Courses - Fall 2025
GVPT170
American Government
A comprehensive study of national government in the United States.
GVPT200
A study of the major factors underlying international relations, the causes of conflict and cooperation among international actors, the role of international institutions, the interactions of domestic and foreign policies, and major issues in security, economy and the environment.
GVPT201
Scope and Methods for Political Science Research
Credit only granted for: GVPT100 or GVPT201.
Formerly: GVPT100.
An introduction to empirical research in political science.
GVPT202
Law or Politics? The U.S. Supreme Court and Individual Rights
A thorough examination of the state of individual rights before the U.S. Supreme Court. The course will consider how recent cases the Court has decided and current pending cases have shaped the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. A critical component will involve peer deliberation over the proper roles of law and politics and their impacts on the current state of individual rights in the United States. Students will examine constitutional case studies throughout the semester and contribute to group and classroom discussions of issues being considered by the sitting Court. Students will also learn the foundational concepts of how the Court operates as both a legal and political institution, as well as its place in the larger political system. Special emphasis will be given to the social scientific study of the Supreme Court.
Restricted to students in Carillon Communities. Once registered, students need an electronic stamp from an advisor to drop the course.
GVPT210
Credit only granted for: GVPT210 or GVPT289L.
Formerly: GVPT289L.
Introduces students to an increasingly important question: what is the relationship between religion and politics around the world? For a long period in the 20th Century, religion seemed to be decreasing in importance. Eventually, it was thought, religion would simply go away and secularism, development, and rationality would rule the day. In the last generation, however, events like the Iranian Revolution, the rise of the Christian Right, 9/11, the Tibetan monks protest, the spread of Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, and numerous wars fought in the name of God have brought religion back to prominence in world affairs. In this course, we will explore the contemporary impact of religions on politics around the world, through four broad themes: how to understand religion in politics , the relationship between religion and the state, religious groups as sources of conflict and peace, and contemporary religio-political challenges.
GVPT217
Mock Trial
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with: MLAW217.
Credit only granted for: MLAW217, GVPT217, or GVPT319A.
Formerly: GVPT319A.
Experience the excitement and reward of arguing, and perhaps winning your client's case in court. Mock Trial is designed for students who are interested in learning practical techniques for shaping the evidence, using the law, and exploiting the courtroom to create a coherent and convincing case theory.
GVPT221
Introduction to Formal Theories of Political Behavior and Politics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT170.
An introduction to the theories of rational choice including theories of negotiation and bargaining, elections and voting in democracies, community organizing and the contrast between the roles and performances of government and market.
GVPT241
The Study of Political Philosophy: Ancient and Modern
Examines some of the salient continuities and breaks between the ancient and modern traditions in Western political philosophy.
GVPT273
Introduction to Environmental Politics
An overview of modern environmental philosophy, politics, and policy, exploring environmental politics in the US by way of comparison with other developed and developing countries.
GVPT280
The Study of Comparative Politics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
An introduction to the comparative study of politics and governance, including the analytical concepts for studies of politics and a survey of the major types of regimes, including democratic and authoritarian/communist regimes.
GVPT306
Global Environmental Politics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT200.
Restriction: Must be in one of the following programs (Government & Politics; Government & Politics: International Relations) ; or permission of BSOS-Government & Politics department.
Focus on three processes of international environmental policy development- identifying problems, negotiating solutions, and implementing agreements- through a range of case studies, including global climate change.
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program, Government & Politics: International Relations program, or ENSP: Environmental Politics & Policy program.
GVPT318C
Classroom to Careers; Classroom to Careers
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program.
Embarking on a career post-college is both an exhilarating and a challenging journey. This course is designed to demystify the transition from university to professional life for GVPT students. Participants will engage in a structured process to identify their professional interests and navigate through potential career avenues. Weekly sessions will feature in-person meetings with GVPT alumni from diverse sectors, offering students a unique opportunity to gain insights from several real-world professional trajectories. By the course's conclusion, students will not only have a framework for career planning but also firsthand narratives that bridge the gap between academic study and professional endeavor.
