Courses numbered 0 to 99 are developmental and credits may not be used to satisfy degree requirements. Courses numbered 1000 to 1099, freshman; 2000 to 2099, sophomore; 3000 to 3099, junior; 4000 to 4099, senior; 5000 to 5099, graduate; 6000 to 7099, graduate courses beyond the master’s level. Where indicated, certain 4000-level courses are accepted for graduate credit.
The number after each course title indicates the semester hours credit. CR(credit) or NC (no credit) after a course title indicates a pass/fail course with no semester hours credit.
An abbreviation following a course description indicates the semester or summer term the course will normally be offered: F-fall semester; Sp-spring semester; Sum-entire summer session; Sum I - first summer term; Sum II - second summer term. The word “even” or “odd” follows the description of a course which is offered only in alternate years.
Students may not enroll in more than one section of the same course specified in the University catalog without approval of the Registrar. Students who register for more than one section of the same course may be arbitrarily dropped from one of the sections without notice.
Class pre-requisites must be completed as prescribed by the most current catalog, regardless of the catalog or curriculum in effect for any student. Students who do not meet course qualifications or who have not completed pre-requisites for a course may be arbitrarily dropped without notice.
The courses that are listed in this catalog may be offered for credit in a variety of formats, including electronically mediated teaching.
Physics
PHYS 4005 - Basic Physics Laboratory
1 cr.
Classical physics experiments in heat and thermodynamics, mechanics, optics, and electricity and magnetism.
Development of the state; nature and problems of government in relation to the individual; emphasis upon the development of various forms of government.
Consideration of the nature of democracy, civil rights, federalism, the political process, the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, and current problems.
An intensive study of state and local government, structural components, political process, and basic problems. Special emphasis on Louisiana government.
A study of the theoretical foundations of morality with reference to approaches to ethical thought, character, and action. Concepts include good and evil, right and wrong, obligation and rights, responsibility and freedom. The application of these concepts to the working out of particular ethical problems.
Global Environmental Politics analyzes transnational environmental issues, such as climate change, species and habitat loss, water and air pollution, and waste management, from a cross-cultural, multi-disciplined approach with an emphasis on policy development and implementation issues.
POLS 4006 - Political Parties, Campaigns and Elections
3 cr.
Political parties, Campaigns and Elections focuses on three closely related topics and phenomena: parties, campaigns and elections in the American context. We will be seeking to understand their parallel, and in some sense, symbiotic development and relationships. We will study the history of party politics in the United States, focusing on change and development in relationship to the dynamic American Republic.
A study of political theory beginning with Plato and the ancient Greeks and continuing through the Middle Ages, Reformation, and Enlightenment to Marx, Mills and the modern age. The central questions of political thought are explored e.g., what is the good?; what is justice?; how is political authority acquired?; where does sovereignty reside?; and how do we incur obligations?
POLS 4013 - Constitutional Law: Governmental Powers
3 cr.
A study of the U.S. Constitution through analysis of decisions of the Supreme Court. The cases demonstrate the nature of judicial function, the nature of the federal system, and the scope and character of the process of the national government.
Prerequisite(s): POLS 2001 or approval of department head and permission of the instructor.
A study of the U.S. Constitution through analysis of decisions of the Supreme Court. The cases demonstrate the scope and character of the limitations on governmental powers concerning civil rights such as speech, press, religions, and rights against discrimination.
Prerequisite(s): POLS 2001 or approval of department head and permission of the instructor.
POLS 4017 - Public Administration and Administrative Law
3 cr.
Structure and processes of public administration, practices and processes of public administration, practices in personnel, organization and development of administrative law.
This course focuses on the origin and development of American political thought. Topics include Locke and liberalism, Puritanism and republicanism, Paine and the revolutionary impulse, Founders and Anti-Federalists, Jefferson’s agricultural republic, Tocqueville’s social America, Jacksonian democracy, Lincoln and Calhoun, populists, progressives and pragmatists, New Dealers and social engineers.
An analysis of the structure and functions of contemporary city governments with considerable attention devoted to basic problems. Special emphasis on local government in Louisiana.
An examination of the role that women have played in the development of the U.S. political system, including historical analysis of the barriers to women’s participation and the impact of politically active women on contemporary issues.
POLS 4041 - Comparative Government and Politics in Latin America
3 cr.
A comparative survey of governmental institutions and political processes which characterized the Latin American republics from the colonial period to the present.
A course that analyzes Middle East politics beginning with World War I to the present. Major issues include the Arab-Israeli Conflict, water policy, oil politics, Arab Nationalism, Zionism. Nationalities and sub-national movements in the regions of Turkey, the Near Middle East, North Africa and the Persian Gulf will serve as illustrative material. Issues such as modernization, democratization, multilateralism, liberalization, terrorism, free-trade and women’s rights will be considered.
