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  • PLAP 2030

    Politics, Science and Values: An Introduction to Environmental Policy
     Rating

    2.58

     Difficulty

    4.25

     GPA

    3.20

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Introduces a wide variety of domestic and international environmental policy issues.  Explores how political processes, scientific evidence, ideas, and values affect environmental policymaking. 

  • PLIR 2030

    International Relations of East Asia
     Rating

    3.70

     Difficulty

    3.24

     GPA

    3.31

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    An introduction to leading theories in the field of international relations with reference to major events in the history of diplomacy, war, and economic relations in the East Asian region.

  • PLAP 2250

    American Political Tradition
     Rating

    4.18

     Difficulty

    3.17

     GPA

    3.37

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    This course explores the theoretical ideas that informed the creation and development of America's political system and considers some of the major contemporary challenges to the maintenance of American liberal democracy. Topics to be treated include the political thought of the American Founders, the place of religion in public life, the nature of written constitutions and the role of America in the world.

  • PLCP 2420

    Politics of Modernity
     Rating

    2.94

     Difficulty

    3.45

     GPA

    3.26

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Introduces key analytical concepts used by Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Emile Durkeim in their analysis of how the development of modern society has shaped the nature of modern politics.

  • PLAD 2500

    Special Topics in Politics
     Rating

    2.67

     Difficulty

    1.75

     GPA

    3.44

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Special Topics in Politics

  • PLPT 3020

    Modern Political Thought
     Rating

    3.85

     Difficulty

    3.53

     GPA

    3.16

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Studies the development of political theory from the Renaissance through the nineteenth century.

  • PLPT 3030

    Contemporary Political Thought
     Rating

    4.03

     Difficulty

    3.27

     GPA

    3.37

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Studies the course of political theory from the late 19th century through the present. Includes the major critical perspectives on modern politics and culture (existentialism, feminism, post-modernism, 'critical theory') and explores the problems that have preoccupied political theory in this period (alienation, language, individualism and discrimination). Prerequisite: One course in political theory or instructor permission.

  • PLPT 3050

    Survey of American Political Theory
     Rating

    4.33

     Difficulty

    2.00

     GPA

    3.47

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Surveys the development of the American tradition of free government emphasizing the major contributors and their critics.

  • PLIR 3080

    International Politics in the Nuclear Age
     Rating

    4.33

     Difficulty

    4.00

     GPA

    3.58

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Considers the impact of nuclear weapons on the relations among states. Prerequisite: One course in PLIR or instructor permission.

  • PLCP 3110

    The Politics of Western Europe
     Rating

    3.56

     Difficulty

    3.43

     GPA

    3.26

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Surveys developments since 1945 in democratic stability, party politics, and political economy in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

  • PLAP 3270

    Public Opinion and American Democracy
     Rating

    2.76

     Difficulty

    3.20

     GPA

    3.26

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    This course examines public opinion and its place in American democracy. We study the psychological and political roots of citizens' opinions, as well as the relationship between public opinion and political campaigns, the media, and government. This class replaces PLAP 2270 there fore you will not get credit for the course twice.

  • PLAP 3310

    American Presidency
     Rating

    4.45

     Difficulty

    2.43

     GPA

    3.29

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Examines the power, purposes, and problematics of the presidency as a role of national leadership in the American and political constitutional system. While the emphasis is on the modern presidency (1933-present), attention is given to its historical development. Prerequisite: Two courses in PLAP, or instructor permission.

  • PLAP 3370

    Workshop in Contemporary American Electoral Politics
     Rating

    4.51

     Difficulty

    1.85

     GPA

    3.77

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Provides students with the opportunity to be directly involved with the research, programming, operations, and outreach of the University's non-profit, non-partisan Center for Politics. Includes projects focused on state and national politics, political history, civic engagement, voter behavior, media and politics, campaign finance and political analysis. Prerequisite: instructor permission.

  • PLAP 3400

    American Political Economy
     Rating

    4.59

     Difficulty

    2.33

     GPA

    3.61

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    This course explores the historical development of the American economic system since the Founding, and its relationship with political institutions. We will examine various economic regimes such as mercantilism, Progressivism, the welfare state, and neoliberalism, among others. While some basic economic principles will occasionally be drawn upon, no previous knowledge of economics is required for the course.

  • PLAP 3500

    Special Topics in American Politics
     Rating

    3.95

     Difficulty

    2.91

     GPA

    3.52

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Topical offerings in American Politics

  • PLCP 3500

    Special Topics in Comparative Politics
     Rating

    2.94

     Difficulty

    3.23

     GPA

    3.39

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Analysis of selected issues and concepts in comparative politics.