Embarking on a career post-college is both an exhilarating and a challenging journey. This course is designed to demystify the transition from university to professional life for GVPT students. Participants will engage in a structured process to identify their professional interests and navigate through potential career avenues. Weekly sessions will feature in-person meetings with GVPT alumni from diverse sectors, offering students a unique opportunity to gain insights from several real-world professional trajectories. By the course's conclusion, students will not only have a framework for career planning but also firsthand narratives that bridge the gap between academic study and professional endeavor.
GVPT320
Advanced Empirical Research
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT201.
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics or Government & Politics: International Relations program.
Allows students to build on the knowledge of statistical inference they gained from GVPT201. Topics include data collection, data cleaning, data analysis, and data visualization. By the time students complete this class, they will be able to do basic statistical modeling using OLS regression independently.
Students will be required to download statistical package R onto their own laptops and must bring their laptop to every class meeting beginning on October 8.
GVPT354
International Development and Conflict Management
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Sophomore standing or higher; and must be in one of the following minor programs (International Development and Conflict Management; Global Engineering Leadership; Global Poverty, Global Terrorism Studies) or have permission of the Center for International Development, or must be in the Government and Politics major with permission of the Government and Politics department.
Additional information: Students enrolled in MIDCM are expected to take the course during the Fall semester after admission to the program.
Serves as the gateway course for the Minor in International Development and Conflict Management. Provides an introductory foundation in the theory and practice of international development and conflict management. Introduces the structures, key players, intersections, and main trends in the evolution of the fields. Explores causal factors that drive economic growth, poverty, inequality, and conflict, as well as the resources, methods, and tools available to track and address these issues.
GVPT356
Prerequisite: GVPT354.
Restriction: Enrollment is restricted to students in the Minor in International Development and Conflict Management; and sophomore standing or higher; and permission of BSOS-Government & Politics department.
Serves as one of the two capstone courses for the Minor in International Development and Conflict Management. Focuses on advanced theory and the practice and profession of international development and is designed to provide students an introduction to, and a chance to engage with, a core set of practical skills relevant to the field.
GVPT357
IDCM Practicum Course
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
Reg
Prerequisite: GVPT354.
Restriction: Must be in the International Development and Conflict Management minor; and permission of the Program Director for International Development and Conflict Management.
Credit only granted for: BSOS388E or GVPT357.
Formerly: BSOS388E.
Additional information: Students must have requested and received approval for their practicum experience prior to enrollment.
Fulfills the practicum requirement for students who are completing the International Development and Conflict Management (IDCM) minor program. A main purpose of the course is to amplify the value of each student's practical experiences - typically an internship - by reflecting on, consolidating, and translating that background in preparation for pursuing post-graduation paths that relate to the fields of international development and conflict management. It is taken in conjunction with the student's practicum experience, either concurrently or afterward.
GVPT368C
Cross-listed with: AAST443, AMST498J.
Credit only granted for: AAST498T, AAST443, GVPT368C or AMST 498J.
Formerly: AAST498T.
Students will gain a greater understanding of 1) the role of Asian Americans in US politics, 2) the political attitudes and behaviors of Asian Americans and 3) how to conduct research on Asian American politics. Though the class will concentrate on Asian Americans, issues related to Asian American politics will be examined within the larger context of America's multicultural political landscape.
GVPT368D
Special Topics in Government and Politics; Israel: Politics and Society
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
GVPT368F
Special Topics in Government and Politics; Tzahal: The Israeli Military in State, Society, and its Middle Eastern Context
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Crosslisted with ISRL349G. Credit only granted for ISRL349G or GVPT368F
This course offers an introduction to general concepts of civil-militar relations with a strong focus on the Israeli case. Situating Israel within the Middle East context, the course readings and class discussions will include comparative references to major regional players, such as Egypt, Turkey, Iran, and the Arab Gulf States. The military is a salient feature of all Middle Eastern states; we will explore how Israel both resembles and differs from other states in the region regarding the role of its military and of civil-military relations.
