L. Joseph Hebert, PhD

Courses Taught

• American Government
• Introduction to the Constitution, presidency, congress, courts, and citizen participation in the political system. Emphasis on the connection between government and our lives as citizens. This course satisfies requirements for a teacher's certificate in Iowa and Illinois.
• Law and Society
• Study of the nature of law and its place in the development of Western political and social life. Careful attention is paid to American civil, criminal, and constitutional law, and with an examination of the contemporary legal profession. Foundation course for Pre-Law Studies Interdisciplinary Minor.
• Truth, Justice, and Leadership
• Introduction to the field of political philosophy, exploring fundamental concepts such as human nature, truth, justice, virtue, citizenship, and leadership through the lens of major political philosophers. Application to issues in American political society.
• The United States Constitution and Civil Liberties
• Study of U.S. Constitution in its history, design, and effect on American government and society. Explores theory and practice of constitutional interpretation as it applies to governmental powers and the rights, liberties, and duties of citizens. Prerequisites: at least one 100 level political science course.
• Liberty, Law, & Leadership
• Examine the role of personal and civic virtue in the maintenance of a just and flourishing society, and explore key theories on the existence, character and scope of natural law and natural rights. Study important works of political philosophy and contemporary research in the field.
• Special Topics: Shakespeare’s Politics
• Advanced study of a topic not part of regular course offerings. Note: only PSCI 399 counts as Writing Intensive.
• Research in Political Science
• Research in political science or related field employing methodology of legal studies, political thought, or empirical social science. Students complete research project and provide constructive feedback on peers' work. International studies majors, American government teaching majors, and pre-law minors will complete a project on a topic appropriate to those fields. Prerequisites: at least one 300-level PSCI course.