Political Science

Analysis of political philosophies relating to fundamental problems of political association, past and present. Course examines concepts of power, authority, freedom, equality, social justice, and order, as expressed in works of major political philosophers.

Examination of the behavior of states and non-state actors in the international system. Topics include systems analysis, nationalism, power, foreign policy, international institutions, interdependence and the world economy, conflict and cooperation, global environmental and ecological issues.

Introduction to structures and processes of political institutions in major types of political systems, including parliamentary systems, countries of the former Soviet Bloc system, and systems in developing countries.

Examination of the institutional structure and policy-making process of national government as reflections of assumptions of liberal democracy and the American social and economic systems. In addition to the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, political parties, interest groups, and elections are considered.

Course investigates the political economy of North-South relations. Examining the distribution of wealth between the developed and developing countries of the world, course focuses on political and economic factors that have made global inequality a central characteristic of the relationship between the North and South. Important issues of the contemporary period such as North-South trade, the debt crisis, foreign aid, and famine are investigated and the developmental prospects for the South are assessed. Prerequisite: POL 103

This course introduces students to the scientific study of law and courts, with a focus on courts as political institutions and judges as political actors. Topics covered throughout the semester include agenda setting, decision making, judicial selection, modeling the law, judges and their audiences, cognition and judging, the judicial hierarchy, public opinion and court legitimacy, the judicialization of governance, and international adjudication. Prerequisite: POL 101
POL 299 and PP 299 are cross-listed.

The European Union pervasively influences the lives of European people. Inter-governmental agreements and EU institutions have changed policies concerning currency, the conduct of business, buying/consuming products, and traveling (just to name a few). The process of European governments agreeing to share sovereignty and create supranational institutions is called European integration. This course analyzes the origins and developments of the European integration process, and its institutions and policies.

This course examines the government and politics in Europe with emphasis on the processes of state-formation, democratization and democratic consolidation, welfare state policy and European integration. Particular attention will be paid to the U.K., France and Germany but additional cases from Southern Europe, Central and Eastern Europe and/or the Nordic countries will be considered depending on student interest. Prerequisite: POL 104

This course explores key theories, debates, events and issues in international politics through film and literature. It aims to provide students with an opportunity to unveil aspects of human condition in various political contexts though experiences of fictional characters. The course is divided into two
major parts. We will begin with the theories of International Relations (IR). In this part we will use the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) to understand principles of IR. Tolkien’s imaginary world provides a tangible setting for abstract theoretical concepts of IR. We will zoom into the timeless story of LOTR through the film adaptations. (No prior knowledge on LOTR is required or assumed.) The second
part will explore three IR topics: interstate and civil wars, the Cold War rivalry, and human security. Although LOTR could be stretched to understand most aspects of these three topics, we will rely on additional visual material to examine various components of each theme.

Ethnically based hostilities continue to pose a significant threat to contemporary international security. This course aims to develop an understanding of the nature of ethnicity, ethnic identity and role of ethnic groups in international politics. The goal of the course is to introduce fundamental concepts and major theoretical approaches to contemporary analysis of ethnic groups with a specific focus on eight cases of ethnic conflict across the globe. Prerequisite: POL 103

Examination of the sources, goals and patterns of foreign policy. Attention is given to the processes by which policy is formulated and implemented and to the evaluation of the effectiveness of policy. Topics include decision making, foreign economic policy, deterrence, instruments of foreign policy, regionalism, multilateralism, and the development of post-Cold War objectives. Prerequisite: POL103

An examination of the impact of race on political representation in the United States. Using the concept of political representation as our framework, students explore topics such as race and the electoral process, voting trends and public opinion among racial minorities, race and representation in the American party system and the U.S. Congress, and race and public policy. The intense struggle of African Americans to gain fair political representation in the United States is a special focus of this course. Prerequisite: POL 101

Study of the presidency in the American political system, including presidential selection, presidential leadership and decision-making, the president's advisors, and the role of the presidency in the policy-making process. Prerequisite: POL 101

Study of the United States Congress, focusing on theories of representation, nomination and electoral processes, internal organization of Congress, influences on Congressional policy-making, and Congressional interaction with other participants in the policy process. Prerequisite: POL 101

Examines U.S. constitutional law with a focus on institutional powers & constraints. This course addresses the jurisprudence surrounding federalism and separation of powers. Prerequisite: POL 101 POL 225 and PP 225 are cross-listed.