This course offers an introduction to general concepts of civil-militar relations with a strong focus on the Israeli case. Situating Israel within the Middle East context, the course readings and class discussions will include comparative references to major regional players, such as Egypt, Turkey, Iran, and the Arab Gulf States. The military is a salient feature of all Middle Eastern states; we will explore how Israel both resembles and differs from other states in the region regarding the role of its military and of civil-military relations.
GVPT368K
Special Topics in Government and Politics; Environmental and Sustainable Development in Israel
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with ISRL349Y. Credit only granted for ISRL349Y or GVPT368K.
Relationships between the environment and different communities that share it, specifically in and around Israel, given the negative effects of climate change and environmental degradation throughout the Middle East. We will examine the ecological and environmental challenges Israel has faced over the years, the many innovative ways in which it has worked to overcome these challenges, and the tasks that still lie ahead. Finally, we will look at the nexus between sustainable development and sustainable peace within and between diverse communities.
Relationships between the environment and different communities that share it, specifically in and around Israel, given the negative effects of climate change and environmental degradation throughout the Middle East. We will examine the ecological and environmental challenges Israel has faced over the years, the many innovative ways in which it has worked to overcome these challenges, and the tasks that still lie ahead. Finally, we will look at the nexus between sustainable development and sustainable peace within and between diverse communities.
GVPT368M
Special Topics in Government and Politics; Congressional Investigations and Democratic Governance
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with PLCY388M. Credit only granted for PLCY388M or GVPT368M.
The course introduces students to the purpose and practice of congressional investigations. Topics covered include: the reach and limits of Congress's constitutional authority to investigate; tools and tactics used in congressional investigations; congressional authority to investigate the executive and judicial branches of government; what constitutes effective oversight; and current challenges to conducting congressional investigations. Class discussion will frame these issues by focusing on the work of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol and other high-profile inquiries, featuring video excerpts and personal perspectives from individuals involved with those efforts. Students will engage in experiential and hands-on learning to understand the subject matter.
The course introduces students to the purpose and practice of congressional investigations. Topics covered include: the reach and limits of Congress's constitutional authority to investigate; tools and tactics used in congressional investigations; congressional authority to investigate the executive and judicial branches of government; what constitutes effective oversight; and current challenges to conducting congressional investigations. Class discussion will frame these issues by focusing on the work of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol and other high-profile inquiries, featuring video excerpts and personal perspectives from individuals involved with those efforts. Students will engage in experiential and hands-on learning to understand the subject matter.
GVPT368R
Special Topics in Government and Politics; Introduction to Human Rights in Israel
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with ISRL448R. Credit only granted for ISRL448R or GVPT368R.
Provides an overview of how the State of Israel deals with human rights of its citizens, and also non-citizens over which it has control. It will introduce Israel s legal system, human rights record, and its methods of dealing with human rights violations, including those impacting the Arab minority in Israel, women's rights, and those of the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.
Provides an overview of how the State of Israel deals with human rights of its citizens, and also non-citizens over which it has control. It will introduce Israel s legal system, human rights record, and its methods of dealing with human rights violations, including those impacting the Arab minority in Israel, women's rights, and those of the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.
GVPT368T
Special Topics in Government and Politics; Israel, Middle East Security, and WMD Proliferation
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with GVPT349T. Credit only granted for ISRL349T or GVPT368T. This course addresses one of Israel's main security concerns:the spread of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons in the Middle East. It analyzes in-depth the political dynamics that lead to proliferation dangers in the region and the possible Israeli responses to proliferation, such as deterrence, military strikes, prevention, preemption, and defense.
GVPT377
Experiential Learning: Government and Politics Internship Program
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT170.
Credit only granted for: GVPT377 or GVPT388W.
