Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the core questions and basic literatures in at least one subfield of political science.

2. Apply political science theories to real world problems.

3. Show a fluency in reading quantitative research findings and the ability to undertake basic analysis using quantitative tools.

4. Show familiarity with basic issues of research design.

5. Demonstrate mastery of writing.

Legislative Process
The function of the legislative branch in the American governmental system. Emphasis on Congress and comparison with state legislatures.

Voting Behavior, Elections, and Campaigns
Political participation and behavior in U.S. primaries and elections, management of campaigns, mass media, and political organizations.

Women, Politics, and Public Policy
A wide variety of issues of concern to women, including healthcare, welfare, educational equity, employment discrimination, and reproductive rights are examined through the lens of the formal policy-making process.

Understanding Regime Change: Authoritarians, Democrats, and Movement Between Categories
In this course students learn and understand many facets of the complex an
dynamic changes in political regimes experienced worldwide over the last
several decades. The course addresses recent processes of democratization
authoritarian reversion, which have been concentrated in the developing world.
Students research one or more cases of democratization. The course considers the evolution in recent decades of democratic and authoritarian institutions. Students consider cases of constitutions and deliberation, elections and election fraud, checks and balances among the branches of government, populism, civil society and the media (including social media), and then consider globalization and democracy.

Political Violence in Comparative Perspective
This seminar in comparative politics provides an introduction to the study of political violence and intra-state conflict. The course extends the study of political violence beyond civil war by examining lower-level violence ranging from communal riots to extortion rackets to crime. A variety of both qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches are included.