Detailed Information for Michael Preda

Contact Information

My Websites

Interests

International Politics

American Foreign Policy

International Organizations

American Defense Policy

Comparative Politics: Western Europe

Comparative Politics: Eastern Europe

Comparative Politics: Middle East

American Federalism & Intergovernmental Relations

Organizational Behavior & Decision-Making

Political Science 5853- GRADUATE

Contemporary American Foreign Policy

Fall 2012- LA 209 at 11:00 a.m. MWF

Professor:      Dr. Michael Preda

Office:                        Midwestern State University, O’Donohoe Bldg. 204

                        3410 Taft Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308-2099

Office hours: M 10-11am; 1-3pm               TR   2-3:30pm

                        W 10-11am; 1-3pm              F     10-11am

Telephone:    940-397-4341                       Fax: 940-397-4865

E-mail:            michael.preda@mwsu.edu

Course

Description:   This course is a study of politics and problems in United States foreign relations since World War II.

Graduate

Mission:         Graduate students in this class will be evaluated separately from undergraduate students.  They will have additional research and writing assignments (see below).  Graduate students will be evaluated on the quality of their research efforts, written research papers, and oral presentations.  They are expected to provide in-depth analysis and synthesis of the subject matter.

Textbooks:     Rosati & Scott, Politics of United States Foreign Policy, 5^th ed.  Boston: Wadsworth/Cengage, 2011. ISBN 9780495797241. 

                        Snow, Cases in American Foreign Policy, 1^st ed.  Boston: Pearson, 2013.  ISBN: 9780205567935.

Exam Policy: Students are expected to take the exams on time.  If illness prohibits a student from taking an exam on time, please contact Dr. Preda immediately.

Attendance:  Attendance is mandatory. 

Course

Require-

ments:            Exam 1           100 points     Wed. Oct. 3

                        Exam 2           100 points     Mon. Nov. 5

                        Exam 3           100 points     Mon Dec. 10 @ 10:00 a.m.

                        Term Paper   100 points     due Mon. Nov. 26

                        2^nd Term P.    100 points     due Fri. Dec. 7

                        Grad oral

                          pres.              50 points       as scheduled

                        Total               550 points

The grading system is as follows:

                        A         90-100            D         60-69

                        B         80-89              F          59 & below (No credit for course)

                        C         70-79

Part I: August 27- October 1:

   Rosati & Scott, Chapters 1-8

  October 1- EXAM 1

Part II: October 5-November 2:

   Rosati & Scott, Chapters 9-14; Snow, Chapters 1& 2

   November 5- EXAM 2

Part III: November 7- December 7:

   Snow, Chapters 3-12  

   Monday December 10 (10:30 a.m.) FINAL EXAM

Other important dates:

Monday September 3- Labor Day Holiday (no class)

Monday October 22- Last Day to Withdraw (W) from class-4:00 p.m.

Wednesday November 21- November 25- Thanksgiving Break-(no classes)

Political Science 5543- GRADUATE

Government & Politics of Eastern Europe

Fall 2012- LA 209 at 9:00 a.m. MWF

Professor:      Dr. Michael Preda

Office:                        Midwestern State University, O’Donohoe Bldg. 204

                        3410 Taft Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308-2099

Office hours: M 10-11am; 1-3pm               TR   2-3:30pm

                        W 10-11am; 1-3pm              F     10-11am

Telephone:    940-397-4341                       Fax: 940-397-4865

E-mail:            michael.preda@mwsu.edu

Course

Description:   This course is a comparative study of the political institutions and processes in the region of Eastern Europe.

Graduate

Mission:         Graduate students in this class will be evaluated separately from undergraduate students.  They will have additional research and writing assignments (listed below). Graduate students will be evaluated on the quality of their research efforts, written research papers and oral presentations.  They are expected to provide in-depth analysis and synthesis of the subject matter.

Textbooks:     Wolchik & Curry, Eds. Central & East European Politics: From Communism to Democracy. 2^nd ed.  Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2011. ISBN: 9780842567344

                        Minton F. Goldman, Ed., Global Studies: Russia, The Eurasian Republics, and Central/Eastern Europe,(Government & Politics of Eastern Europe blue textbook). 11^th Ed. Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill/Create, 2012. ISBN: 9781121499508.                

Exam Policy: Students are expected to take the exams on time.  If illness prohibits a student from taking an exam on time, please contact Dr. Preda immediately.

Attendance:  Attendance is mandatory. 

Course

Require-

ments:            Exam 1           100 points     Mon. Oct. 1

                        Exam 2           100 points     Fri. Nov. 2

                        Exam 3           100 points     Mon Dec. 10 @ 8:00 a.m.

