Courses

• CAS PO 251: Introduction to Comparative Politics
  Undergraduate core course. Examines different patterns of political development and contemporary politics in Western Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the former Soviet bloc. Introduces the comparative method in political science and competing theories of political development and political change.
• CAS PO 271: Introduction to International Relations
  (Meets with CAS IR 271.) Undergraduate core course. Study of basic factors in international relations, Western state system, balance of power, nationalism, and imperialism. Primarily for concentrators.
• CAS PO 291: Introduction to Political Theory
  Examines classic and current views on the nature of authority, liberty, and justice. Topics include civil disobedience, freedom of expression, abortion, rights, and affirmative action.
• CAS PO 300: Special Topics in American Politics
  Topics vary. May be taken multiple times for credit providing the topic is different. Possible offerings include American Congress, Voting Behaviors, Separation of Powers, Use of Force, Race and Politics.
• CAS PO 315: The Judicial Process
  Introduction to the judicial process. Topics include the role of lawyers and judges, the structure of the court system, juries, and legal reasoning. Primarily intended for students who have little or no exposure to law courses. (Offered alternate years.)
• CAS PO 316: American Politics in Comparative Perspective
  Comparative approach to the study of American politics, examining such traditional topics as parties, interest groups, and legislatures in the context of other rich democracies. To what extent is America different, and why?
• CAS PO 317: Presidential Leadership
  Presidential power and functions; relations with Congress, political party, and the public; personality and leadership; and comparative study of selected presidents.
• CAS PO 318: United States Political Parties
  Detailed consideration of the political party as a functional organization: party leaders and followers, partisanship and electoral strategy, shifts and realignments in party politics.
• CAS PO 323: Public Opinion and Electoral Politics
  Determinants and consequences of public opinion in the American political system. Social, psychological, and economic influences on opinion formation; role of mass media, parties, and interest groups. Public and private propaganda. Measurement of opinion; sampling techniques; interviewing; data analysis.
• CAS PO 335: Britain and Europe: A New Beginning
  Examines the changing social, cultural, political, and economic structures of Britain at the end of the twentieth century. Introduction to current debates about the future of the United Kingdom in its relationship with Europe.
• CAS PO 341: Comparative Public Policy
  Comparative study of the public policies of advanced societies in such areas as health training, unemployment, poverty, and budget. Explores why countries develop different solutions to policy needs, and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of various national approaches.
• CAS PO 342: Women and Politics
  (Meets with CAS WS 350.) Readings, discussion, and field research on issues of women’s relationship to the processes of political influence, change, and empowerment. Analysis of public policy related to women and children.
• CAS PO 343: Foundations of American Public Policy
  Investigates the social and political roots of U.S. policy solutions. Cross-national comparisons and historical perspectives are used to shed light on seemingly unique American solutions to pressing social and economic problems.
• CAS PO 350: The Australian Political System
  Examines the Australian system and its institutions. Topics include the Constitution, governor-general, republicanism, the High Court, federalism, Parliament, the Executive, the role of the bureaucracy, the party system, interest groups, and the role of the media. (Taught in Sydney, Australia.)
• CAS PO 351: The Politics of Race and Ethnicity
  Definitional hypotheses of race and ethnicity based on cultural, sociological, and biological determinants tested against concrete examples of plural societies in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Correlations between racial/ethnic differentiation and sociopolitical stratification and cleavages examined.
• CAS PO 352: North-South Relations
  Employs a multidisciplinary approach to analyze the relations between the industrialized nations of the "North" and the developing nations of the "South." Addresses historical and current issues in North-South relations, including trade, investment, migration, regional economic integration, and the environment.
• CAS PO 355: International Political Economy
  (Meets with CAS IR 390.) Emphasizes the dynamic interaction between politics and economics to understand and explain historical and contemporary issues in international political economy, including international monetary, trade, investment, financial, and environmental relations. Considers emerging challenges and structures in the international political economy.
• CAS PO 356: US Govt:Foreign
  This course description is currently under construction.
• CAS PO 358: Issues in Contemporary Politics
  An in-depth study of contemporary topics in British and European politics and society, the course provides context to examine such issues as British/EC political and trade relations, British relations with the former Soviet bloc, and Anglo-American problems of public administration.
• CAS PO 360: British Political Institutions
  The institutions of British democracy and political participation. Voting patterns, interest groups, and political parties; the role of Parliament, the cabinet, the monarchy, and civil service.

Note that this information may change at any time.

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