Political Science (PLS) at Northern Virginia Community College
Distance Learning
Time of Day
Term
- PLS 135 - U.S. Government and Politics
- Teaches the political structure, processes, institutions, and policymaking of the US national government. Focuses on the three branches of government, their interrelationships, and how they shape policy. Addresses federalism; civil liberties and civil rights; political socialization and participation; public opinion, the media; interest groups; political parties; elections; and policymaking. The assignments in the course require college-level reading fluency and coherent communication through written reports. This is a Passport and UCGS transfer course.Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
3 credits - PLS 136 - State and Local Government and Politics
- Teaches structure, powers, and functions of state and local government in the United States as related to federalism; constitutionalism; elections; powers of legislative, executive, and judicial powers of state and local government; state-local-federal relations; fiscal matters; metropolitan issues; and policy issues, like health, education, criminal justice and welfare. The assignments in the course require college-level reading fluency and coherent communication through written reports.Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
3 credits - PLS 140 - Introduction to Comparative Politics
- Teach concepts and methods of comparative politics. Includes empirical analyses of domestic governmental, political, and societal institutions and norms of countries around the world. The assignments in the course require college-level reading fluency and coherent communication through written reports. This is a Passport and UCGS transfer course.Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
3 credits - PLS 198 - Seminar and Project
- Requires completion of a project or research report related to the student's occupational objectives and a study of approaches to the selection and pursuit of career opportunities in the field.May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - PLS 199 - Supervised Study
- Assigns problems for independent study incorporating previous instruction and supervised by the instructor.May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - PLS 200 - Introduction to Political and Democratic Theory
- Presents concepts of politics using political theory. Emphasizes the core thinkers and themes of political theory, with focus on concepts of justice, power, rights, liberty, and citizenship, within the context of differing conceptions of the state. Apply political theory as a method of analysis for analyzing current political events and problems. The assignments in the course require college-level reading fluency and coherent communication through written reports.Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
3 credits - PLS 241 - Introduction to International Relations
- Provides an introduction to the causes of international conflict and cooperation. Focuses on the modern state, diplomacy, war initiation, crisis bargaining, international terrorism, nuclear strategy, interstate economic relations, economic growth, international law, human rights, and environmental politics. This is a UCGS transfer course.Lecture 3 hours. Total 3 hours per week.
Prerequisites: ENG 111 or Department Consent3 credits - PLS 250 - Introduction to Conflict Resolution
- Teaches basic concepts and methods of conflict resolution, which includes the factors that lead to conflict, and how conflicts can be prevented or brought to an end through peaceful means. Focuses on national and international conflict resolution.Lecture 3 hours per week.
1-3 credits - PLS 255 - Introduction to Peace and Stability Operations
- Introduces the concept of coordinated public, private, international, and non-profit sector responses to conflict, post-conflict, and natural disaster international humanitarian emergencies with the objective of returning states and regions to peace and stability.Lecture 3 hours per week.
3 credits - PLS 290 - Coordinated Internship
- Supervises on-the-job training in selected business, industrial or service firms coordinated by the college.Credit/practice ratio not to exceed 1:5 hours. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - PLS 293 - Studies In
- Covers new content not covered in existing courses in the discipline. Allows instructor to explore content and instructional methods to assess the course's viability as a permanent offering.Variable hours per week.
1-5 credits - PLS 297 - Cooperative Education
- Supervises in on-the-job training for pay in approved business, industrial and service firms, coordinated by the college's cooperative education office. Is applicable to all occupational- technical curricula at the discretion of the college.Credit/work ratio not to exceed 1:5 hours. May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-6 credits - PLS 298 - Seminar and Project
- Requires completion of a project or research report related to the student's occupational objectives and a study of approaches to the selection and pursuit of career opportunities in the field.May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits - PLS 299 - Supervised Study
- Assigns problems for independent study incorporating previous instruction and supervised by the instructor.May be repeated for credit. Variable hours.
1-5 credits
