School of Politics, Public Affairs, and International Studies

Arts and Sciences Building, Room 208

(307) 766-6484

Web site: www.uwy o.edu/spp ais

School Head: Stephanie Anderson

SPPAIS Faculty:

Professors:

STEPHANIE B. ANDERSON, B.S.F.S. Georgetown University 1989; M.Sc. The London School of Economics and Political Science 1990; Ph.D. University of Cambridge 1996; Professor of Political Science 2017, 2005.

R. MCGREGGOR CAWLEY, B.A. Kearney State College 1971; M.A. Colorado State University 1974; Ph.D. 1981; Professor of Political Science 1997, 1987.

ANDREW D. GARNER, B.S. Kennesaw State University 2002; Ph.D. University of Mississippi 2007; Professor of Political Science 2014, 2008.

JEAN A. GARRISON, B.A. University of Wyoming 1990; M.A. University of South Carolina 1992; Ph.D. 1996; Professor of Political Science, International Studies 2010, 2001.

BRENT L. PICKETT, B.A. Wichita State University 1989; M.A. University of Colorado at Boulder 1991; Ph.D. 1995; Professor of Political Science - Casper 2010, 2005.

ROBERT A. SCHUHMANN, B.S. Appalachian State University 1987; M.P.A. 1989; Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 1995; Professor of Political Science 2013, 1995.

Associate Professors:

NEVIN AIKEN, B.A. University of Western Ontario 2003; M.A. 2004; Ph.D. University of British Columbia 2010; Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies 2016, 2010.

YI-LING CHEN, B.S. National Taiwan University 1989; M.S. 1992; Ph.D. Rutgers University 2000; Associate Professor of International Studies and Geography 2015, 2010.

NICHOLAS CRANE, B.A. The Ohio State University 2006; M.A. 2008; Ph.D. 2014; Assistant Professor of Geography and International Studies 2016.

ZOE PEARSON, B.A. University of California Los Angeles 2005; M.A. Ohio State University 2010; Ph.D. 2016; Assistant Professor of Geography and International Studies 2016.

JUSTIN T. PICCORELLI, B.A. Loyola Marymount University 2004; M.P.A. Cleveland State University 2009; Ph.D. 2014; Assistant Professor of Public Administration 2015.

THOMAS R. SEITZ, B.S. University of the State of New York 1988; M.A. University of Kent at Canterbury 1989; Ph.D. University of Cambridge 1997; Associate Professor of International Studies 2015, 2009.

Assistant Professors:

JASON B. MCCONNELL, B.S. University of Wyoming 1998, MA 2003, J.D. 2005; Ph.D. Washington State University 2017; Assistant Professor of Political Science 2018.

GABEL C. TAGGART, B.S. Brigham Young University 2010; M.P.P. 2013; Ph.D. Arizona State University 2017; Assistant Professor of Public Administration 2018.

RYAN D. WILLIAMSON, B.A. University of Alabama at Birmingham 2011; Ph.D. University of Georgia 2017; Assistant Professor of Political Science 2023.

Senior Academic Lecturer:

ANNE ALEXANDER, B.B.A. New Mexico State University, 1991; M.S. 1993; Ph.D. University of Wyoming, 2001; Senior Academic Lecturer, 2019, 2013; Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs 2020.

Associate Lecturer:

RUTH BJÖRKENWALL, B.A. University of California at Berkeley, 1989; M.A. 2004; Associate Lecturer 2018, 2013.

Professors Emeriti:

Winberg Chai, Larry Hubbell, James King, Garth Massey, Margaret M. Murdock, Stephen C. Ropp, Oliver Walter

Associate Professor Emeritus:

Alan E. Schenker

Adjunct Faculty:

(see department section following name for academic credentials)

Tanja Börzel, political science, Freie Universitaet Berlin

Roger Coupal, agriculture and applied economics

Michael Harkin, anthropology

Mark Peterson, management and marketing

Thomas Risse, political science, Freie Universitaet Berlin

Amy Roberts, elementary and early childhood education

Chris Rothfuss, international studies

Mona Schatz, social work

Ed Sherline, philosophy

J.J. Shinker, geography

Jim Thurman, international studies, political science - Central Wyoming College

International Studies

Undergraduate Learning Outcomes

Goal 1: International Studies majors learn to recognize and rigorously examine economic, political, and social-cultural dimensions of international processes and issues.
Goal 2: Majors develop expertise in an interdisciplinary concentration of their choice, either “Development Studies” or “Security Studies,” both of which are in high demand in public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Goal 3: Majors learn the importance of distinctions between world regions, as well as to explain the global economic, political, and social-cultural processes by which they are interrelated.
Goal 4: Majors achieve basic proficiency in a second language and appreciate the benefits of that language for engaging with international processes and issues, including through experiential learning in a foreign locale.
Goal 5: Majors develop critical reading, writing, analysis, and engagement skills that prepare them for work in internationally oriented government agencies, private enterprises, nonprofits, and nongovernmental organizations