Introduction to quantitative research methods and their application to the study of politics. Topics include empiricism, survey research and polling, electoral behavior, and public opinion. Special attention is given to research design, data collection, data processing, and statistical analysis. Prerequisite: Completion of one from the following: POL 101,102,103,104; and Sophomore or above class standing.

Conventional wisdom implies that women are more peaceful than men. Is this true? This course is designed to engage and challenge conventional wisdom by examining the complex ways in which women experience, support, and push back against war. Prerequisite: POL 103

Exploration of announced topics in Comparative Politics at the intermediate level. Prerequisite: POL 104

Exploration of announced topics in international politics at the intermediate level. Prerequisite: POL 103

Exploration of announced topics in political theory at the intermediate level. Prerequisite: POL 102 or POL 104

Exploration of announced topics in American Government. Prerequisite: POL 101

This course examines sexuality through the lens of comparative politics, and the course has three parts. First, we begin by unpacking the social construction of gender and sexuality since the earliest state-making. Second, we explore two themes that help to structure the findings in this body of political science research: ‘progress/advancement’ and ‘backlash/losses’ regarding LGBT+ rights. Third, we situate the politics of sexuality in the divisions between the Global North and the Global South. Prerequisite: POL 101, POL 102, POL 103, or POL 104.

This course provides an in-depth look at empirical research on why civil wars occur, why individuals and groups resort to violence, and why intrastate violence takes on oftentimes severe forms. Throughout the semester, the course builds quantitative analytical skills and data literacy in the context of the study of civil war. Prerequisite: POL 103; and POL 215 or instructor permission.

An examination of some basic forms of conflict prevalent in the international system. The course focuses on conditions that provoke conflict, attempts to prevent conflict, the ways to manage conflict, the means to end conflict, and what happens when conflict can't be resolved. Cases are drawn from global and regional examples. Prerequisite: POL 103

This course examines the role of religion in the discipline of International Relations (IR). The course is divided into four parts: 1) introduction to religion and IR, 2) Islam and democracy, 3) religion and foreign policy and 4) religious minorities. After a brief introduction to religion and IR scholarship, in part two, we will explore Muslim democracies. Cesari’s book will guide our discussion on the role of religious institutions in formation of Muslim majority nation states. In order to complement theoretical context and the broad scope of the book, students will work with
undergraduates from Turkey (Türkiye) to explore religion in Turkish politics though interactive assignments. In part three, we will explore faith and foreign policy connections. Final section is on religious minorities with a focus on religious discrimination trends. In addition, with the applied quantitative assignments, students will explore Religion and State (RAS) dataset. Prerequisite: POL 103

Employment of a political economy approach to study both interstate and intrastate conflicts. Students examine the relationship between war and economics, ranging from the role these factors play in the development of the modern nation-state to civil wars and the virtual collapse of the state in contemporary civil conflicts. Prerequisite: POL 103

Autocracies are the predominant form of political regimes throughout history and are still prevalent today. Autocrats are in a precarious position--facing threats from the population, who want greater democratization, and other regime elites who want to replace them. How do autocrats navigate these threats? In this course, we examine the nature of threats to ruling and the different ways that autocrats strategically temper threats. Topics include repression, security apparatus, institutional designs, and information control.