                        Term Paper   100 points     due Mon. Nov. 19

                        2^nd Term P.    100 points     due Fri. Dec. 7

                        Grad oral

                         pres.    50 points      as scheduled

                        Total               550 points

The grading system is as follows:

                        A         90-100            D         60-69

                        B         80-89              F          59 & below (No credit for course)

                        C         70-79

I. August 27- September 28: Introduction, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary

   Blue             Central & Eastern Europe, 93-107

   WC              Ch. 1, 3-30

   WC              Ch. 2, 31-52

   Blue             Ch. 15, Poland, 166-179

   Blue             Ch. 8, Poland, 161-186

   Blue             Ch. 13, Czech Republic & Slovakia, 129-150

   WC              Ch. 9, Czech Republic & Slovakia, 187-212

   Blue             Ch. 14, Hungary, 151-165

   WC              Ch. 10, Hungary, 213-230

  October 1- EXAM 1

II. October 3- 31: Bulgaria, Former Yugoslavia, Romania & Albania

   Blue             Ch. 12, Bulgaria, 119-128

   WC              Ch. 12, Bulgaria, 251-276

   Blue             Ch. 17, Former Yugoslavia, 191-213

   WC              Ch. 13, Former Yugoslavia, 277-312

   Blue             Ch. 16, Romania, 180-190

   WC              Ch. 14, Romania, 313-334

   Blue             Ch. 11, Albania, 110-118

   WC              Ch. 16, Albania, 369-396

   November 2- EXAM 2

III. November 5- December 7: Major issues in Eastern Europe

   WC              Ch. 3, Re-creating the Market

   WC              Ch. 4, Ethnicity & Nationalism

   WC              Ch. 5, Women’s Participation in Politics

   WC              Ch. 6, EU Accession

   WC              Ch. 7, Security Issues, NATO & Beyond

   WC              Ch. 17, What Now?

   Monday December 10 (8:00 a.m.) FINAL EXAM

Other important dates:

Monday September 3- Labor Day Holiday (no class)

Monday October 22- Last Day to Withdraw (W) from class-4:00 p.m.

Wednesday November 21- November 25- Thanksgiving Break-(no classes)

Political Science 4853

Contemporary American Foreign Policy

Fall 2012- LA 209 at 11:00 a.m. MWF

Professor:      Dr. Michael Preda

Office:                        Midwestern State University, O’Donohoe Bldg. 204

                        3410 Taft Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308-2099

Office hours: M 10-11am; 1-3pm               TR   2-3:30pm

                        W 10-11am; 1-3pm              F     10-11am

Telephone:    940-397-4341                       Fax: 940-397-4865

E-mail:            michael.preda@mwsu.edu

Course

Description:   This course is a study of politics and problems in United States foreign relations since World War II.

Textbooks:     Rosati & Scott, Politics of United States Foreign Policy, 5^th ed.  Boston: Wadsworth/Cengage, 2011. ISBN 9780495797241. 

                        Snow, Cases in American Foreign Policy, 1^st ed.  Boston: Pearson, 2013.  ISBN: 9780205567935.

Exam Policy: Students are expected to take the exams on time.  If illness prohibits a student from taking an exam on time, please contact Dr. Preda immediately.

Attendance:  Attendance is mandatory. 

Course

Require-

ments:            Exam 1           100 points     Wed. Oct. 3

                        Exam 2           100 points     Mon. Nov. 5

                        Exam 3           100 points     Mon Dec. 10 @ 10:00 a.m.

                        Term Paper   100 points     due Mon. Nov. 26

                                                Total               400 points

The grading system is as follows:

                        A         90-100            D         60-69

                        B         80-89              F          59 & below (No credit for course)

                        C         70-79

Part I: August 27- October 1:

   Rosati & Scott, Chapters 1-8

  October 1- EXAM 1

Part II: October 5-November 2:

   Rosati & Scott, Chapters 9-14; Snow, Chapters 1& 2

   November 5- EXAM 2

Part III: November 7- December 7:

   Snow, Chapters 3-12  

   Monday December 10 (10:30 a.m.) FINAL EXAM

Other important dates:

Monday September 3- Labor Day Holiday (no class)

Monday October 22- Last Day to Withdraw (W) from class-4:00 p.m.

Wednesday November 21- November 25- Thanksgiving Break-(no classes)

Political Science 3543

Government & Politics of Eastern Europe

Fall 2012- LA 209 at 9:00 a.m. MWF

Professor:      Dr. Michael Preda

Office:                        Midwestern State University, O’Donohoe Bldg. 204

                        3410 Taft Blvd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308-2099

Office hours: M 10-11am; 1-3pm               TR   2-3:30pm

                        W 10-11am; 1-3pm              F     10-11am

Telephone:    940-397-4341                       Fax: 940-397-4865

E-mail:            michael.preda@mwsu.edu

Course

Description:   This course is a comparative study of the political institutions and processes in the region of Eastern Europe.