Graduate Learning Outcomes

All students who graduate with a Master’s degree in international studies will be able to:

Engage in independent empirical inquiry that makes an original contribution to the field of study;

Think critically and reason logically about a problem and the ways it can be answered;

Employ the best recognized methods appropriate to their research;

Effectively develop alternative explanations, use theories and concepts to guide the research project, and conduct the work in such a way that disproof is possible; and

Present their work intelligently, with both written and oral capability at a level of professional expectations.

They will have a broad understanding of:

International affairs;

The diversity of national cultures and social structures;

Political and economic systems;

Major global trends and problems

Political Science

Political Science is the study of how societies govern themselves and interact with one another. Courses of instruction in the Political Science major are offered in the following subfields: American politics, comparative government, international relations, political philosophy, public law, and public administration. Areas of focus include analysis of government structures and processes, citizens’ influence on government, policy content, philosophical concepts and traditions, political systems of other states, and resolution of conflicts between nations. By developing critical thinking and analytical skills, the major prepares students for effective participation in the political process, successful careers in the public and private sectors, and further study in law, political science, and public administration.

In 1925, the state legislature passed a law requiring the study of the U.S. and Wyoming constitutions by all University of Wyoming students. Political Science 1000 satisfies this requirement, but the requirement can also be satisfied by special examination given periodically by the School of Politics, Public Affairs, and International Studies.

Learning Outcomes

We continuously and actively assess the Political Science undergraduate curriculum to ensure that the following learning outcomes are being met for each of our graduates:

Acquisition of a knowledge and understanding of the values, beliefs, and institutions that constitute governing processes;
Acquisition of an understanding of the distinctions among the major subfields of the discipline including: American politics and law; international relations; comparative politics; and political theory;
Development of a knowledge and understanding of citizens’ roles within governing processes;
Acquisition of a knowledge of the theories and analytic skills necessary to evaluate conflicting arguments, assemble and present appropriate evidence, and make reasoned conclusions from the evidence available;
The ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in written form.

Undergraduate Major

In addition to the university and college requirements listed elsewhere in this bulletin, a major in political science requires 33 department hours. Students are required to complete the following four introductory courses: POLS 1000; POLS 1200 or POLS

1250; POLS 2310; and POLS 2460 or POLS 3600. Students are also required to take at least one seminar in political science

(and its prerequisites); 8 hours of a single foreign language or equivalent credit by examination as determined by the

Department of Modern and Classical Languages; STAT 2050 or STAT 2070; and a minimum of 9 hours of upper division credit in political science. A maximum of 6 hours of internship credit may be applied toward the 33 hours required for the political science major. Only those political science courses in which a grade of C or better has been earned may be used to satisfy departmental requirements.

Most university studies courses and lower division political science courses should be completed prior to the junior year. Additional information about the political science major may be obtained from the School of Politics, Public Affairs, and International Studies: www.uw y o.edu/sp p ais.

Undergraduate Minors

The school offers optional undergraduate minors in American politics, international relations and comparative government, public law, and political theory. Eighteen hours are required in each minor, including 9 hours of upper-division courses and one seminar. A maximum of 3 hours of internship credit may be applied towards the 18 hours required for the political science minor. At least 12 credit hours in a minor must be from courses not counted toward the student’s major. Information relating to specific courses fulfilling minor requirements may be obtained from the School of Politics, Public Affairs, and International Studies: www.uw y o.edu/sp p ais .

Teacher Education

The teacher certification program in Secondary Social Studies Education, with a concurrent major in Political Science is available through the College of Education. A minimum 2.500 UW grade point average and a 2.500 grade point average in Political Science and Social Studies content are required to change majors. Further information may be found under the College of Education section in this Catalog.

Graduate Study

The Master of Arts and the master of public administration are offered by the School of Politics, Public Affairs, and International

Studies. The school’s mission is to give graduate students an understanding of the theories and methods necessary for success in (1) research or in post-baccalaureate study in any of the subfields in political science, (2) high school teaching in social science, or (3) careers in policy analysis or public administration in local, state, or federal government, or international governmental, non-profit, or non-governmental organizations. Our graduate students have progressed to senior positions in government, the U.S. Foreign Service, and international organizations; they have pursued rewarding careers in education and the private sector; and they have advanced to Ph.D. programs in political science and related fields.

Programs

Major

Minor

Graduate

Courses

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