Formerly: GVPT388W.
The application of major concepts of political science to the realities of the political process. The course connects internship experiences with larger themes of political science. Students must be admitted to the GVPT Internship Program.
Students interested in registering for this course must have an internship secured and must apply to the GVPT Internship Program.
Required in-person class meetings will take place from 6:30pm-9:15pm on the following Wednesdays: September 24th, November 5th, and December 10th.
Required in-person class meetings will take place from 6:30pm-9:15pm on the following Wednesdays: September 24th, November 5th, and December 10th.
GVPT388
Topical Investigations
Credits:
1 - 3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Permission of Director of Undergraduate Studies required.
GVPT388M
Topical Investigations; Mock Trial
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
GVPT390
Game Theory
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Must not have completed ECON414.
Credit only granted for: GVPT399A, GVPT390, CMSC474 or ECON414.
Formerly: GVPT399A.
Introduction to game theory with applications to political science, economics and sociology. Topics include preference theory, expected utility theory, Nash equilibria, subgame perfection, repeated games, folk theorems, and evolutionary stability.
GVPT396
Introduction to Honors Research
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics Honors Program; and must have permission of the Government & Politics Honors Program.
A required course for all honors students designed to emphasize library research, methodology, and writing skills in political science and political philosophy. A written proposal, bibliography and research design for an honors paper required of all students as a final project.
GVPT397
Honors Research
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg
Prerequisite: GVPT396.
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics Honors Program.
Individual reading and research. Preparation of an original paper.
GVPT404
Political Economy of Foreign Aid
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Recommended: GVPT200.
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics or Government & Politics: International Relations program.
Credit only granted for: GVPT409R or GVPT404.
Formerly: GVPT409R.
The world spends hundreds of billions of dollars on foreign aid every year. The effects of this aid spending are controversial. Research supports both pessimistic and optimistic views of foreign aid's effectiveness, with little consensus. Where does aid money go? What are the motivations of aid donors? Is foreign aid effective at achieving its goals? Why or why not? This course is designed to survey the promise and the challenges of foreign aid as a policy tool. The first half of the course will focus on the motivations and goals of foreign aid. We will consider various foreign aid donors, such as countries, institutions, and individuals, to understand the motivations behind and effects of foreign aid. We will create a typology of foreign aid agendas, motivations, and donors. The second half of the course will consider the challenges specific to foreign aid. This includes both technical challenges and political challenges. We will consider the strategies that aid donors and organizations have taken to try to overcome these challenges.
GVPT406
International Organizations
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT200.
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program; and junior standing or higher. Or must be in Government & Politics: International Relations program; and junior standing or higher.
A basic introduction to the full range of international organizations that have come into being over the past century and one-half, including those that aspire to be universal or global, those with a geopolitical or regional focus, and those that address specific structural or functional areas of human endeavor or issue areas.
GVPT409G
Seminar in International Relations and World Politics; Corporations and the Global Political Economy
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
GVPT409H
Seminar in International Relations and World Politics; The Political Economy of 21st Century Capitalism
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics Honors Program.
GVPT409I
Seminar in International Relations and World Politics; International Security and International Law
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT200. Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program.
An examination of the role of international law in regulating and influencing the behavior and actions of states and non-state actors in arange of security issue areas. Students will be introduced to theoretical and empirical studies on the role of law in international security affairs based on academic readings and scholarship. Students will apply theories and insights from academic scholarship on international law to contemporary international security issues and to think about the policy relevance of the course readings.
An examination of the role of international law in regulating and influencing the behavior and actions of states and non-state actors in arange of security issue areas. Students will be introduced to theoretical and empirical studies on the role of law in international security affairs based on academic readings and scholarship. Students will apply theories and insights from academic scholarship on international law to contemporary international security issues and to think about the policy relevance of the course readings.
GVPT410
Politics of Nationalist and Ethnic Conflict
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT200.
