The term “politics” refers to all the ways people make and enforce collective decisions or take collective action. People who study politics examine governments and laws, war and peace, parties and movements, institutions and practices, power and principles. They gather and analyze data about recent events, argue about fundamental concepts and values, study history, and even use literature and the arts to investigate political life. The study of politics often attracts students who plan to pursue careers in public service, law, journalism, advocacy, or organizing, but political science classes are a good choice for any student who is curious about public affairs or who wants to learn a broad range of methods for exploring the human condition.
Political Science
- The history, development, and intellectual origin of American government are studied and analyzed. Special consideration is given to the structure and operation of the executive, legislative and judiciary branches, and the role of government and politics in a modern industrial society.
- This class involves students in observation and critical analysis of political affairs. Topics and themes will include both American and global perspectives and both contemporary and historical cases. The class introduces a range of approaches to the study of politics, such as empirical research, quantitative analysis, theoretical questioning, and the examination of literary or artistic works. Central concepts will include politics, power, government, conflict, and justice.
- Political and economic forces shape scientific practices and the development of new technologies, while science and emerging technologies can transform daily life and have a major impact on politics. This course will explore the relationships among science, technology, politics, and economics. Topics covered may include automation, cyberculture, digitization, climate change, artificial intelligence, control and surveillance, and biopower.
- This course uses gender as a lens of analysis for studying politics, with an emphasis on the United States. It will explore how participation, including voting, campaigning, office holding, and activism, has been gendered and how ideals of citizenship have differed for men and women, taking into account the ways that gender intersects with other categories such as race and ethnicity. The course will cover the historical development of men'A?s and women's political roles, the ways gender inequality has been sustained and contested in various political contexts, and selected current issues and debates.
- This course is an analysis of the political movements and parties of Puerto Rican communities in the U.S.A.; the relationships of these movements and parties toward political development in Puerto Rico; the role of the Puerto Rican in both traditional and radical political movements in the U.S.A.; and how political participation in the American process has come to contribute to a sense of community identity among Puerto Ricans in the U.S.A.
- The origins of nationalist ideologies, and political and social action in the United States, Caribbean, and Africa are examined. Political and economic developments since the late 19th century are analyzed.
- Modern societies are often divided along racial and ethnic lines. This class will examine the origins and functions of the ideas of race and ethnicity, how racial and ethnic categories are produced and reproduced, how individuals experience race and ethnicity, and how political movements and struggles are shaped by racial and ethnic divisions. Substantive topics to be addressed may include colonialism, the labor market, migration and refugees, schooling, incarceration, human rights, housing and the built environment, electoral politics, and social movements.
- This course considers the basic factors involved in international relations. The components of nationalism, the state system, and the concept of politics as the crucial form of interstate relationship are discussed and examined. A systematic study is made of capabilities, goals and methods of interstate relations, considering the underlying principles, forces, patterns, and problems which historically characterize international organization and the political systems of the world. Prerequisite: POL 100 or POL 110
- This course explores the politics of cities, with special emphasis on New York City and with attention to institutions and organizations active in urban politics, urban public policy issues, and interactions between cities and other levels of government. Themes may include the roots of urban public life, the historical development and importance of cities, and current challenges to urban communities. Prerequisite: POL 100 or POL 110
- This course investigates the nature of power, order, and authority and examines how they appear in American life. What is power? How is it exercised, both inside and outside government? What brings order to a community? How can authority be legitimate? Themes that may be studied in this class include American political institutions, organizations, culture, and thought; class, race, and gender in the United States; and literary portrayals or classic theories of power.
Prerequisite: Any 100-level Social Science course - This course provides an introduction to the comparative study of political institutions, political cultures, public policy, and forms of political action. Taking examples from different parts of the world, the course examines the development and contemporary workings of various political systems, emphasizing basic concepts and methods of comparative analysis. Prerequisite: POL 100 or POL 110
- This course examines political ideas and explores ways of thinking about politics. The course will address classic works of political thought from ancient to modem, contemporary political debates, or perennial questions about human nature, freedom, community, and justice.
Prerequisite: Any Social Science course - This course provides an in-depth exploration of a topic in political science, which will vary from semester to semester. Topics may include subjects of enduring political importance or special current interest. The course description for a particular term will be available from the instructor during registration.
Prerequisite: Any POL course - This is a summer course taught abroad in Greece. Ancient Greek thinkers and the experiences of the ancient polis will be studied with a view to their influence, validity, and contemporary relevance. Readings will include Plato and Aristotle, among others.