  • PLPT 3500

    Special Topics in Political Theory
     Rating

    5.00

     Difficulty

    2.25

     GPA

    3.38

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Special topics in political theory.

  • PLIR 3610

    European Union in World Affairs
     Rating

    4.33

     Difficulty

    3.50

     GPA

    3.55

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Examines the content and formulation of foreign policies in Europe and the European Union from the twentieth century to the present. Prerequisite: Some background in international relations or European history. Students who have previously taken PLIR 3620 will not receive credit for PLIR 3610; students who take PLIR 3610 may not receive credit for PLIR 3620 if taken subsequently.

  • PLAP 3700

    Racial Politics
     Rating

    3.14

     Difficulty

    2.76

     GPA

    3.22

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Examines how attributions of racial difference have shaped American Politics. Topics include how race affects American political partisanship, campaigns and elections, public policy, public opinion, and American political science. Prerequisite: One course in PLAP or instructor permission.

  • PLAP 3810

    Constitutional Interpretation: Separation of Powers and Federalism
     Rating

    3.71

     Difficulty

    4.05

     GPA

    3.15

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Studies the legislative, executive, and judicial branches and the functional and territorial distribution of powers as reflected by Supreme Court decisions. Includes the nature of the judicial process. (No CR/NC enrollees.)

  • PLPT 4060

    Politics & Literature
     Rating

    4.67

     Difficulty

    3.00

     GPA

    3.48

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    This seminar considers how works of fiction enhance our understanding of the terms of democratic life. The theme for the spring of 2020 is the life and afterlife of slavery in American political experience; and the central authors are Herman Melville, Ralph Ellison, and Toni Morrison.

  • PLIR 4150

    Economics and National Security
     Rating

    4.22

     Difficulty

    4.00

     GPA

    3.40

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Explores the connections between economics and national security from three angles. First, does economic interdependence between nation-states foster a peaceful world, as liberals argue, or does it increase the likelihood of war, as realists contend? Second, what are the economic causes of the rise and decline of great powers? Third, what are the economic roots of great power imperialism against smaller states? Prerequisite: One course in international relations, history, or economics.

  • PLIR 4410

    Political Economy of Foreign Direct Investment
     Rating

    3.67

     Difficulty

    2.00

     GPA

    3.25

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Examines the political economy of foreign direct investment (FDI) including the determinants of FDI and its economic and political consequences. Prerequisite: ECON 2010 and ECON 2020.

  • PLIR 4430

    Empire, Hegemony, Leadership
     Rating

    4.33

     Difficulty

    4.00

     GPA

    3.51

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Conceives of the international system as hierarchical, and considers how states gain, maintain, and lose predominance; whether hierarchy is necessary to international order; and how hierarchy affects the options of smaller states and other actors. Prerequisites: At least one course in PLIR.

  • PLIR 4431

    Democracy and Foreign Policy
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    3.54

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    This course examines both academic and policy debates about democracy and foreign policy. We begin by reviewing the theory and practice of democracy and the literature on democracy in international politics.

  • PLIR 4450

    The Clash of Ideas in World Politics
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    3.50

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Course considers whether differences over the best societal, regional, or global order affect patterns of conflict and cooperation in international affairs; and if so, how. We emphasize both theory and history. Requisite: One PLIR course

  • PLAP 4500

    Special Topics in American Politics
     Rating

    4.00

     Difficulty

    2.71

     GPA

    3.57

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Investigates a selected issue in American government or American political development. Prerequisite: One course in PLAP or instructor permission.

  • PLCP 4500

    Special Topics in Comparative Politics
     Rating

    3.79

     Difficulty

    4.00

     GPA

    3.47

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Intensive analysis of selected issues and concepts in comparative government. Prerequisite: One course in PLCP or instructor permission.

  • PLAD 4500

    Special Topics
     Rating

    5.00

     Difficulty

    3.00

     GPA

    3.84

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Topics on a variety of Political issues.

  • PLIR 4500

    Special Topics in International Relations
     Rating

    3.10

     Difficulty

    3.57

     GPA

    3.45

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Intensive analysis of selected issues and concepts in international relations. Prerequisite: One course in PLIR or instructor permission.

  • PLPT 4500

    Special Topics in Political Theory
     Rating

    4.67

     Difficulty

    2.67

     GPA

    3.44

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Investigates a special problem of political theory such as political corruption, religion and politics, science and politics, or the nature of justice. Prerequisite: One course in PLPT or instructor permission.

  • PLCP 4652

    Markets, Inequality, and the Politics of Development
     Rating

    2.33

     Difficulty

    4.00

     GPA

    3.22

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Examination of how politics affects the historical development of markets and the impact of inequality on the development of markets and economic development more generally.