Textbooks:     Wolchik & Curry, Eds. Central & East European Politics: From Communism to Democracy. 2^nd ed.  Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2011. ISBN: 9780842567344

                        Minton F. Goldman, Ed., Global Studies: Russia, The Eurasian Republics, and Central/Eastern Europe,(Government & Politics of Eastern Europe blue textbook). 11^th Ed. Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill/Create, 2012. ISBN: 9781121499508.                

Exam Policy: Students are expected to take the exams on time.  If illness prohibits a student from taking an exam on time, please contact Dr. Preda immediately.

Attendance:  Attendance is mandatory. 

Course

Require-

ments:            Exam 1           100 points     Mon. Oct. 1

                        Exam 2           100 points     Fri. Nov. 2

                        Exam 3           100 points     Mon Dec. 10 @ 8:00 a.m.

                        Term Paper   100 points     due Mon. Nov. 19

                                                Total               400 points

The grading system is as follows:

                        A         90-100            D         60-69

                        B         80-89              F          59 & below (No credit for course)

                        C         70-79

I. August 27- September 28: Introduction, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary

   Blue             Central & Eastern Europe, 93-107

   WC              Ch. 1, 3-30

   WC              Ch. 2, 31-52

   Blue             Ch. 15, Poland, 166-179

   Blue             Ch. 8, Poland, 161-186

   Blue             Ch. 13, Czech Republic & Slovakia, 129-150

   WC              Ch. 9, Czech Republic & Slovakia, 187-212

   Blue             Ch. 14, Hungary, 151-165

   WC              Ch. 10, Hungary, 213-230

  October 1- EXAM 1

II. October 3- 31: Bulgaria, Former Yugoslavia, Romania & Albania

   Blue             Ch. 12, Bulgaria, 119-128

   WC              Ch. 12, Bulgaria, 251-276

   Blue             Ch. 17, Former Yugoslavia, 191-213

   WC              Ch. 13, Former Yugoslavia, 277-312

   Blue             Ch. 16, Romania, 180-190

   WC              Ch. 14, Romania, 313-334

   Blue             Ch. 11, Albania, 110-118

   WC              Ch. 16, Albania, 369-396

   November 2- EXAM 2

III. November 5- December 7: Major issues in Eastern Europe

   WC              Ch. 3, Re-creating the Market

   WC              Ch. 4, Ethnicity & Nationalism

   WC              Ch. 5, Women’s Participation in Politics

   WC              Ch. 6, EU Accession

   WC              Ch. 7, Security Issues, NATO & Beyond

   WC              Ch. 17, What Now?

   Monday December 10 (8:00 a.m.) FINAL EXAM

Other important dates:

Monday September 3- Labor Day Holiday (no class)

Monday October 22- Last Day to Withdraw (W) from class-4:00 p.m.

Wednesday November 21- November 25- Thanksgiving Break-(no classes)

Political Science 1333 -American Government I

9:30 a.m. TR- Fall 2012

Professor:       Dr. Michael Preda

Office:             O’Donohoe Bldg., room 204

Telephone:     940-397-4341

Fax:                  940-397-4865

e-mail:             michael.preda@mwsu.edu

Course

Description:    This is a study of the American national and Texas governmental systems.  The

                        course focuses on the American experiment in federalism and democracy;

                        origin and development of the U.S. Constitution; federal-state relations; the

                        individual as a citizen; political parties and electoral campaigns.

Course

Objectives:     This course is intended to further student development in the following

departmental learning objectives.

• Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental principles of American and

Texas governments.

• Demonstrate critical thinking skills towards political inquiry.

Textbooks:      Neal Tannahill, THINK-American Government, 2012 ed.  Boston: Pearson, 2013.

Gary Keith & Stefan Haag, Texas Politics and Government, 4^th ed.  Boston: Longman, 2012.

Both of the textbooks are sold as a package:

Exam policy:   Students are expected to take the exams on time.  If illness prohibits a student

                        from taking an exam on time, please contact Dr. Preda immediately.

Attendance:   Attendance is mandatory.  Each student is permitted 2 absences during the

                        semester.  Students exceeding 2 absences should expect to be dropped from

                        class.

Disability

Policy:             Any student with a disability that may limit demonstrating fully his/her

                        abilities should contact Dr. Preda immediately at the beginning of the semester.