Restriction: Must be in one of the following programs (Government & Politics; Government & Politics: International Relations).
Credit only granted for: GVPT409M or GVPT410.
Formerly: GVPT409M.
An examination of the major causes and consequences of ethnic, nationalist, and separatist conflict. The course will focus on both theories of ethnicity and nationalism, as well as theories of conflict related to these issues. The course will also explore empirical trends in ethnic and nationalist politics.
GVPT423
Elections and Electoral Behavior
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT241 and GVPT170.
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program.
An examination of various topics relating to elections; the focus includes the legal structure under which elections are conducted, the selection and nomination process, the conduct of election campaigns, and patterns of political participation and voting choice in different types of elections.
GVPT429B
Problems in Political Behavior; Data Analysis for Political Behavior
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT201. Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program; and junior standing or higher. This course provides an opportunity to think about and to practice th most common statistical methods for doing research on political behavior. A major goal of this course is to provide practice with quantiative methods you have learned in earlier classes and offer additional exposure to statistical software used commonly by employers. Most importantly, the course will provide student with more exposure to what quantitative research on political behavior looks like, how to construct theories, how to assemble evidence, and how to relate theories and evidence through empirical testing.
GVPT429T
Problems in Political Behavior; Social Media Politics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT201. Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program.
This seminar presents students with an integrated view of media politics, combining political psychology, computational social science, and network analysis. The goal is to provide students with the technical know-how to work with social media data and the knowledge to interpret relevant information. In this seminar, students will learn to process social media data, program survey experiments, and identify political narratives in a multiplatform environment. The seminar will introduce students to the computational techniques required for big social media data analyses.
This seminar presents students with an integrated view of media politics, combining political psychology, computational social science, and network analysis. The goal is to provide students with the technical know-how to work with social media data and the knowledge to interpret relevant information. In this seminar, students will learn to process social media data, program survey experiments, and identify political narratives in a multiplatform environment. The seminar will introduce students to the computational techniques required for big social media data analyses.
GVPT439B
Seminar in Public Law; First Amendment: Free Speech, Religion, and the Constitution
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program or Government & Politics: International Relations program. Prerequisite: GVPT431 or GVPT432. Credit only granted for GVPT439B or MLAW358F.
The purpose of this course is to explore the various facets of the First Amendment. Why protect speech and the practice of religion? Are these "special?" What is speech? What is religion? Do rights to speech and religion trump other rights? In this course, we will examine various "types" of speech and their relationship to the First Amendment as well as the religion provisions of the First Amendment: the Free Exercise Clause and the Establishment Clause.
The purpose of this course is to explore the various facets of the First Amendment. Why protect speech and the practice of religion? Are these "special?" What is speech? What is religion? Do rights to speech and religion trump other rights? In this course, we will examine various "types" of speech and their relationship to the First Amendment as well as the religion provisions of the First Amendment: the Free Exercise Clause and the Establishment Clause.
GVPT439M
Seminar in Public Law; Moot Court
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT439L or permission of the instructor. To request permission for this course, contact Professor Michael Spivey at mspivey@umd.edu.
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics or Government & Politics: International Relations program.
This is your chance to argue a case before the Supreme Court. (Well, Not THE Supreme Court but a moot Supreme Court.) In Moot Court, students argue a hypothetical constitutional law case before a panel of experienced lawyers and jurists. Students will learn the skills of written and oral advocacy in anticipation of participation in the American Moot Court Association regional and national competitions. No prior experience in appellate advocacy is necessary.
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics or Government & Politics: International Relations program.
This is your chance to argue a case before the Supreme Court. (Well, Not THE Supreme Court but a moot Supreme Court.) In Moot Court, students argue a hypothetical constitutional law case before a panel of experienced lawyers and jurists. Students will learn the skills of written and oral advocacy in anticipation of participation in the American Moot Court Association regional and national competitions. No prior experience in appellate advocacy is necessary.
GVPT439N
Seminar in Public Law; Moot Court II
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: : GVPT439M and permission of the instructor. To request permission for this course, contact Professor Michael Spivey at mspivey@umd.edu.
GVPT449D
Seminar in Political Philosophy; Individual and Group Decision-Making
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program or Government & Politics: Inter national Relations program. Credit granted for PHPE400 or GVPT449D.
Foundational issues that arise within the theories of rational choice that underlie the treatments of decision-making found in economics, politics, and the other social sciences. The course is focused on individual decisions (rational choice theory), strategic decisions (game theory) and group decisions (social choice theory). In addition to presenting the formal models of decision making, we also discuss to what extent these mathematical theories explain social interactions. An important aspect of the course is to introduce students to the ways in which economic analysis has been applied to issues in social and political philosophy. Readings will be drawn from the literature in economics, psychology, statistics and political science, as well as philosophy.
Foundational issues that arise within the theories of rational choice that underlie the treatments of decision-making found in economics, politics, and the other social sciences. The course is focused on individual decisions (rational choice theory), strategic decisions (game theory) and group decisions (social choice theory). In addition to presenting the formal models of decision making, we also discuss to what extent these mathematical theories explain social interactions. An important aspect of the course is to introduce students to the ways in which economic analysis has been applied to issues in social and political philosophy. Readings will be drawn from the literature in economics, psychology, statistics and political science, as well as philosophy.
GVPT457
American Foreign Relations
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT200.
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program; and junior standing or higher.
The principles and machinery of the conduct of American foreign relations and an analysis of the major foreign policies of the United States.
GVPT459A
Seminar in Comparative Politics; Comparative Environmental Justice
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program.
GVPT459D
Seminar in Comparative Politics; Democracy and Democratization
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT280 or GVPT282. Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics or Government & Politics: International Relations program.
This course surveys the big debates about the nature of democracy and democratization. The course is organized around five broad themes: 1) core concepts and definitions of democracies and non-democratic regimes, 2) the nature and causes of democratization, 3) democratic principles, 4) democratic forms and institutional variation, and 5) contemporary issues in democratic politics, including democratic backsliding. Throughout the course, we will be exploring how these different elements of democracy exist around the world by using cases from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the United States.
This course surveys the big debates about the nature of democracy and democratization. The course is organized around five broad themes: 1) core concepts and definitions of democracies and non-democratic regimes, 2) the nature and causes of democratization, 3) democratic principles, 4) democratic forms and institutional variation, and 5) contemporary issues in democratic politics, including democratic backsliding. Throughout the course, we will be exploring how these different elements of democracy exist around the world by using cases from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the United States.
GVPT459F
Seminar in Comparative Politics; Politics of India
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Recommended Prerequisite: GVPT280 or GVPT282. Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program.
"India has a well-established reputation for violating social science generalizations" -India After Ghandi, by Ramachandra Guha. Starting with its origins as an independent country and over the following seven decades, there has been speculation about whether India would stay united or would sustain its democratic institutions. Yet, in a relatively short period of time of seventy-five years, India's political system has become an example of a consolidated democracy in Asia. This course provides an introduction to the politics of India, with an emphasis on the key actors, institutions, and ideas that have shaped the evolution of Indian democracy and society.
"India has a well-established reputation for violating social science generalizations" -India After Ghandi, by Ramachandra Guha. Starting with its origins as an independent country and over the following seven decades, there has been speculation about whether India would stay united or would sustain its democratic institutions. Yet, in a relatively short period of time of seventy-five years, India's political system has become an example of a consolidated democracy in Asia. This course provides an introduction to the politics of India, with an emphasis on the key actors, institutions, and ideas that have shaped the evolution of Indian democracy and society.
GVPT459H
Seminar in Comparative Politics; Political Radicalism: Comparing Communism and Fascism
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics Honors Program.
