THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE FACULTY SENATE Senate Document Number 2196S Date of Senate Approval 2/8/96 Statement of Faculty Senate Action: APC Document 20: Catalog Changes in Political Science Effective Date: Fall 1996 I. Changes in Course Descriptions Replace: In Catalog 1995-96, page 196, the title and course description for POLS 367, with the following: 367 Russian Political System (3) Surveys Russian political culture, the development of political institutions, and political thought in the context of Russia's social and economic evolution. Prerequisite: POLS 281. Please see Department Chair for course offering. Replace: In Catalog 1995-96, page 196, the title and course description for POLS 386, with the following: 386 Russia in World Politics (3) Examines Russian foreign policies and policy-making and the role the country has played in world politics in the 20th century. Prerequisite: POLS 281. Please see Department Chair for course offering. Rationale: For some years, Ted Uldricks has taught these courses for our department. He requested these changes in a November 3, 1995 memo in which he stated: "The current course descriptions of PS 367 and 386 emphasize the USSR and Soviet political process. In light of events since 1985, that emphasis seems no longer appropriate. I now envision the revised versions of these two courses focusing on three issues: 1) long range, historical influences on contemporary politics and foreign policy; 2) the Soviet experience and its relevance [or lack thereof] for contemporary developments; and 3) the post-Soviet political structure and policies [with a significant student research component in this segment]. Both courses will focus extensively on the Russian Republic, with brief treatment of the Commonwealth of Independent States and other post-Soviet republics (Ukraine, Kazakhstan, etc.)." Impact: None, the changes merely alter the description of courses to more accurately reflect what now must be done in these courses. II. Credit Hour Change for POLS 320 Change: In Catalog 1995-96, page 193, the number of credit hours for 320 from (3) to (4). Rationale: When Dr. Sabo first invented this course a decade ago, the disciplinary subfield of the political history of the United States was in its infancy. The dramatic increase in research on relevant topics and the development of his own thinking on these questions has had a mushrooming effect. He has not come close to finishing the course the last three times he has offered it. By making it a four-hour course, there is a better chance that the richness of the ideas in the field can be more fully developed. Impact: There will be no major impact on resources. Dr. Sabo teaches the course in the fall of odd-numbered years and is willing to accept an extra hour without compensation. The course is an elective so there is no pressure on majors to take an extra credit hour in the department. The course is usually offered in the late afternoons so there should be no problem with space requirements because of the course carrying over into the next time block.