Cheating &

Plagiarism:      Cheating and plagiarism are very serious matters.  The University’s minimum

                        penalty for cheating or plagiarism is a failure of assignment.  Cheating or

                        plagiarism can lead to expulsion from the university.  If you have any questions

                        about original work, please see the Student Handbook, Code of Student

                        Conduct, section 10.

Course

Requirements:           Exam 1………..100 points

                                    Exam 2………..100 points

                                    Exam 3………..100 points

                                                Total  300 points

SCHEDULE

Aug. 28- Sep. 25

THINK book:

Ch. 1    A Changing America

Ch. 2    Constitution

Ch. 3    Federal System

Ch. 9    Interest Groups

Exam 1- Thursday September 27

Oct. 2-30

THINK book:

Ch. 6    Public Opinion

Ch. 7    Political Participation

Ch. 10  Political Parties

Ch. 11  Campaigns & Elections

Exam 2- Thursday November 1

Nov. 6- Dec. 6

THINK book:

Ch. 8    News Media

Texas book:

Ch. 1    Ideas, People & Economics in Texas

Ch. 2    Texas Constitution

Ch. 3    Voting & Participating in Texas

Exam 3 (Final Exam) Tuesday December 11 (8:00 a.m.)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Oct 22:  Last day for “W” 4:00 p.m.

Nov 21-25: Thanksgiving Break- no classes

Political Science 1333 -American Government I

12:30 p.m. TR- Fall 2012

Professor:       Dr. Michael Preda

Office:             O’Donohoe Bldg., room 204

Telephone:     940-397-4341

Fax:                  940-397-4865

e-mail:             michael.preda@mwsu.edu

Course

Description:    This is a study of the American national and Texas governmental systems.  The

                        course focuses on the American experiment in federalism and democracy;

                        origin and development of the U.S. Constitution; federal-state relations; the

                        individual as a citizen; political parties and electoral campaigns.

Course

Objectives:     This course is intended to further student development in the following

departmental learning objectives.

• Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental principles of American and

Texas governments.

• Demonstrate critical thinking skills towards political inquiry.

Textbooks:      Neal Tannahill, THINK-American Government, 2012 ed.  Boston: Pearson, 2013.

Gary Keith & Stefan Haag, Texas Politics and Government, 4^th ed.  Boston: Longman, 2012.

Both of the textbooks are sold as a package:

Exam policy:   Students are expected to take the exams on time.  If illness prohibits a student

                        from taking an exam on time, please contact Dr. Preda immediately.

Attendance:   Attendance is mandatory.  Each student is permitted 2 absences during the

                        semester.  Students exceeding 2 absences should expect to be dropped from

                        class.

Disability

Policy:             Any student with a disability that may limit demonstrating fully his/her

                        abilities should contact Dr. Preda immediately at the beginning of the semester.

Cheating &

Plagiarism:      Cheating and plagiarism are very serious matters.  The University’s minimum

                        penalty for cheating or plagiarism is a failure of assignment.  Cheating or

                        plagiarism can lead to expulsion from the university.  If you have any questions

                        about original work, please see the Student Handbook, Code of Student

                        Conduct, section 10.

Course

Requirements:           Exam 1………..100 points

                                    Exam 2………..100 points

                                    Exam 3………..100 points

                                                Total  300 points

SCHEDULE

Aug. 28- Sep. 25

THINK book:

Ch. 1    A Changing America

Ch. 2    Constitution

Ch. 3    Federal System

Ch. 9    Interest Groups

Exam 1- Thursday September 27

Oct. 2-30

THINK book:

Ch. 6    Public Opinion

Ch. 7    Political Participation

Ch. 10  Political Parties

Ch. 11  Campaigns & Elections

Exam 2- Thursday November 1

Nov. 6- Dec. 6

THINK book:

Ch. 8    News Media

Texas book:

Ch. 1    Ideas, People & Economics in Texas

Ch. 2    Texas Constitution

Ch. 3    Voting & Participating in Texas

Exam 3 (Final Exam) Thursday December 13 (10:30 a.m.)

IMPORTANT DATES:

Oct 22:  Last day for “W” 4:00 p.m.

Nov 21-25: Thanksgiving Break- no classes

9:00 a.m.  MWF

9:00 a.m. MWF

12:30pm TR

12:30pm TR

Summer I 2011- 12:20-2:20 p.m. MTWTH

 Summer I 2011- 8:00-10:00 a.m. MTWTH

Wednesdays: 5:30-8:20 p.m.

9:30am/ Tuesdays & Thursdays

12:30-1:50 p.m. /Tuesdays & Thursdays

11:00 a.m. MWF

9:30 a.m. TR

9:00 a.m. MWF

9:30 a.m. TR

11:00 a.m. MWF

12:30 p.m. TR