Political Science Courses

Political Science | Courses | Faculty

(All courses carry 3 credits unless otherwise noted.)

101 American Politics (SB) (both sem)

Introduction to and overview of American government. Emphasis on understanding American political institutions such as the Congress, the presidency, and the courts in light of democratic theory and values. Examination of the electoral process; how government institutions respond to demands for public policies.

111 Comparative Politics (SBG)

An introductory exploration of political systems in several nation states in various parts of the world. Coverage differs depending on the specialties and interests of instructor. Students learn about generalized comparative approaches and political development, political processes and political institutions in each state covered.

121 World Politics (SB)

Introduction to the principles and practices of international relations in the political, military, economic, and environmental realms. Study of the development of the contemporary system to explore the effects of the structure of the international system, the institutions through which states conduct their relations, and domestic characteristics on the relations among states.

162 Introduction to Constitutional Law (SB)

Introduction to the American constitution as law. The importance of the text and the traditions of interpretation. The courts, congress, and the presidency. Also local power, the bill of rights, and the fourteenth amendment.

163 Introduction to Civil Liberties

A survey of constitutional rights to free expression, equality, due process, and other civil liberties; attention to contemporary policy issues such as pornography, sex discrimination, and student rights.

171 Introduction to Political Theory (SB)

Introduction to the Western tradition of political theory; focus on particular problems and issues through a reading of classical and non-traditional texts. Topics include political obligation, justice, feminism, individuality, friendship, community, civil disobedience, power, others. Recommended for Political Science majors; not open to senior Political Science majors.

181 Controversies in Public Policy

Introduction to contemporary public policy issues and debates. Various perspectives on public policy, including equality, justice, and efficiency. Emphasis on in-class discussion and debates. Applications may include environmental policy, affirmative action, immigration, welfare policy, education, health, and other public policies.

203 American Political Thought (HS)

Origin and evolution of political ideas and ideals that have shaped the American constitutional system. Tensions within and between liberalism and democracy and the impact of changing social and economic conditions on political beliefs and values.

208 Political Parties and Elections

Analysis of the roles of political parties in elections and in government. Emphasis on elections and democratic theory; voting behavior; party organizations, PACs, and money in congressional and presidential elections; political parties and the governmental process; and parties as sources of continuity and vehicles for change in American politics.

214 Urban Government and Politics

An overview of city politics in the U.S. Focus on understanding urban political economy, including its relation to state and federal governments, the complexity of relations between public and private sectors, the structure of city governments, and decision-making processes. Includes such topical issues as education, housing, and economic development.

219 State and Local Government (SB)

Problems, politics, and issues of state government in the U.S. The key factors inhibiting and facilitating the reemergence of the states in the political system. Significance of state government in the development and implementation of local and federal policies.

220 Public Administration

Focus on political control of public agencies, including how and why agencies are created, the ways in which they shape public policies, how elected officials and other actors control agency discretion, and the ways in which agencies might be reformed. Covers a wide range of policy issues including social welfare, public health, and the environment. Eclectic readings include fiction, case studies, news articles, and government documents.

236 Russian Politics

Historical and ideological influences on politics; the interconnection of social and political institutions and processes; membership, organization, and operation of political groups; the constitution and the governmental structure and their operation; the politics of change, reform, resistance, and ethnicity; contemporary foreign policy; and prospects for the future.

239 Government and Politics of West Europe

Analysis of the political cultures, institutions, systems, and processes of selected West European countries. Emphasis on social and economic factors relating to contemporary political issues.

245 Government and Politics of the English-speaking Caribbean

Focus on the English-speaking Caribbean, formerly the British West Indies: Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Grenada. Analysis of the political institutions, processes and movements which give expression to the forces at work in these societies, expecially those of class, ethnicity, and relations of production. Regional economic integration and political federation examined: the utility or otherwise of CARICOM, failure of West Indies federation, etc. Recommended: POLSCI 111.

249 Canadian Politics

A broad "North American" perspective is used to analyze the geographical, cultural, and governmental features of Canadian political life. Persistent contentious issues in Canada are examined, including national identity, French-English relations, regionalism, and Canadian-United States relations.

253 International Environmental Politics and Policies

Focus on the social, political, and economic factors causing environmental threats and by which efforts have been taken to manage or ameliorate such threats. Introduction to the major actors involved in international environmental politics and the major patterns by which problems are approached internationally.

