Credits:

4.00

Description:

An introduction to the American political system and constitutional framework. Focus will be on the interplay of various institutions (the Presidency, Congress and the Judiciary) in creating public policies. Contemporary public issues will be discussed, as will the role of political theory in shaping American democracy. Attention will be given to the role of the news media, public opinion, political ideology, political parties and interest groups in the American system.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Credits:

4.00

Description:

Building on the skills learned in GVT 110, students will be introduced to the subfields of political science and learn to analyze political writings. Focus will be on the use of the scientific method for research on politics and government. Students will learn the steps in writing a research paper, including developing the research question and selecting a research design. Attention will be given to the use of statistical analysis and public opinion polling in political research.

Type:

Social Science

Prerequisites:

Sophomore Standing GVT 110 and 120 and Math 130 or higher.

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course is an introduction to statistics and empirical research methods generally used in political science. The course will emphasize the use of statistics and its value in substantive political science research. Statistics is a tool for drawing conclusions and making inferences from observable evidence. As well, the specification of conditions under which evidence is observed affects the conclusions and arguments that political scientists draw about how social and political processes work. The purpose of this course is to equip students with tools to interpret and conduct original data analysis, critique and make an argument based on data, and provide a view into the process of political science research and how political scientists use statistical methods and research design to answer substantive questions about politics. Since most applied data analysis utilizes data management software, students will learn how to use SPSS as a tool for conducting data analysis. Prerequisites: Sophomore Standing, GVT 110 and 120 and Math 130 or instructors consent. 1 term - 4 credits.

Type:

Quantitative Reasoning

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course explores what major religions say about the status and responsibilities of the state and how, in turn, selective states have, in theory and practice, structured the place of religions in political life. Particular attention is given to issues of politics and religion in the United States. Cultural Diversity A

Type:

Cultural Diversity Opt A,Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

GVT 110 and GVT 120 or instructors permission

Credits:

4.00

Description:

An introduction to the process by which public policies are made in the United States. The class will focus on agenda-setting and policy formulation at the federal level, and will include a discussion of the various actors in governmental institutions that impact public policy. Several policy issues will be used as examples to illustrate the process. Some comparisons will be made to state and local policymaking. Normally offered every year.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

not open to freshmen

Credits:

4.00

Description:

The growth of Constitutional law and the role of the Supreme Court is examined by analysis of court decisions dealing with Judicial Review, Federalism, Presidential and Congressional powers. Normally offered every year.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

GVT 110/120 OR INSTRUCTORS CONSENT

Credits:

4.00

Description:

The development, structure and functions of state governments with emphasis on the government of Massachusetts; the various forms of local government in cities and towns; analysis of the relationships between local, state and federal governments. Normally offered alternate years.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

Sophomore standing

Credits:

4.00

Description:

Political thought and philosophy from antiquity to the present, including such thinkers as Aristotle, Locke, Marx and Nietzsche. The course will highlight major watersheds in political theory such as the Renaissance and the Reformation, and will also examine non-Western traditions. Normally offered alternate years.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Credits:

4.00

Description:

The law affects and is affected by public policy. Beyond this, the law affects, and is affected by, many other disciplines. Understanding the evolving relationship among public policy, law and psychology in the US is integral to both disciplines. This course explores contemporary forensic psychologys role in the legal system - e.g., jury selection; expert witnesses; biases; crime control vs. due process, etc. through readings, class discussion, occasional audio-visual material and guest speakers if and when appropriate and available. Normally offered every other year.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Credits:

4.00

Description:

Theories dealing with the process of political change in countries of the Third World: the impact of the military, traditional culture and institutions, economic problems, strong personalities and other factors on political life and institutions. Prerequisite: Not open to freshmen. 1 term - 4 credits. Normally offered alternate years. Cultural Diversity B

Type:

Cultural Diversity Opt B,Social Science

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course examines womens issues and roles in the public policy process. Topics will include policies that affect women, such as child care and reproductive issues. Emphasis will also be placed on womens roles in the policy process, as citizens, voters, and public officials. Prerequisite: Open to non-majors; not open to freshmen. Normally offered alternate years. Cultural Diversity A

Type:

Social Science,Cultural Diversity Opt A,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

GVT 281 and GVT 261 or instructors consent

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course explores the main premises and approaches to study Global Political Economy. After analyzing the history and development of the international system, it studies how states and markets are interconnected in the creation and reform of economic and political international institutions in the globalization process. It also focuses on the most acute problems of the current international system in the area of IPE, namely, environmental degradation, external debt, poverty, increasing gap between rich and poor countries, and trade conflicts. Offered every year.