This course will examine the main similarities and distinctions between communist and fascist radical ideologies, movements, and political systems. The course will highlight the centrality of ideology in totalitarian experiments and the relationship between ideology and terror as underpinnings of the ideocratic despotisms. We will explore contemporary implications of totalitarianism.
Not open to students who have completed GVPT459X.
This course will examine the main similarities and distinctions between communist and fascist radical ideologies, movements, and political systems. The course will highlight the centrality of ideology in totalitarian experiments and the relationship between ideology and terror as underpinnings of the ideocratic despotisms. We will explore contemporary implications of totalitarianism.
Not open to students who have completed GVPT459X.
GVPT459L
Seminar in Comparative Politics; East European Politics and Societies: Communism, Liberalism, Populism
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program.
Thirty-six years ago protest movements from below led to the world-shattering events known as the revolutions of 1989. What were their causes and consequences? What were the communist regimes and why did they fail? The course will highlight the (re)birth andconsolidation of liberal democracies, NATO and EU extensions, the ongoing ideological confrontations, and the rise of populist and nationalist parties and movements.
Not open to students who completed GVPT459H in Spring 2024.
Thirty-six years ago protest movements from below led to the world-shattering events known as the revolutions of 1989. What were their causes and consequences? What were the communist regimes and why did they fail? The course will highlight the (re)birth andconsolidation of liberal democracies, NATO and EU extensions, the ongoing ideological confrontations, and the rise of populist and nationalist parties and movements.
Not open to students who completed GVPT459H in Spring 2024.
GVPT459Y
Seminar in Comparative Politics; Comparative Political Ideology
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Recommended Prerequisites: GVPT280 and GVPT282. Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program.
A comparative survey of leading political ideologies, including their origins, core tenets, and implications. Specific attention is given to ideology's relationship to material practice, both western and non-western interpretations, and ramifications for contemporary politics. Includes nationalism, populism, religious fundamentalism, liberalism, socialism, and neoliberalism, among other influential ideologies.
A comparative survey of leading political ideologies, including their origins, core tenets, and implications. Specific attention is given to ideology's relationship to material practice, both western and non-western interpretations, and ramifications for contemporary politics. Includes nationalism, populism, religious fundamentalism, liberalism, socialism, and neoliberalism, among other influential ideologies.
GVPT474
Political Parties
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT241 and GVPT170.
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program.
A descriptive and analytical examination of American political parties, nominations, elections, and political leadership.
GVPT475
The Presidency and the Executive Branch
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT241 and GVPT170.
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program; and junior standing or higher.
An examination of the U.S. presidency in historical and contemporary perspective: nomination and electoral politics and the president's place in policy-making, administration, and public opinion.
GVPT479B
Seminar in American Politics; Black Politics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT170. Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program.
The purpose of this course is to assist students in gaining an understanding of the relationship of people of African descent in the United States to the political system and other structures of power. We critically engage several themes/topics including Black political philosophies and ideologies, electoral politics, Black and mainstream political institutions, political behavior and psychology, gender politics, and public policy. We will also analyze and discuss the informal political spaces that serve as sites for Black politics including social media, entertainment, and pop culture.
The purpose of this course is to assist students in gaining an understanding of the relationship of people of African descent in the United States to the political system and other structures of power. We critically engage several themes/topics including Black political philosophies and ideologies, electoral politics, Black and mainstream political institutions, political behavior and psychology, gender politics, and public policy. We will also analyze and discuss the informal political spaces that serve as sites for Black politics including social media, entertainment, and pop culture.
GVPT479I
Seminar in American Politics; U.S. Immigration Policy
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT170. Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program.
GVPT479M
Seminar in American Politics; Political Science Survey Methods and Experience
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT201. Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program.
GVPT479P
Seminar in American Politics; Historical and Demographic Shifts in the U.S. Congress
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT170 Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program or Government & Politics: International Relations program.