255 American Foreign Policy (SB)

Principles of American foreign policy with an emphasis on the historical, political, and administrative sources of contemporary policies. Analysis of the foreign policy-making process with specific reference to illustrative case studies. Recommended: equivalent of POLSCI 101 or 121.

270 Ancient Political Thought

Introduction to Western political thought. Classical Greek political philosophies; their evolution from Socrates to Stoicism; the confrontation of the Greek tradition and Hebraic outlook via Christianity as seen in Augustine and Aquinas. Exploration of the relationship of political theory to history, drama, prophecy, and theology.

271 Modern Political Thought

Reading of selected political theorists from 16th to 19th centuries: Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Tocqueville, Marx, and Nietzsche. Emphasis on the nature of the political world and the forms of understanding and activity appropriate to it.

280 Public Policy (SB)

Focus on how public policies are made in the U.S., including the role of citizens, interest groups, and government institutions. Emphasis on the processes by which policies are made in various institutions, including the Presidency, Congress, bureaucracy, and courts. Examples cover numerous public policies, such as campaign finance reform, foreign policy, and the environment.

297 Special Topics

Different seminars are offered under this general topic each semester.

Modern Political Campaigning

The techniques used to reach and persuade voters in political campaigns. Focus on Congressional races in which the techniques, if not the scale, are applicable to a wide range of campaigns.

Race, Culture and American Politics

The connections between "race" and the development of political culture, public law, social movements, and public policy in the U.S. Social and political construction of "race"; the alleged relationship between "culture" and poverty; and how race affected the War on Poverty.

American Politics through Film

Motives used to explore the development of American politics in the 20th century. The forces that shaped our politics early in the century (immigration, reform, religion), the rise of "big" government in the depression and World War II years (the new roles of the federal government, the enhanced presidency, internationalism, and anti-communism), and selected issues (race, gender, modern campaigns) prominent since the 1960s. The meaning of political democracy in America and how our understanding of it has adapted to changing times and conditions.

Politics of European Film

A series of films for discussion and analysis of 20th-century revolution and reaction as a political and aesthetic phenomenon. Includes works of Eisenstein, Riefenstahl, Rossellini, Godard, Bertolucci, Tanner, and Pontecorvo.

The United States and Post-Communism

The approach and policy of the United States government toward the ex-communist countries during the first Bush Administration, the Clinton Administra-tion, and the initial period of the second Bush Administration. U.S. policy toward China, North Korea, Vietnam, and Cuba also covered.

302 The American Presidency

Focus on the constitutional, political, institutional, and policy context of the presidency. The creation of the office, the selection process, the policy process, and pathology and reform.

305 Congress and the Legislative Process

Analysis and evaluation of the U.S. Congress, its structure, procedures, and norms. Emphasis on congressional elections; representation; legislative behavior; the relationship between Congress and the executive branch; and Congress as a source of continuity and a vehicle for change in American politics.

307 Black Politics

Introduction to black politics and ideology in the United States. Includes: the social and political construction of "Blackness"; blacks and social movement; voting and representation; and black popular culture and politics.

308 Public Opinion in Politics

The origins, content, and impact of public opinion and the linkages of public opinion and public policy in the U.S. Conducting a sample survey of opinion.

317 Massachusetts Politics

Massachusetts politics studied as a rich and colorful story, entailing corruption and virtue. Focus mainly on the present, covering the institutions of government and the political process. Students have the opportunity to pursue an aspect of the story that especially interests them.

321 Public Human Resource Management

The public context for human resource management. The nature of public service and the organizational, legal, and labor relations impacts on the tasks of human resource management. Basic interactions of employees at the public workplace explored through case studies.

332 Government and Politics of Scandinavia

The rise of the Scandinavian states (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden); emphasis on the interplay of political, social, and economic factors in shaping democracy. The Scandinavian welfare state model and its domestic and international dimensions. Prior course in modern European history and/or comparative politics (POLSCI 111) recommended.

335 Governments of East Central Europe

Survey of the ethnic, religious, and historic infrastructure of East-Central Europe; focus on the character of the regimes, Communist Party rule, the divergencies between the various states of the area, and their relations with Russia and the changes of 1989 and later. Survey includes Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, the Czech and Slovak republics, and the successor states of the former Yugoslavia.