Turkey is a democratic, secular, and predominantly Muslim country. It has a rapidly growing economy, making it one of the twenty largest economies in the world. Moreover, due to its geographic proximity to Iraq, Iran and Israel, and energy reserves of the Caspian Sea and Central Asia, Turkey is an important international actor especially for the West. Turkey’s unique domestic political attributes and international role in between Europe and the Middle East makes it an intriguing case for political scientists.
This course seeks to familiarize students with the main issues around which politics revolves in Turkey during the post-1980 period. Using scholarly work conducted on different dimensions of politics in Turkey, special attention will be paid to the discussion of the issues of the consolidation of democracy, civil society, secularism, the rise of Islam, nationalism, identity politics, socio-economic changes, political parties and modernity in order to be able to capture the essence of the changing nature of Turkish politics.

Course examines the role of feminist political thought in American politics. Topics include various strains of feminist theory, including liberal, Marxist, radical, and anarchist theories, with particular emphasis on kinds of feminist political participation that emerge from liberal and anarchist political ideals. Course also provides a context in which key concepts such as politics and power may be reconceptualized from an American feminist point of view. Prerequisite: POL 101 or POL 102.

Exploration of announced topics in international politics at the advanced level. Prerequisite: POL 103

This course critically examines campaigns and elections in the U.S. Topics we will cover include election laws and processes, the transformation of political campaigns over time, modern campaign strategies, and the role of political parties, interest groups, and the media in U.S. political campaigns. Themes running through the semester include how, when, and where political campaigns impact election outcomes and, normatively speaking, the extent to which campaigns advance the values of equality, free choice and speech, deliberation, and effective government. Prerequisites: POL 101 and POL 215.

Exploration of announced topics in American Politics at the advanced level. Prerequisite: POL 101

Exploration of announced topics in political theory at the advanced level. Prerequisite: POL 102

Exploration of announced topics in comparative politics at the advanced level. Prerequisite: POL 104

This course examines the role of money in shaping political power and representation in the United States. Topics we cover include campaign finance law and the constraints federal courts have placed on the regulation of political money; the representational inequalities (particularly with respect to race, gender, and class) that characterize U.S. campaign finance and lobbying; the effect of campaign money on election and policy outcomes; and reforms designed to curb money’s influence. Prerequisite: POL 101 and POL 215

Examines U.S. constitutional law with a focus on civil rights and liberties. This course addresses the jurisprudence surrounding the Bill of Rights and the Reconstruction Amendments. Prerequisite: POL 101 (Note: POL 225 is not a prerequisite)

Comparative analysis of politics and the policy process in the fifty states. An empirical analysis of the operation and functions of state political systems. Prerequisite: POL 101 and 215

Examination of political parties, their role in democracy, and the nature of the party system in relation to other social and political processes. Aspects of voting behavior and campaign techniques are considered. Prerequisite: POL 101 and 215

Analysis of the policies that guide the use, control and management of natural resources. Students examine the laws, bureaucracies, economics, politics and ideologies underlying policy making processes in order to understand how and why certain policies emerge as well as their social and ecological effects. The primary focus is on the United States, but the growing international dimension of environmental policies and the ambiguous role of the US in these efforts is also considered. Prerequisite: ES 196 or POL 101. ES 333, POL 333, and PP 333 are cross-listed.

Advanced study of American politics. A common core of reading and written reports by each student is provided. Topics differ each year. Prerequisite: POL 101 and 215; Senior standing and declared POL major.

Advanced study of political theory. A common core of reading and written reports by each student is provided. Topics differ each year.

Advanced study of international relations. A common core of reading and written reports by each student is provided. Topics differ each year. Prerequisite: POL 103 and 215; Senior standing and declared POL major.

Advanced study of comparative politics. A common core of reading and written reports by each student is provided. Topics differ each year. Prerequisite: POL 104 and 215; Senior standing and declared POL major.

Gain the practical skills needed to transition successfully into professional careers or advanced (graduate) study. Topics covered include personal marketing and networking, writing resumes/ CVs, and cover letters, navigating job search sites, using AI effectively, revising writing samples, and practice interviews. Application to jobs, internships, and/or graduate programs is a requirement of the course.
Enrollment requirements- junior or senior Political Science major or minor.

Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F

Internship not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U

Summer Internship graded S/U, counting in the minimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office