  • PLAD 4961

    Thesis Seminar for Distinguished Majors Program Part 2
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    3.87

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Part two of the Politics Department Distinguished Majors thesis seminar.

  • PLAP 4990

    Honors Core Seminar in American Politics
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    A critical analysis of important issues and works in American politics from diverse perspectives. Students are required to write weekly analytical essays and actively participate in small seminar discussions on issues including: the founding, parties and elections, public policy, federalism, the presidency, Congress, and the judicial system. Prerequisite: Admission to Politics Honors Program.

  • PLAD 4990

    Honors Proseminar on Research Design and Thesis Writing
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    A critical analysis of important issues in political analysis and research design from diverse perspectives. Issues include: framing research questions, causal analysis, rational choice, comparative historical institutionalism, interpretivism, case studies, and quantitative analysis. Prerequisite: Admission to Politics Honors Program

  • PLIR 4990

    Honors Core Seminar in International Relations
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    A critical analysis of important issues and works in political theory from diverse perspectives. Students are required to write weekly analytical essays and actively participate in small seminar discussions on issues including: theories of common good, economic justice, toleration and free society, and radical criticism. Prerequisite: Admission to Politics Honors Program.

  • PLPT 5500

    Special Topics in Political Theory
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    3.72

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Investigates a special problem of political theory such as political corruption, religion and politics, science and politics, or the nature of justice.

  • PLAP 5993

    Selected Problems in American Politics
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    4.00

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Independent study under faculty supervision, for students who are preparing for intensive research on a specific topic. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.

  • PLIR 7020

    Core Seminar in International Security
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Provides an in-depth survey of International Relations Theory from the point of view of security studies.  Focuses on the primary problem of cooperation between great powers; the causes of conflict and war; the role of psychology and domestic politics in conflicts; the role of institutions and trade in creating "zones of peace"; and the importance of signaling and diplomacy within environments of profound uncertainty.

  • PLAD 7045

    Game Theory: Applications and Experiments
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    3.65

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Game theory is the analytic study of strategic interactions among individuals, firms, governments, or other groups of people. This course demonstrates the usefulness of this powerful analytic approach, through numerous real-world and scholarly applications and through an examination of lab experiments built upon game theoretic modeling techniques. Cross-listed with PPOL 7045.

  • PLIR 7390

    International Political Economy of Finance and Migration
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    International Political Economy of Finance and Migration

  • PLAP 7500

    Special Topics in American Politics
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    3.82

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Intensive analysis of selected issues and concepts in American politics.

  • PLAD 7750

    Supervised Research I
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Supervised Research I

  • PLAD 8310

    Regression Analysis
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    3.80

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    This course introduces regression analysis in political science. It covers linear regression, the ordinary least squares (OLS) estimator, interpretation of results, and regression diagnostics. The course also introduces generalized linear models (GLMs), maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), and regression analysis with binary outcomes. A separate section of the course focuses on implementation of regression analysis in R programming language.

  • PLAD 8500

    Topics in Political Science
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    3.81

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Investigates a selected issue in political science.

  • PLAD 8750

    Supervised Research II
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    Supervised Research II

  • PLAP 8998

    Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For master's research, taken before a thesis director has been selected.

  • PLCP 8998

    Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For master's research, taken before a thesis director has been selected.

  • PLIR 8998

    Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For master's research, taken before a thesis director has been selected.

  • PLPT 8998

    Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For master's research, taken before a thesis director has been selected.

  • PLAP 8999

    Non-Topical Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For master's thesis, taken under the supervision of a thesis director.

  • PLCP 8999

    Non-Topical Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For master's thesis, taken under the supervision of a thesis director.

  • PLIR 8999

    Non-Topical Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For master's thesis, taken under the supervision of a thesis director.

  • PLPT 8999

    Non-Topical Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For master's thesis, taken under the supervision of a thesis director.

  • PLAP 9998

    Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Doctoral Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For doctoral research, taken before a dissertation director has been selected.

  • PLCP 9998

    Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Doctoral Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For doctoral research, taken before a dissertation director has been selected.

  • PLIR 9998

    Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Doctoral Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For doctoral research, taken before a dissertation director has been selected.

  • PLPT 9998

    Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Doctoral Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For doctoral research, taken before a dissertation director has been selected.

  • PLAP 9999

    Non-Topical Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For doctoral dissertation, taken under the supervision of a dissertation director.

  • PLCP 9999

    Non-Topical Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For doctoral dissertation, taken under the supervision of a dissertation director.

  • PLIR 9999

    Non-Topical Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For doctoral dissertation, taken under the supervision of a dissertation director.

  • PLPT 9999

    Non-Topical Research
     Rating

    —

     Difficulty

    —

     GPA

    —

    Last Taught

    Spring 2025

    For doctoral Dissertation, taken under the supervision of a dissertation director.