This course will examine specific events and activities that have sparked major shifts in the organizational structure, composition, and productivity of the U.S. Congress. In so doing, the course will explore the relationship that the legislative branch has with its partnering governmental branches and agencies while examining various internal organizational changes. This course will survey congressional shifts while also providing tools to better understand the traditional framework of the U.S. Congress.
This course will examine specific events and activities that have sparked major shifts in the organizational structure, composition, and productivity of the U.S. Congress. In so doing, the course will explore the relationship that the legislative branch has with its partnering governmental branches and agencies while examining various internal organizational changes. This course will survey congressional shifts while also providing tools to better understand the traditional framework of the U.S. Congress.
GVPT482
Government and Politics of Latin America
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program; or must be in Government & Politics: International Relations program.
A comparative study of the governmental systems and political processes of the Latin American countries.
GVPT484
Government and Politics of Africa
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: GVPT282 or GVPT280.
Restriction: Must be in one of the following programs (Government & Politics; Government & Politics: International Relations).
A comparative study of the governmental systems and political processes of the African countries, with special emphasis on the problems of nation-building in emergent countries.
GVPT600
Professionalization Seminar in Political Science
Credits:
1
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in Government and Politics (Doctoral) program.
An introduction to the practices, norms, and expectations of professional political science.
GVPT601
Research Design for Political Analytics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in the Applied Political Analytics Master of Science program; or permission of department.
A graduate-level introduction to empirical research techniques used in political science. The course covers different approaches to answering empirical research questions and addresses the strengths and limitations of different research decisions. Students who successfully complete the course will be able to conceptualize and design an empirical research project, as well as evaluate the research designs used in the research projects conducted by other social scientists.
GVPT604
Introduction to War and Armed Conflict in World Politics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Recommended: GVPT200.
Restriction: Must be in the MA in International Relations program; or permission of Government and Politics department.
Examines major theories of both international and civil wars and reviews major empirical studies that test theories of conflict. The topics include the onset of armed conflict, the duration and outcomes of wars, and the durability of peace in the aftermath of wars. The focus is on developing an understanding of central debates in the literature and primary empirical findings from quantitative and cross-national analyses that are of policy relevance.
GVPT622
Quantitative Methods For Political Science
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Introduction to quantitiative methods of data analysis, with emphasis on statistical methods and computer usage. Measures of association, probability, correlation, linear regression estimation techniques, introductory analysis of variance, and use of package computer programs.
GVPT628
Advanced Topics in Coding for Political Analysis
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
GVPT635
Public Opinion
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in the Applied Political Analytics Master of Science program; or permission of department.
Investigate how citizens in a democracy think about politics, form attitudes, and how public opinion shapes and is shaped by the political environment. While being exposed to core debates in public opinion and the study of public opinion, students will use a number of surveys that have been central to advancing our knowledge of public opinion.
GVPT708A
Seminar in International Relations Theory; International Relations Theory
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
GVPT729A
Special Topics in Quantitative Political Analysis; Advanced Maximum Likelihood Estimation
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
GVPT729B
Special Topics in Quantitative Political Analysis; Applied Social Data Science
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
GVPT761
International Political Economy
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Recommended: GVPT708.
Major issues in international political economy including such matters as the monetary system, trade, debt, and development.
GVPT770
Seminar in American Political Institutions
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
This is the core institutions seminar in American politics. The course surveys the primary literature in the field and addresses substantively significant topics related to the study of political institutions in the American context.
GVPT803
Seminar in International Political Organization
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in Government and Politics PhD program.
An overview and critical analysis of contemporary theory on international organizations and global governance.
GVPT828B
Selected Problems in Political Behavior; Race and Ethnic Politics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud, S-F
GVPT849
Readings in Government and Politics
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud
GVPT888I
Selected Topics in Comparative Governmental Institutions; Politics of Identity
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, Aud, S-F
GVPT898
Pre-Candidacy Research
Credits:
1 - 8
Grad Meth:
Reg
GVPT899
Doctoral Dissertation Research
Credits:
6
Grad Meth:
S-F
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