Type:

Social Science

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course examines the main political, economic and social trends in the European Union, Latin America and the United States as well as the multiples interactions among them since the end of the Cold War. The readings are structured in two main sections. After briefly reviewing the historical development of these three partners on both sides of the Atlantic in the past five decades, the first section identifies the key processes that are defining the main characteristics of Europe (deepening vs. widening), United States (isolationism vs. internationalism) and Latin America (democracy vs. social equality). The second part of the course explains the tendencies and contradictions in the construction of the external relations of the European Union towards the United States and Latin America, from the cooperation and competition in development of a safe and free Europe in the 1990s to the acrimonious debate about the 2003 Iraq invasion and the prospects of the 2006 EU-Latin America Vienna Summit, among other important events.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

OPEN TO JUNIORS & SENIORS

Credits:

4.00

Description:

Everything needed to design, carry out, and interpret a political survey. Topics covered will include questionnaire design, sampling, interviewing, coding data, and univariate and bivariate analysis of the results. Multivariate analysis will be discussed but not studied in-depth. An actual survey will be conducted as a class project. Normally offered every year.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

Prerequisites: Not open to freshmen

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course provides and overview of the legal system in the United States of America, in connection with the role of the Federal and State government and their policy. This course is designed for undergraduate and graduate students. During the semester, we will explore a variety of issues involving the legal system of the United States and how it effects local and federal government.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This basis of this course will be in-depth examinations of various conspiracies in American Politics and Culture, beginning with the Salem Witch Trials through the Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy and the Sacco & Vanzetti case through the present day. Present day conspiracies will include an examination of the JFK and RFK Assassinations, the Pentagon Papers case, the Watergate Conspiracy, the Iran/Contra scandal, Whitewater and the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, the World Trade Center bombing, the Oklahoma City Bombing, Global Warming, and the 9/11 Investigation.

Type:

BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE,Social Science

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course begins with the premise that leadership is a continuous process, and that leadership can be studied, analyzed, and learned, across the public (as well as private for profit, and private non-profit) sectors. The first half of the course will, following the Northouse, Burns, and Gardner texts, delve into various theories of leadership, including the traits, skills, style, and situational approaches. We will also cover gender differences in leadership studies, and leadership ethics. The second half of the course will deal with transformational leadership, and real life (historical and recent) examples of political leadership, including Nelson Mandela, J. Robert Oppenheimer, George Washington, Margaret Thatcher, and others. There will also be in-class discussions on current challenges in public policy, asking students to envision what leadership skills they have studied that could come into play in solving these public policy challenges. During the second half of the course, students will be required to interview a leader of their choice, and, utilizing the material covered during the course, write a paper based on the interview.

Type:

BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE,Social Science

Prerequisites:

GVT 110 OR GVT 120

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course represents a unique opportunity for students to develop a general understanding of the relationship between politics and the community; a systematic and holistic way of viewing and analyzing the impact of community- based, community-wide organizations and efforts. Normally offered alternate years.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course will teach the students the importance of legislative advocacy to effect political and policy change and the important role advocacy plays in making our democracy transparent and accessible. The course will explore the various role and interplay between the political branches and the functions they perform individually as part of the overall democratic/political system. Through a combination of lecture, guest speakers, observation attendance at legislative sessions and hearing; and journal keeping, students will learn and see first-hand how local government, grassroots organizations, media, and one citizen can bring about change, solve problems, and make a positive contribution to our community.

Type:

BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE,Social Science

Prerequisites:

GVT 110 AND GVT 120 OR INSTRUCTORS CONSENT

Credits:

4.00

Description:

Perspectives on the role and problems of the presidency in American political life; the nature and difficulties of presidential influence and effectiveness, presidential authority within our system of government, and the impact of presidential character. Normally offered alternate years.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

GOV 110, GVT 120, or instructors consent

Credits:

4.00

Description:

Covers the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, known as the Reconstruction amendments. This course focuses upon these three critical amendments, with an eye towards their importance in framing race-based rights, and the 14th with regard to gender-based rights. It emphasizes the politics of these amendments language, ratification, and impact (including their 130-year interpretation by the Supreme Court.) The course treats the U.S. Constitution dynamically, as a political and social educator. It also examines the extent to which the Constitution could be viewed as race- or gender-blind.

Type:

Cultural Diversity Opt A,Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

GVT 110, 120, 243, and 244 or instructors permission

Credits:

4.00

Description:

A critical analysis of whether our constitutional system is adequate to effectively resolve the new and complex problems of governance in this century. The strengths and weaknesses of governmental structure created by the U.S. Constitution will be examined. Past and current amendment proposals will receive special attention. Normally offered alternate years.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

GVT 110 AND GVT 120, or instructors consent

Credits:

4.00

Description:

Historical overview of party development in the U.S. and of ideological and political trends as reflected in voting behavior. Recent developments in party structure, electoral strategies and political style. The party crisis vs. the art of political campaigning. Normally offered alternate years.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

GVT 110 OR GVT 120

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course will explore the influence of the media on contemporary political issues and public opinion; and the use of media in political campaigns, advertising, etc. Topics may include the impact of talk radio, the issue of the media bias, the role of television, the Hollywood connection, etc. Normally offered alternate years.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

GVT 281 and GVT 261

Credits:

4.00

Description:

A decision-making approach to understanding the domestic and institutional context of U.S. foreign policy. Includes analysis of continuity and change since WWII using case studies of critical decisions, e.g., Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, etc. Not open to freshmen. Prerequisites: GVT 110, GVT 120, GVT 261 or instructors consent. 1 term - 4 credits. Normally offered every year.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course is designed to provide students with a basic grounding in political institutions and processes in contemporary Spain. Political developments are presented in their socio-economic context, with special emphasis on the Spanish transition from a dictatorship to a democracy. Attention is also given to the issue of the Basque and Catalan nationalism, as well as the process of European integration. Prerequisite: GVT 281 or instructors consent. 1 term - 4 credits. Normally offered alternate years at the Madrid Campus.

Type:

Social Science

Prerequisites:

Instructors Consent

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course presents a survey of a coastal environment, its physical characteristics, natural systems, economic uses, and development pressures. Lectures examine strategies formulated in the U.S. for land and water resource management in the coastal zone. The roles of federal, state and local government, environmental groups and resource users are also explored. Finally, by comparing coastal zone management problems in the U.S. to those elsewhere in the world, students gain a global perspective. Normally offered every years. The course available through the Marine Studies Consortium and will be taught on the campus of one of the Consortiums member institutions.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

GVT 110 and GVT 120

Credits:

4.00

Description:

The political development of Africa in colonial and post-colonial periods. Analysis of the evolution of governmental institutions includes economic, social and personal factors; political forces at work in present day Africa. Not open to freshmen. Normally offered alternate years. Cultural Diversity B

Type:

Cultural Diversity Opt B,Social Science

Prerequisites:

Not open to freshmen.

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course will examiner political and economic institutions of newly independent entities from Kazakhstan to the Baltics. It will include historical roots of the Soviet Union from the Russian Revolution through the Gorbachev years. Attention will be paid to Marxist theory and non-Marxist challenges for the economy of the area as well as the state. While some of attention will be paid to foreign relations of the former Soviet Union and the current regimes with Western Europe and the U.S. and elsewhere, the major emphasis will be on domestic policy on citizens of the former Soviet Union. Normally offered alternate years.

Type:

Social Science

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course will examine US relations with East Asia through the lens of leading International Relations theories. We will analyze the growing regional influence of China, and will also examine the foreign policies of major regional powers including South and North Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. By exploring the economic and political factors that are working to shape the dynamic East Asian regional order, we will gain an understanding of the challenges faced by the US in this economically and strategically pivotal region.

Type:

BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE,Social Science

Credits:

4.00

Description:

Utilizing the theoretical frameworks of Comparative Politics and International Relations, this course will focus on a critical analysis of contemporary forms of resistance politics, such as those culminating in popular struggles for peace, democracy, human rights, economic justice, gender equality, environment, and the rights of indigenous peoples.

Type:

Social Science

Prerequisites:

GVT 281 or instructor consent

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course examines the evolution of Latin America in the context of globalization. The first part analyzes the main political and economic trends of Latin America as a region, while the second presents the main challenges Mexico is facing today in the area of security. The third part moves forward into the detailed explanation of the transformations of the largest South American countries such as Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Venezuela, among others. The final section looks at the relationship between Latin America and the United States.

Type:

Cultural Diversity Opt B,Social Science

Prerequisites:

Junior status or above

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course discusses terrorism and extremism in South and Central Asia as forms of political violence and its effects on the security of the region and the world. Students will develop a working definition of terrorism and extremism and analyze tenets of states security policies. They will study the history of origin, political, economic and social causes of terrorism, the nature of Islamist terrorist organizations, their strategic goals, motivations, and the threats they pose to peace and development from the point of view of international relations and comparative politics. On the base of case studies and class discussions, students examine theories and instances of ideological, religious, and political extremism as a foundation for terrorism. Through thorough investigation of different cases students will acquire unique knowledge of the Al-Qaeda threat in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia, as well as activities of groups as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Lashkar-e-Taiba and others.

Prerequisites:

Junior status or above

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This class will examine the techniques used to market political candidates, parties, issues, interest groups and think tanks in the modern American polity, as well as in Canada and the EU. The class will examine the causes and impact of the change that many observers have seen in the American polity from a civil to a consumptive political culture and question the extent to which this is a U.S. based versus more global phenomenon. At the same time, the class will aim to provide the student will a hands-on understanding of the way in which various marketing techniques are employed to sell politics. The techniques will include message development, branding, micro-targeting, and political marketing campaign strategy by looking at a series of cases from around the world. Cases examined will include the Barack Obama , Hillary Clinton and John McCain campaigns from 2008, the effort to brand the Conservative Party and New Labour in the United Kingdom.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course focuses on the historical origins, evolution, and current trajectory of the North Korean state. Topics include history, social structure, the interplay of culture and ideology, political economy, humanitarian issues, security, and the politics of North Korean domestic and foreign policy. We will spend considerable time analyzing North Koreas relationship with regional and world powers and examining the origins, history, and implications of their nuclear weapons program. Students will be expected to demonstrate their ability to apply theoretical and historical knowledge toward analyzing the rapidly evolving landscape of contemporary issues related to North Korea.

Type:

Social Science

Prerequisites:

Junior status or above

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course focuses on the Congressional leadership, parties in Congress and their impact on political interactions, and public policy. The course will examine the relationship between the leadership in the Congress and the powerful elements in the House and Senate such as committee chairmen and the party caucuses as well as the media and lobbyists. Emphasis is on the decades long trend toward greater political polarization and its impact on the ability of the institution to respond effectively current national problems.

Prerequisites:

TAKE GVT 110

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course will examine the changes in the US Congress in recent years, as both party unity and party polarization have grown, with particular attention to the evolution of Senate rules as the need for a 60-vote majority has become a given.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course examines how American governmental institutions, political actors, and processes have both shaped and responded to one of the most significant and complex issues of public policy facing the nation: immigration to the United States. This class will explore a number of intriguing and difficult policy topics related to the almost unprecedented level of immigration that the U.S. has been experiencing. The focus of the class will include the following: admissions, citizenship, deportation and detention (including that of suspected terrorists), refugee/asylum law, and highly contested issues of today, such as definitions of citizenship, immigrant rights, and border enforcement. A major objective of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to conduct their own original research in American politics by delving into some aspect of immigration as a public policy issue.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

This course will have a service learning component Sophomore Status required

Credits:

4.00

Description:

From Rio to the Boston Harbor Project, this course examines the policies and politics of the environment. It examines the origins of the environmental movement in the United States focusing on the development and present function of government and non-government organizations responsible for the development and implementation of global, national, state and local environmental policies.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

Junior status or above

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This class will examine the role of lobbyist and the media in influencing state and national decision makers and public policy. Focusing primarily on current issues relating to energy and environmental policy, we will discuss and critically examine all sides of todays hot topics- renewable power, climate change, sustainability and others. The goal is not to determine who is right and who is wrong, but rather to get behind the headlines and separate fact from hype and discuss how and why certain policy decisions are made and how policy makers are influenced. Youll gain an appreciation as to how public opinion, lobbyists and the media (even celebrities!) can actually change government priorities- and not always for the better, as rising public opinion and political pressure often collides with well established scientific evidence.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

Junior standing

Credits:

4.00

Description:

Political campaigns aim for votes, but they run on money. This course will introduce students to the basic elements of political fundraising: how to identify potential donors, small personal appeals through events to direct mail, along with the basic legal rules about fundraising, such as contribution limits, record keeping and reporting requirements. Students in this course will also examine the influence of money and PACs on politics and public policy, and will consider the relative advantages and disadvantages of other possible systems of campaign finance, both as practiced today in other countries and as proposed by reformers in the United States.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Prerequisites:

Junior status or above

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course explains the main components of the international legal system. It begins by exploring the rules, principles and norms that govern the relationship among states, the different cultural and philosophical legal perspectives and the history of the international legal system. The second part of the course covers the study of the sources and subjects of the international law, the jurisdiction of states, the peaceful settlement of disputes, the use of force and the legal personality of international actors. The third part of the course addresses a number of significant topics derived from the process of globalization legal norms: human rights, humanitarian intervention, law of the sea, environmental law, and economic relations.

Type:

Social Science

Prerequisites:

GVT 261

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course examines the intertwined nature of the globalization and regionalization processes from the perspective of global political economy. The first part of the course provides the basic elements and indicators to understand the main challenges the international economy is facing such as crisis, protectionism, and underdevelopment, inter alia. The second part presents the evolution of globalization and regionalism in the past decades. The third and final section compares how the distinct regions in the world are dealing with local and global problems; particularly attention is paid to the European Union, NAFTA, Mercosur and APEC.

Type:

Social Science

Prerequisites:

Junior Standing or Instructors consent. Ends April 20, 2010.

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This seminar will explore actors and issues in the context of the United Nations system in connection with humanitarian governance challenges. We will examine theoretical, political, legal issues and institutional issues, then analyze protection, civil-military relations in peace operations. UN and other peace operations and responsibility to protect will be analyzed, and hard choices for all those who wish that globalization should be more humane, and who are interested to confront moving targets and evolving challenges of humanitarian governance, including dilemmas of not doing harm, when intending to do good, in international humanitarian engagement. With humanitarian actions new power comes knowledge that even the most well-intentioned projects can create as many problems as they solve. Are unforeseen consequences, blind spots, and biases of humanitarian work--from focusing too much on rules and too little on results? Students are expected to actively participate in interactive, visual and practical simulation exercises and role plays of humanitarian emergency operations Previous relevant knowledge/experience desirable.

Type:

Social Science

Prerequisites:

take gvt-110, gvt-120, or instructors consent for non majors. Junior status or above

Credits:

4.00

Description:

In this course, students will have an opportunity to examine the basic foundations of the democratic theory and practice. Specifically, this course will focus on building blocks of a democratic relationship between people and government, including transparency, accountability, accessibility, and opportunities for effective advocacy and participation. Both classical and modern authors who have weighed in on these issues will be discussed. Normally offered alternate years.

Type:

Social Science,BSJ SOCIAL SCIENCE

Credits:

4.00

Description:

Why did 17 European countries surrender the sovereign control of their currency and create the Euro? Will Turkey become a member of the European Union? Will Europeans continue free riding the security protection of the United States? Is the integration process another layer of bureaucracy or an institutional instrument to dean with the permanent crises in Europe? There are some of the questions guiding the discussions in the class.

Type:

Social Science

Prerequisites:

not open to freshmen

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course explores the political and cultural history of Islam, with emphasis on the contemporary Islamic resurgence in Muslim countries. The origins and causes of this resurgence, its aims, and its effects on domestic, regional, and world politics will be examined. Offered as needed. Cultural Diversity B

Type:

Social Science,Cultural Diversity Opt B,Asian Studies

Prerequisites:

This course fulfills the Expanded Classroom Requirement. Instructors consent is required.

Credits:

4.00

Description:

An intensive off-campus experience, normally of two-weeks duration, arranged through a qualified agency in Washington, D.C. Topics vary. Students will be graded by both an on-site evaluator and an assigned Government Department faculty member. Students are normally required to keep a journal of the off-campus experience and to write a significant research paper based on the topic of the academic seminar upon their return.

Type:

Social Science,Expanded Classroom Requirement

Credits:

6.00

Description:

An opportunity to do an internship through the Washington Center at either the Republican National Convention or the Democratic National Convention. College students will learn what goes on behind the scenes and interact with important public figures that are influential in setting public policy at various levels of government. They spend a week prior to the convention studying the electoral process, familiarizing themselves with conventions operations and preparing for their convention fieldwork assignments. In addition, they hear from a wide variety of speakers, including members of the media, party officials, and other political personalities. Students are then assigned as volunteers to assist with the work of the convention during the second week.

Type:

Social Science

Prerequisites:

Instructors consent

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course provides an introduction to the study of the role of the United Nations System in the globalization era. The course is divided in two main sections. The first is based on a series of readings, lectures and discussion on the rules, principles and norms which govern the relationship among states and the UN system; it also covers traditional topics such as the sources and subjects of international law, the jurisdiction of states, the peaceful settlement of disputes, the use of force and the legal personality of international actors, human rights, humanitarian intervention, global environment, used of armed forces, as well as economic relations. The second part of the course is based on a required study trip to the UN headquarters in order to experience a direct contact with policy-makers within the UN system in a diversity of areas such as security, aid and peacekeeping areas.

Type:

Social Science,Expanded Classroom Requirement

Prerequisites:

Junior status or above

Credits:

4.00

Description:

This course is fast-paced, highly interactive, multi-media and thought provoking. We apply the traditional academic requirements at The Washington Center, while adding the unique elements that allow you to connect with students at other universities. This course offers interesting guests, lively discussions, thoughtful debates, historic video from C-SPAN and the National Archives. As we examine and analyze the political, legislative and social issues facing our country, we will take an in-depth look at the issues and events shaping the agenda for next Congress & the next round of elections. Our focus will also include the historical process of public policy making, as well as an intense examination on the changing role of media, especially social media, in shaping public opinion.

Prerequisites:

Junior standing

Credits:

4.00

Description:

Approximately 12 hours a week working in a position that offers the student significant opportunity to learn about politics and/or government. Interested students should consult instructor in advance. ECR

Type:

Social Science,Expanded Classroom Requirement

Prerequisites:

This course fulfills the Expanded Classroom Requirement

Credits:

8.00

Description:

A full-time summer internship in Washington D.C. Consult the Department for more details. ECR

Type:

Social Science,Expanded Classroom Requirement

Prerequisites:

Juniors standing; GVT 528 & GVT 529 Concurrent

Credits:

8.00

Description:

A full-time, one-semester International Internship in London.

Type:

Social Science,Expanded Classroom Requirement

Prerequisites:

Concurrently with GVT 526 or GVT 530 and GVT 529

Credits:

4.00

Description:

One of two required seminars to be taken by International interns and service learning participation. ECR

Type:

Social Science,Expanded Classroom Requirement

Prerequisites:

Must be taken concurrently with GVT 528 and 529. Junior Standing.

Credits:

8.00

Description:

Full-time, international service-learning in one of several countries. Consult the Government Department office for more details.

Type:

Social Science,Expanded Classroom Requirement

Prerequisites:

Juniors standing; GVT 528 & GVT 529 Concurrent

Credits:

8.00

Description:

A full-time, one-semester International Internship in London.

Type:

Social Science,Expanded Classroom Requirement

Prerequisites:

Instructors consent required

Credits:

4.00

Description:

Individual program of reading, research, writing on an approved topic under the supervision of a member of the department, for students in all tracks who meet the criteria for departmental honors and who wish to prepare a thesis for submission to the honors committee. Must be taken in the first semester of the senior year. Prerequisites: Grade point average 3.0 overall, 3.4 in major; completion of a minimum of 6 credits in Government at Suffolk University; advisors signed consent; application approved by honors committee in spring of applicants junior year. 1 term - 4 credits. Normally offered every fall.

Type:

Social Science

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Methods and practices of interest groups trying to influence legislative and administrative decision making; methods and practices of public agencies trying to influence governmental policies; the military industrial complex and other cases on federal and state levels.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course examines womens issues and roles in the public policy process. Topics will include policies that affect women, such as child care, sex discrimination, sexual harassment, womens health care and reproductive issues. Emphasis will also be placed on womens roles in the policy process, as citizens, voters and public officials.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

An analysis of the origins and the local, regional, and international dimensions of the Palestinian-Israeli-Arab conflict, this course will examine the conflict through the eyes of the major protagonists and the roles played by them from the early twentieth century to the present: Zionists/Israelis, Palestinians and other Arabs, British, Americans, Soviets. We will also explore the questions of why this conflict has captured the worlds attention and why it has gone unresolved since World War II. Finally, we will examine the possibilities and attempts for resolution of what appears to be an intractable human tragedy.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

The overall goal of this course is to understand why 1968 is considered one of the most tumultuous years in the 20th century as regards the news media; music and theater; television and film censorship; and in the shift in culture and mores of an entire subset of the population. The course will focus on specific touchstones that elucidate the communication to both the mainstream public, know broadly as the Silent Majority, and the new emerging boomers, whose values and attitudes still drive the media ten years into the 21st century. Students will learn how a single year of media can change forever how one part of a culture views itself, while at the same time discovering how another part of that same culture continues to resist those changes 40 years later. Students will learn how many of the seeds of ideas they take for granted in 2011, including educational and sports equality (Title 9) for women; environmental sensitivity, and gay rights were planted in the print, films and music of 1968, but didnt bloom until the years which followed. Guest speakers, films and lectures will be used to reinforce material from the texts.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Everything needed to design, carry out, and interpret a political survey. Topics covered include questionnaire design, sampling, interviewing, coding data, and univariate and bivariate analysis of the results. Multivariate analysis will be discussed but not studied in depth. An actual survey will be conducted as a class project. Prerequisites: Open to graduate students, seniors, and juniors; previous course in political science research methods, or comparable course in another discipline and consent of instructor.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

A countrys popular culture offers significant and accurate insights into the political values, attitudes, and beliefs of its own people at a given time. One form of popular culture, films, can be a powerful disseminator of political messages. This course will examine a number of different eras and political themes as they have been reflected through films in the U.S.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Public policys impact on Blacks, Chicanos, Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, and other minority groups; how public policy has contributed to racial oppression; policies for attaining racial equality; political strategies of minority groups.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

From Rio to the Boston Harbor Project, this course examines the polices and politics of the environment. It examines the origins of the environmental movement in the United States focusing on the development and present function of government and non-government organizations responsible for the development and implementation of global, national, state and local environmental policies.

Type:

Expanded Classroom Requirement

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course examines fundamental framework, legislative oversight of the Executive Branch and basic functions of the Massachusetts Legislative. Special emphasis will be placed on gaining a practical understanding of the Massachusetts legislative process. Students are encouraged to explore the methods by which major legislative measures are undertaken, various roles of legislative leaders, committee hearings and the procedures that are used under the Massachusetts General Laws.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

In this course we will examine the latest developments in interest group politics, including trends in grassroots organization, mobilization, and lobbying: fundraising; advocacy by nonprofit organizations; the growth of issues management; changing regulations; ethical considerations; and the evolving relationships between advocacy and electoral organizations. We will make extensive use of amateur and professional advocates and lobbyists as guest speakers. Students will be expected to write a research paper on some aspect of the current politics of advocacy and lobbying.

Type:

Social Science

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Perspectives on the role and problems of the presidency in American political life; the nature and difficulties of the presidential influence and effectiveness, presidential authority within our system of government, and the impact of presidential character.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

A critical analysis of whether our constitutional system is adequate to effectively resolve the new and complex problems of governance in this century. The strengths and weaknesses of governmental structure created by the U.S. