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 PH 993: Philosophy Proseminar 1
  Graduate Prerequisites: graduate standing. - A workshop seminar offering advanced graduate students the opportunity to present and discuss work-in- progress (dissertation chapters, papers for job applications, journal submissions). A serious commitment to regular and continuing attendance is expected.
• CAS PH 994: Philosophy Proseminar 2
  Graduate Prerequisites: (GRSPH993) or consent of instructor. - A continuation of GRS PH 993. A workshop seminar offering advanced graduate students the opportunity to present and discuss work-in-progress (dissertation chapters, papers for job applications, journal submissions). A serious commitment to regular and continuing attendance is expected.
• CAS PO 502: Political Analysis
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASPO399) or consent of instructor. Familiarity with algebra and calculus are he lpful, but not required. - The logic and methods of empirical analysis in political science. Introduces research design for a variety of social science applications, as well as data analysis, data visualization and statistical software. Effective Fall 2023, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Social Inquiry II.
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  • Quantitative Reasoning II
  • Social Inquiry II
• CAS PO 503: The U.S. in the Middle East
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: senior standing. - Examines the historical development and present status of the United States' association with the Middle East: American commercial, economic, political, military, and humanitarian interests in the area and their interaction.
• CAS PO 505: Readings in American Politics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor. - Topics vary. May be taken multiple times for credit providing the topic is different.
• CAS PO 507: Development of American Constitutional Law
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASPO111 & CASPO304) - A survey of the development of constitutional law and the exercise of power by the U.S. Supreme Court. The course is drawn entirely from decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court and the principal theme is the development of national constitutions and power. Effective Fall 2023, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Historical Consciousness.
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  • Historical Consciousness
  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• CAS PO 508: The Judiciary and Civil Liberties
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120) - First Amendment rights of speech, press, assembly, religion; rights of defendants in criminal cases; and the constitutional protection of racial minorities. Supreme Court decision-making processes and modes of compliance with its decisions are also considered. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course, Historical Consciousness.
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  • Historical Consciousness
  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• CAS PO 515: Advanced Public Opinion
  Undergraduate prerequisites: CASPO 399. - Seminar on the theoretical underpinnings of public opinion in the United States. How do voters think about politics' How do they come to form their opinions' What causes these to beliefs change' Effective Spring 2025, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry II, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Social Inquiry II
• CAS PO 516: Gender and Politics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or above. - Analyzes the relationship between gender and politics, law and policy primarily in the United States. Considers inequalities based on gender and sexuality, women's changing political, gender- and sexuality-based political action and social movements. Effective Fall 2023, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Social Inquiry II, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Social Inquiry II
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• CAS PO 517: Urban Politics and Policy
  Prerequisites: at least one 100-level and one 300-level PO course, or consent of the instructor. - Explores the impact of American urban politics on the implementation of local policy. Topics include deindustrialization, white flight, neighborhood effects, housing policy, schools, regionalism, and factors that constrain policy-making capacities. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: The Individual in Community, Writing-Intensive Course, Teamwork/Collaboration.
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  • The Individual in Community
  • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• CAS PO 518: Causes and Consequences of Political Segregation in the United States
  This seminar explores how political geography ¿ where different political, racial, economic, and social groups live in relation to one another ¿ shapes U.S. politics. The course covers trends shaping political segregation and its impacts on representation, elections, political campaigns, and polarization. Effective Fall 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Social Inquiry II.
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  • Historical Consciousness
  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • Social Inquiry II
• CAS PO 519: Inequality and American Politics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120) - This course examines the role of income inequality in shaping American politics and policy. Combining research from history, political science, economics, and public policy scholars, we will consider a range of important topics, including inequality in public voice, money and politics, and attitudes towards redistribution. We will apply this knowledge as part of a final paper project in metropolitan Boston. Effective Spring 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: The Individual in Community, Writing-Intensive Course, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • The Individual in Community
  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• CAS PO 520: Readings in Public Policy
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor. - Topics vary. May be taken multiple times for credit providing the topic is different.
• CAS PO 524: Local Policy Analysis Lab
  Experiential learning by doing research for local governments. In this class students will learn about local government and policy research and apply what they learn to help local government partners solve real problems through serious policy research. Effective Spring 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, The Individual in Community, Teamwork/Collaboration.
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  • The Individual in Community
  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • Teamwork/Collaboration
• CAS PO 526: US Identity Politics
  Prerequisites: First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., CASWR 100 or WR 120) and at least one prior political science course. - Students explore how race, class, gender, sexuality, partisanship and other identities jointly inform their views and have led to historical patterns of conflict and oppression. We read perspectives from authors with varying identities, and discuss contemporary identity politics conflicts. Effective Fall 2025, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, The Individual in Community.
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  • Ethical Reasoning
  • The Individual in Community
• CAS PO 528: Political Economy of Europe and US
  Prerequisites: Any two 300-level social science courses in CAS. - Explores challenges to democracy in Europe and the United States linked to the changing character of global capitalism. Covers topics such as rising wealth and wage inequality, automation in production and global supply chains, housing crises, cross-cultural differences in political support for welfare states the rise of populism, and assetization of basic human needs. Effective Fall 2025, this course fulfills a single requirement in each of the following BU HUB areas: Critical Thinking, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Social Inquiry 2.
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  • Critical Thinking
  • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • Social Inquiry II
• CAS PO 529: Globalization and Contemporary Capitalism in Advanced Industrialized Nations
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor. - Considers the impact of globalization on advanced industrialized nations. Explores global and regional governance of finance, trade, and multinationals. Examines changes in national economic practices in Europe, Asia, and the US, and their effects on jobs, inequality, welfare, and democracy.
• CAS PO 530: Readings in Comparative Politics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor. - Topics vary. May be taken multiple times for credit providing the topic is different.
• CAS PO 533: Globalization of Nationalism
  Focuses on the problem of nationalism, distinguishing types, examining origins, and analyzing political, social, and economic implications. Emphasis is on nationalism's spread into territories in Asia, specifically China, and under the cover of religion (e.g., ISIL) and secular social movements (e.g., "June Days" in Brazil).
• CAS PO 534: US Populism in Comparative Perspective
  Undergrad prerequisites: First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or 120). - This course examines the causes and consequences of rising populism in the US, Latin America, and Europe. Students learn how to identify and analyze populist leaders and movements and conduct original research on comparative populism. Effective Fall 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing- Intensive Course, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Writing-Intensive Course