Thomas Ellington

Assistant Professor of Political Science

Phone: 478.757.3797

Email: tellington@wesleyancollege.edu

Office: Tate 132

Address: Wesleyan College, 4760 Forsyth Road Macon, GA 31210

Education: B.A., M.A., University of Alabama; Ph.D., University of Maryland

Courses taught include:

201: Issues in American National Government.
Goal: Students will develop and utilize analytical tools and research skills for understanding, evaluating, and participating in the political process.
Content: As students investigate selected aspects of political representation and policy formation in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of American national government, they will encounter and use a variety of tools of political analysis. Applying these tools, students will present policy recommendations, hold debates, stage mock legislative sessions, and prepare briefs for cases to be heard in the Supreme Court.
Ged. Ed. Category: Information processing.

300: Foundations of Political Thought.
Goal: To introduce students to political theory's treatment of central political and moral issues, such as human nature, power, community, equality, liberty, and democracy.
Content: Students will read and analyze the contributions of political thinkers including Aristotle, Plato, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Mill, Rousseau, and Marx. The course will close with an analysis of treatment of some of these issues by contemporary political thinkers.

320: American Constitutional Development.
Goal: To explore the principles and processes that have shaped America's development as a constitutional democracy; to develop the ability to critically analyze important constitutional questions.
Content: Examines the framing of the Constitution, judicial review, and changing approaches to constitutional interpretation; separation of powers and federalism; civil liberties and civil rights, including first amendment rights, equal protection, privacy, and criminal due process.
Cross-listed as HIS 320.

451: Directed Independent Study.
Goal: To provide opportunities for students to investigate special topics of interest.
Content: Topics are agreed upon through consultation between the student and the instructor and should receive the approval of the department chair.

452/199: Field Study.
Goal: To give students an opportunity to gain actual experience in government service.
Content: Varies with work assignment.While field study hours will count toward the maximum 48 hours permitted in the major discipline, they may not be applied toward the minimum 37 hours required in the major.