Political Science

Chair: Professor M. Angrist
Faculty: Professors M. Angrist, C. Brown, L. Marso, Z. Oxley; Associate Professors B. Hays, R. Hislope, G. Seri; Assistant Professors C. Cidam, M. Dallas; Senior Lecturer T. Lobe; Visiting Assistant Professor A. Dell’Aera
Staff: C. Fortsch (Administrative Assistant).

Political Theory Courses

Unless otherwise indicated the prerequisites for the following courses are PSC 113 or sophomore standing.

200-level theory courses tend to cover special themes and tightly focused topics. You may read texts out of historical order, or across historical moments. Given their more specific focus, these courses may be geared towards students with some basic (or advanced) knowledge in key texts and issues.

300-level theory courses tend to survey a wide range of classic texts and questions in historical context. In these courses, you can expect to learn about major conceptual questions relevant to the history of political thought as well as become familiar with the arguments of key authors.

Students from across the college are welcome in 200 and 300-level courses; you may, however, want to speak with the instructor about whether knowledge beyond PSC 113 , Introduction to Political Thought, is expected.

Comparative Politics Courses

Unless otherwise indicated prerequisites for the following courses are PSC 111 or PSC 112 or sophomore standing.

200-level courses in comparative politics generally cover political issues that are regionally concentrated (such as Latin America, Europe, China, and the Middle East), or they focus on themes (such as democracy, nationalism, social movements) that are framed at a conceptual level accessible to students from across the college.

300-level courses in comparative politics have a special topics theme (women and politics, the Marxist political tradition, democratization, genocide, and Film) and/or a strong methodological component. The course materials are more conceptually and theoretically complex, and involve a more sophisticated set of intellectual problems.

International Politics Courses

Unless otherwise indicated prerequisites for the following courses are PSC 111 or PSC 112 or PSC 113 or sophomore standing.

200-level courses in international relations cover foreign policy-oriented courses (China and the USA), regional interstate topics (Asia and the Middle East), and practicum-based courses (Model UN). These courses are framed at a conceptual level accessible to students from across the college.

300-level courses in international relations cover advanced issues in international political economy, institutions of global governance, US security, and transnational actors and trends. The course materials are more conceptually and theoretically complex, and involve a more sophisticated set of intellectual problems.

United States Politics Courses

Unless otherwise indicated prerequisites for the following courses are PSC 111 or PSC 112 or sophomore standing.

Programs

Major

Political Science, B.A.

Interdepartmental Major

Political Science, B.A.

Minor

Political Science Minor