Political Science & International Affairs (PSIA)

POLT 800 - Political Science Pro-Seminar

Credits: 4

Familiarizes students with political science as a profession. Briefly surveys the scope of the discipline in terms of the substantive fields and methodological approaches. Examines the logic of research design and explores diverse methods of inquiry (e.g., archival, experimental, case study, comparative analysis, field study, survey, etc.), including the process of generating a presentable research paper.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 801 - Courts and Public Policy

Credits: 4

Impact of judicial decisions on public policy and influences on judicial decision making at the federal, state, and local levels.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 805 - Elections in the United States

Credits: 4

Students will study various aspects of elections in the United States while observing and analyzing case studies during a campaign season.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 809 - Reforming American Government

Credits: 4

Why is American government designed the way that it is (and how does it change?)? Whose interests are protected and whose interests are limited by its design? What do successful reforms tell us about the future of reform?.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 821 - Feminist Political Theory

Credits: 4

Familiarizes students with trends feminist political thinking; exploring issues of race, ethnicity, class, religion/spirituality, sexual orientation, ability, age as they relate to gender and the development of feminist political theory. Attention is paid to critical thinking and analysis using the paradigm of gender as a prism through which to view our lives and ideas.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 840 - States and Societies in the Middle East

Credits: 4

This seminar explores the comparative politics of selected countries and conflicts in the contemporary Middle East and North Africa. We focus on understanding the causes and consequences of popular uprisings, civil wars, and protracted conflicts. The class is taught through discussion, with students taking active, participatory roles. Themes include changing forms of governance, changing practices of warfare, gender and minority rights, economic and environmental problems, protest and activism, state-society relations, and migration and refugees. Students read memoir, journalistic accounts, and theoretical articles in comparative politics to understand important developments. Specific country and issue cases change each year; recent seminars have addressed Israel-Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. Writing, reading, and discussion intensive class. Designed as follow-on course to POLT 559, Comparative Politics of the Middle East, counts as capstone course for the Middle East Minor.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 842 - Beyond Bollywood: Politics of India & South Asia

Credits: 4

India and its neighbors in South Asia - Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and more - are critical to understand. In particular, Pakistan and Afghanistan’s complicated relationship with terrorist organizations hold important implications for global stability. This course explores India and the rest of South Asia’s domestic politics and their complex relations with each other and the rest of the world. As suggested in the title, some of the course material will include movies and documentaries of and about the region to understand the region through its own eyes.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 848 - Food and Wine Politics

Credits: 4

This course investigates the evolution of wine and foods politics over the past few decades. Food and wine politics provides a lens through which to analyze contrasting perspectives on production, markets, quality, consumer preferences, health, and safety. This course draws upon texts from economic history, political economy, economic sociology, and public policy to shed light on the differences and similarities in political and market organization across Europe, the United States, and emerging market economies. The first half of the course will focus on wine politics and the second half of the course will focus on food politics.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 851 - Comparative Environmental Politics and Policy

Credits: 4

Environmental politics and policy across national boundaries and at different levels of governance. Comparisons of the U.S. and European Union environmental policies to build a foundation for comparisons across national boundaries and sub-national authorities. Students improve their understanding of how and why comparative methods are used to gain insight into politics and policymaking. Central concepts and debates addressed include the roles of expertise, sustainability, precautionary principle, the use of market mechanisms in policy, environmental justice, policy devolution and flexibility, environmental performance assessment, NGO roles, activism, and social movements. Using a range of theoretical approaches and historical and contemporary events and case studies, students will evaluate the claims and explanatory power of various concepts and theories. Includes ethical issues emerging from the theory and practice of environmental politics.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 860 - Theories of International Relations

Credits: 4

Theoretical approaches of international politics, international organization, and international political economy with particular emphasis on systems theories, domestic determinants of foreign policy, and theories of decision making.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 862 - International Political Economy

Credits: 4

This course has been designed to introduce advanced undergraduates and graduate students to the current theoretical discussions in international political economy. The course analyzes the development of current international economic regimes, as well as looks at systemic theories (interdependence, hegemonic stability), domestic determinants (bureaucratic, interest group) and decision-making theories (rational choice). By monitoring current economic and political news, students are challenged to apply these ideas to explain the current problems in political economy.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 878 - International Organization

Credits: 4

This course is about cooperation at the international level. With a focus on international organizations, we examine what roles international institutions (both IGOs and NGOs) play in global governance and their effects in various issue areas. We examine their historical origins, functions, and the international and domestic political forces that impact their effectiveness. The course also considers the role of international organizations on world order including conflict resolution, peacekeeping, development, and human rights.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 879 - Technology & War

Credits: 4

How does weapons technology affect how states fight and the ways in which international politics work? This course considers the relationship between technology and war by considering three key questions: in what context did different weapons develop? have any weapons had a revolutionary effect on war? how have different war strategies changed the conduct of international politics? We will consider the development and effects of weapons including gunpowder, tanks, submarines, nuclear weapons, and drones. Students will leave this course with a greater understanding of the systemic pressures and individual variables that affect technological development and diffusion, and an understanding of how those technologies are used in pursuit of international political goals. Students will also learn how to write a substantial research paper. Every student will leave this class with a 3-5 page writing sample to use for future internship and job applications. As a seminar, this is a writing- and participation-intensive course. Students are expected to complete various types of writing, including weekly discussion posts and multiple types of papers. There is also a significant professionalization component to this course, including an emphasis on proper email communication!

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 897B - Seminar in American Politics

Credits: 4

Advanced analysis and individual research.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 897C - Seminar in Comparative Politics

Credits: 4

Advanced analysis focusing on government and politics in foreign nations or regions. Areas of interest may include: constitutional structures, political parties and interest groups, legislatures, bureaucracy, and public policy. Topics address such concerns as: religion and politics, patterns of economic development, ethnic strife, and political leadership.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 897E - Seminar in International Politics

Credits: 4

Advanced analysis focusing on problems of theory and contemporary issues in international politics. Areas of interest may include: democratic norms in international relations, NATO expansion and European security, the peace process in the Middle East, etc. See department listings for semester offerings.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 898B - Seminar in American Politics

Credits: 4

Advanced analysis and individual research in the field of American Politics.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 899 - Master's Thesis

Credits: 4

Each student carries out original research that culminates in a master's thesis.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits.

Grade Mode: Graduate Credit/Fail grading

POLT 990 - Internship Capstone

Credits: 4

Field experience in a governmental or nongovernmental organization at the local, state, national, or international level. Students will consult with a faculty mentor to identify an internship experience, and work with the faculty mentor to complete a culminating project synthesizing the internship experience with their prior academic coursework.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 995 - Capstone Research Project

Credits: 4

A) American Politics; B) Comparative Politics; C) International Politics; D) Political Thought; E) Public Administration; F) Public Policy. The graduate student engages in independent study under the direction of one of the faculty members of the department.

Equivalent(s): PA 995

Grade Mode: Letter Grading

POLT 996 - Independent Study

Credits: 1-4

A) American Politics; B) Comparative Politics; C) International Politics; D) Political Thought; E) Public Administration; F) Public Policy. The graduate student engages in independent study under the direction of one of the Faculty members of the department.

Repeat Rule: May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credits. May be repeated up to 1 time.

Grade Mode: Letter Grading