some exam questions. 

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.)  However, since the new British Politics PSC 321 has been added, seniors may no longer need an internship to complete the major. 

Explanations of topics covered.

200 Level:
The sequel to PSC 201 is PSC 212, American Policy System, [MWF 08:00?]
You can start with that one, without having taken PSC 201.  Both courses are in the OLD Core Distribution for the college -- but 212 is NOT in the new core..

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.

300 level:
These are the main courses in the major.  We expect an ability to read independently, present readings to class, debate issues, write essays, and prepare and write a research paper.  We have some lecture material on the Tuesday, followed by presentations, videos, discussion and debates on Thursdays.  Following the midterm test, there is sometimes a café session. Courses for this term are listed above.