Courses

The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular term. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the MyBU Student Portal for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

• CAS PO 341: European Politics
  Prerequisites: CASPO 141 or CASPO 151/CASIR 251 - Comparative study of politics in member states of the European Union, with emphasis on political development, institutions, major issues in contemporary politics, and the impact of European integration. Selective references to original and new member states of the EU.
• CAS PO 343: Europe and International Relations
  Provides an overview of European affairs. Topics include the foreign policies of European nations, the dynamics of European integration, NATO, international migration and ethnic conflict, and European relations with the United States, Russia, and neighboring countries.
• CAS PO 344: Democracy: Its Origins, Breakdown and Outcomes
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASPO151 OR CASSO100) - How do political scientists explain the emergence of democratic regimes' And what factors explain their breakdown' We look at these questions across a range of countries in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and other regions of the world. Effective Spring 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Social Inquiry II, Teamwork/Collaboration.
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  • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • Social Inquiry II
  • Teamwork/Collaboration
• CAS PO 346: Bombs and Bombshells: Gender, Armed Conflict, and Political Violence
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: sophomore, junior, or senior standing. - Interdisciplinary course surveying women's relationship to political violence with a focus on the evolution of women's international participation in non-state, religiously-motivated groups. Women's roles in political violence throughout Western Europe, North America, and the Middle East are explored. Effective Summer 2025 fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Teamwork/Collaboration.
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  • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • Teamwork/Collaboration
• CAS PO 350: The Making of Asia
  Explores the diverse experiences of modernization and development in China, Japan, Korea, as well as the countries of Southeast Asia. Also examines the domestic and international impacts of growing social-economic ties, as well as the complex security challenges among Asian states. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy. Effective Spring 2025, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
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  • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • Social Inquiry I
• CAS PO 351: China: from Revolution to Reform
  Introduction to modern Chinese politics including the development of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the political development of the PRC since its founding in 1949. Focus is on the party's official policy and its changing relationships with the people of China. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Social Inquiry I.
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  • Historical Consciousness
  • Social Inquiry I
• CAS PO 352: Rise of China
  How has China risen economically in the last four decades? How different was the Chinese economic model compared to other Asian nations and western models? In what aspects has China's political system been changed or unchanged during its economic rise? What opportunities and challenges are presented with the economic rise of China in the region and in the world? The course offers foundational knowledge on China's economic reform, domestic politics, and global implications, evaluates public and policy debates, and applies the process and methods of social research. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Research and Information Literacy. Effective Fall 2025, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Social Inquiry I
• CAS PO 354: Southeast Asia in World Politics
  Examines Southeast Asia as an important emerging political, economic, and security region in world politics. Background materials, including the region's history, cultural diversity, and geo-strategic position, are given weight in the course. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Critical Thinking.
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  • Critical Thinking
  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
• CAS PO 355: War and Memory in the American Experience
  This seminar examines three questions: How do we remember (and forget) war? Who does the remembering? What is the relationship between war memory and war making? The relationship between war and memory is explored via the American experience. Effective Spring 2025, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Individual in Community, Creativity & Innovation.
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  • Creativity/Innovation
  • Historical Consciousness
  • The Individual in Community
• CAS PO 356: Nuclear Security
  Provides students with the foundation for understanding nuclear security in the twenty-first century. Emphasis on the American Cold War experience, the growing threat of nuclear proliferation, the renaissance of civilian nuclear power, safeguards, and nuclear weapons under budget constraints. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Teamwork/Collaboration.
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  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • Teamwork/Collaboration
• CAS PO 357: Causes of War and Peace
  War is the most destructive social act in which humanity engages. Why does war happen' This question is addressed by focusing on a variety of scholarly explanations. Theoretical discussions are paired with an examination of historical cases. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry II, Ethical Reasoning.
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  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Social Inquiry II
• CAS PO 360: Introduction to Latin American Politics and International Relations
  Examines patterns and complexities of Latin American politics and foreign policies. Focuses on a range of Latin American political and historical experiences, from colonization to global inequality to the impact of Indigenous, Black, feminist and other social movements in the region. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Historical Consciousness.
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  • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • Historical Consciousness
• CAS PO 367: Zionism and Its Critics
  Focuses on the Jewish nationalist movement using historical, thematic, critical, and comparative perspectives. At the intersection of history, political science, and religious studies, the class tackles pressing questions in international affairs.
• CAS PO 368: Introduction to Middle East Politics
  Employs social science theories to explain the political development of the Middle East since World War I. Part 1 examines state formation and competing explanations for authoritarianism. Part 2 analyzes social movements ranging from Islamist groups to mass mobilization.
• CAS PO 369: Comparative Development in the Middle East
  This course surveys pertinent topics relating to the socio-economic and political development of the Middle East and North African throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Students will explore and critical analyze themes relating to colonialism and state formation and statebuilding, regime types, oil and rentierism, civil society, authoritarianism and democratization, military spending, gender relations, Islamist movements, elections, revolutions and social movements, territorial disputes, foreign intervention, and sectarianism and identity politics. Effective Spring 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Critical Thinking.
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  • Critical Thinking
  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • Social Inquiry I
• CAS PO 373: African Politics Today
  An introduction to the issues dominating African political life today. Core course debates revolve around recent trends in African economic growth, democratic governance, and armed conflict, in addition to several other issues of contemporary concern.
• CAS PO 375: Democracy and Protest in the Global South
  Explores roots, dynamics, and implications of recent popular protests both for democracy (e.g. 2011 Arab Spring) as well as challenges to established democracies (e.g. South Africa, Brazil). Focus on North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Asia. Effective Fall 2023 fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Critical Thinking, Global Citizenship, Social Inquiry I.
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  • Critical Thinking
  • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • Social Inquiry I
• CAS PO 377: Africa in International Politics
  Introduction to the international relations of post-colonial Africa. Core themes include the politics of post-independence international alignments, the external causes and effects of authoritarian rule, and Africa's role in the global political economy.
• CAS PO 378: International Human Rights: Applying Human Rights in Africa
  Meets with CAS IR 352. Studies the growing international influence on politics of human rights principles, documents, and organizations, drawing especially on African cases such as Congo, Zimbabwe, and Sudan. The class explores the relationship between civil and political rights and economic, social, and culture rights. We consider debates over claims of universality vs. cultural relativism, individual vs. group rights, and ways to improve human rights enforcement well respecting local cultures. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Ethical Reasoning, Teamwork/Collaboration.
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  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • Teamwork/Collaboration
• CAS PO 380: Special Topics: International Relations in Political Science
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor. - Topics vary. May be taken multiple times for credit providing the topic is different.