340 Government and Politics of Latin America

Introduction to South American government and politics. Context of political process, problems of public policies and of transitions to democracy emphasized. POLSCI 111 or previous study of Latin America suggested.

341 Government and Politics of Central America and Hispanic Caribbean

Comparative analysis of the interest groups, political parties, and governmental institutions of the Central American and Caribbean countries. Emphasis on Communism and the role of the U.S.

343 Government and Politics of East Africa

Comparative analysis of the politics of change in Tanzania and Kenya. Economic dependency and underdevelopment; decolonization and liberation; ideology and practice; democratization and economic liberalization. Emphasis on interaction between domestic and external politics. Prerequisite: upper-division standing, POLSCI 111 or consent of instructor.

344 Government and Politics of Spain and Portugal

Unique aspects of the process of political development in Spain and Portugal; emphasis on the heritage of these two nations as reflected in their New World colonies in the Americas and on the present-day pattern of politics in Iberian peninsula.

345 Revolutionary Nationalism and Imperialism in the Caribbean

Focuses on four countries often denied a Caribbean identityóCuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Haitiówhose politics are assessed in regional Caribbean terms, identifying common factors in historical and contemporary development. POLSCI 245 recommended.

346 Government and Politics of West Africa

Comparison of political economy of four former British colonies of West Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, the Gambia and Sierra Leone. Difficulties of nation-state formation, the politics of the military state, role of governments in promoting, altering or retarding economic growth; impact of IMF and other external institutions on development processes. The Gambia as deviate case: liberalism and electoral politics examined. Recommended: POLSCI 111.

351 International Security Policy

Theories about the causes of war and peace, including efforts to identify foreign policies and institutional arrangments that foster war or peace, and the policy implications of these theories in the past, present, and future. International relations scholarship, science fiction novels, and films used to address these issues.

352 Inter-American Relations

U.S.-Latin American relations, and Caribbean. The main institutions and groups included in policy making, the policy options available, issues in U.S. Latin American relations, and how the policy process works.

353 Representations of War and Peace

Understandings of war and peace in historic and contemporary political thought. How war is explained in the works of many thinkers, male and female, past and present. Peace movements, strategies, and theories; war theory and war fighting doctrines. Historic images of the male soldier-citizen and warrior and the female embodying anti-militarist values. Diversity of perspective.

354 International Relations

Advanced topics in international relations. Possible topics: historical and philosophical foundations of the state-system, post-1945 changes in the state-system, alternative levels of political analysis, recurring sources of conflict, instruments of national power, the role of international regimes and other institutions. POLSCI 121, 255 strongly recommended.

356 International Law

Development of basic rules of public international law. Topics include sources of evidence for law, international legal personality, jurisdiction, treatment of individuals, law of treaties, law of the sea, re-sort to force, and peaceful settlement of disputes. POLSCI 121 or equivalent strongly recommended.

357 International Organizations

The roles of intergovernmental organizations in the management of shared problems, particularly collective security, economic relations, use of common areas or resources, promotion of human rights, and protection of the environment. Contrasts the regional integration effort pursued in the European Community and the looser cooperation pursued through the UN system. POLSCI 121 or equivalent strongly recommended.

359 International Political Economy

Study of the political management of international economic relations. Introduces a variety of theoretical approaches to the study of international political economy, stressing the role of power, institutions, knowledge and domestic politics in shaping international economic relations.

360 Constitutional Law

Development of American constitutional law and a study of the Supreme Court as a policy-making institution. Emphasis on landmark cases and the substantive impact of the Supreme Court in the American polity during different political eras. Prerequisite: basic American politics course or equivalent.

361 Civil Liberties

Development of constitutional law in the civil liberties sphere. First Amendment freedoms of speech, press, and religion, and certain rights of the accused; the rights of African-Americans and other minorites and women under the equal protection of the laws clause. Prerequisite: basic American politics course or equivalent.

362 Politics, Law, and Judicial Behavior

The workings of the American judicial system within context of the larger political system. How demands are processed by trial and appellate courts; who uses courts and why; who judges are and how they get their jobs; why judges decide cases the way they do; the impact of court decisions. Prerequisite: basic course in American Politics or equivalent.

363 The Politics of Law

How law, courts, and lawyers influence the substance and pace of political action. Attention to sanctions and regulations, ideological and institutional influences, and political transformation. Analysis of movements in law such as Critical Legal Studies, Law and Economics, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and forms of action like civil disobedience and terrorism.