Major foreign policies, objectives, and commitments of the United States; their political, economic, and military implications. Policy decisions currently confronting the United States in various areas of the world.
The nation-state system, power politics, processes affecting international relations; sources of tension in international politics and possibilities of their peaceful resolution.
A course focused on two of the three major institutional components of American politics. Main topics include the history of the Congress and Presidency (i.e., the two institution’s structural, behavioral and institutional adaptation to a changing America), the internal and external dynamics of public policy production (i.e., how demands arising in the electorate and elsewhere are conveyed to and/or produced within the Congress and the translation of these demands into specific laws and policies), and, the complex interaction between the Congress and the Presidency as different and separate institutions sharing power.
A course focused on the intersection of politics and economies in relations among actors in the international environment. Main topics include: international trade strategies; the political strategies of transnational firms; assessment of international organization; the role of the United States in the contemporary global economy.
POLS 4063 - Comparative Politics of Race and Ethnicity
3 cr.
International comparative analysis of how political processes both shape and are shaped by racial and ethnic differences, both within and among nation-states.
May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. Field experience under the general supervision of a faculty member and the direct supervision of a professional in the field with academic components including a final paper and presentation.
Cross-cultural exploration of the processes of economic and political development in different regions and countries of the world, including discussion of globalization and its character and effects in geographical and political settings.
The formulation of a research problem; ethics of research; development of research design; sampling procedures; collecting and processing of research data.
A seminar for the Political Science major. A small, group interdisciplinary approach to contemporary and relevant issues in Political Science scholarship, research, writing and presentation. Topic varies; may not take the same topic twice.
An introduction to the basic grammatical structures of Portuguese, with the aim of developing an elementary ability to understand, speak, read, and write the language.
An introduction to the basic grammatical structures of Portuguese, with the aim of developing an elementary ability to understand, speak, read, and write the language.
Principles of psychology as a science, characteristics of human behavior and cognitions and a survey of major topic areas including motivation, learning, emotions, and social and biological factors.
Physical, cognitive, psychological, and social development of children up to adolescence. Focus on normal development with attention to deviations from normality. Principles and applications with implications for families and professionals.
Human life-span developmental psychology emphasizing an integrative conceptualization of the totality of ontogenetic, behavioral and physiological changes.
Application of psychological methods and facts as applied to the teaching of individuals of varying development levels and cultural backgrounds. Secondary and K-12 teacher education majors will complete twenty hours of observation at selected school sites.
Physiological correlates of behavior with special emphasis on the physiology and anatomy of the nervous system as a basis for relating behavior to its physiological components.
The concepts of species-typical behavior and ontogenetic development as illustrated in organisms at various phyletic levels and the application of these ideas to the study of human behavior.
Principles of knowledge acquisition and usage in humans. Emphasis on the structure, processes, and models of memory, attention, information processing, and the neural basis of cognition.
Scientific study and promotion of human strength, virtues, and resources that enable individuals/communities to thrive and achieve their higher potentials.
Psychological factors and influences in social behavior; the individual in social situations; the influence on social environment in behavior and development.
Legal definitions and clinical classifications of children and youth who vary from normal (mentally, physically, or emotionally). Emphasis on etiology, identification, and educational service provision in multicultural settings.
Prerequisite(s): PSYC 2001, PSYC 2003. (Formerly The Exceptional Child.)
PSYC 4004 - Clinical Psychology and Clinical Research
3 cr.
This seminar is designed for junior and senior psychology majors to explore areas of clinical psychology in detail, with a special emphasis on the research that supports the many sub-domains of clinical psychology.
Behavioral factors in physical illness and maintenance of health; including an examination of research issues, behavioral techniques in treatment, intervention and preventative medicine strategies.
Evolutionary origins of behavior are integrated into a framework of ontogeny and physiology, delineating a modern adaptationist approach to psychology.
May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. Internships provide a sturdy foundation for further study and/or future employment in the field of psychology. Students may enroll once per semester for a maximum of two semesters and earn 3 semester hours each time they enroll. The internship is graded on a credit-no credit basis.
Prerequisite(s): Junior or senior status with at least 21 hours credit in the psychology curriculum) and approval from the department head.
Hypothesis testing; simple and multiple regression and correlation; forecasting; quality control techniques, chi square and analysis of variance; introduction to non-parametric statistics. Emphasizes statistical analysis using software packages.
The principles and skills involved in routine radiographic positioning to demonstrate the thoracic/abdominal cavities, and extremities and associated girdles.
The principles and skills involved in routine radiographic positioning to demonstrate the vertebral column, cranium, gastrointestinal tract, and urinary system.
Systems, components, and processes required for digital radiography and computed radiography; including charge-coupled devices, flatpanel detectors, photostimulable plates, and PACS.