CAS PO 399 Data Science for Politics (4 credits)
Prerequisite: Any 100-level course in Political Science
Data science is changing how we understand and study politics, policy, and decision-making. This course introduces students to the fundamental tools of data science, including collecting, modeling, and visualizing data, and how to apply these tools to study political and policy questions. Effective Spring 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub area(s):
Quantitative Reasoning I
Digital/Multimedia Expression
CAS PO 501 Formal Political Theory (4 credits)
Undergraduate Prerequisite: PO 111, 141, 151, or 171. Calculus (MA 121, 123, or 127) and probability (MA 113, 115, or 213) are helpful, but not required.
Graduate Prerequisite: completion of BU Social Science Math Boot Camp. Some additional familiarity with calculus and microeconomics is helpful, but not required.
A course on formal theory, covering decision theory, game theory, and social choice theory. Topics include spatial models, electoral competition, bargaining, deterrence, and signaling models. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub area(s):
Quantitative Reasoning II
Social Inquiry II
Critical Thinking
CAS PO 502 Political Analysis: A Primer (4 credits)
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.
*This course does not currently satisfy any BU Hub requirements.