365 Bill of Rights and Equal Protection

Development and application to the states and the federal government of the provisions of the Bill of Rights and of the constitutional guarantee of equal protection of the laws. Readings from relevant Supreme Court decisions and supplementary materials. Prerequisite: POLSCI 101; POLSCI 360 recommended.

366 The First Amendment

The development of constitutional law in the area of the speech and press guarantees of the First Amendment including the corollary rights to freedom of association, through examination of critical decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. Prerequisite: POLSCI 101; POLSCI 360 recommended.

367 The Supreme Court

Description and interpretation of the United States Supreme Court as a modern institution with attention to its constitutional foundations, traditional practices, and political significance. Includes: Court and Constitution, nomination and confirmation of justices, the "Marble Temple," work processes leading to Court opinions, and the consequences of opinions for public policy.

373 Contemporary Political Theory

Survey of some of the central texts and themes in contemporary political theory. Authors include Arendt, Foucault, Habermas, Marcuse, Haraway. Themes include authority, modernity/postmodern-ity, identity, rights, totalitarianism, lib-eration, communicative ethics, deterrito-rialization, pluralism, multiculturalism, governmentality and rationalization.

374 Issues in Political Theory

Rigorous consideration of topics of current and continuing importance to the study of political theory.

375 Feminist Theory and Politics

A theoretical consideration of different feminisms including liberal-feminism, socialist-feminism, anarcha-feminism, radical feminism and eco-feminism. Also examines: the relation between feminist theory and practice; the historical development of feminism; feminist issues within the canon of political theory; the problem of identity and difference(s) as related to race, class, and gender.

380 Social Welfare Policy

The dynamics of social welfare policy, which encompasses a wide variety of public policies aimed at ameliorating hunger, poverty, ill health, homelessness, and other forms of human distress. Focus on the issues, problems, and politics of contemporary social policy in the United States. Prior knowledge of American government and/or the policy process strongly recommended.

381 Health, Education, and Arts Policy

The roles of the public, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors in health, education, and arts. Major themes include the politics surrounding these policy areas and how public policies shape the mix of sectors, with emphasis on analysis of policy alternatives. The complexity of public policy in these areas and the relationship between the sectors.

382 Environmental Policy

Analysis of domestic and international environmental policies, including air and water pollution, endangered species, wilderness preservation, toxic and hazardous wastes, pesticides, global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, and others. Political, economic, legal, and ecological implications of various environmental policy measures, with emphasis on analyzing and improving public policy. In-class environmental policy debates.

383 Land and Resource Policy

Analyzes changing ideas about the human relationship with Nature, including how these ideas have shaped public policy and transformed ecological systems. Topics include private property, public land, conservation, preservation, ecosystem management, ecofeminism, deep ecology, and place-based politics. Also examines how different professionsósuch as law, economics, and ecologyóview environmental policy in different ways.

385 Comparative Public Policy

Some political aspects of economic and social policy in advanced industrial states. Focus on political economy and policy innovations in several Western industrial states. Areas compared include: economic management (taxation, stabilization, and distribution), income securities, health, and education. Recommended prerequisite: course in comparative politics (e.g., POLSCI 111) and macroeconomics (e.g., ECON 104.)

386 Criminal Justice Policy

Theories of criminal motivation and their implications for the social control of crime. Analysis of a decision-making model for efficiently allocating social resources to alleviate crime; the meaning of punishment. Prior work in public policy or criminology helpful.

393 Nationalism, Ethnicity and Identity in Politics

A comparative exploration of nations and nationalism, ethnic conflict, and identity-based politics in various parts of the world. Students learn about different theoretical approaches through historical and contemporary case studies of the relationship between identity and politics. A discussion of relevant films and novels supplements the course readings.

397 Special Topics

After Communism

Examination of the processes of continuity and change in the former communist states, concentrating on Russia and East Central Europe. Focus on the attempts to form open societies, democratic political systems, and market economies, and the issues for the United States. Some historical overview, particularly on the nature of Leninist communism in power, the problems it faced, and the reasons for its end. Includes brief geocultural introduction to the major states. What the processes examined may mean for the study of politics.

399 Writing in Political Science 1 cr

Fulfills Junior Year Writing requirement. For Political Science majors only.

Political Science | Courses | Faculty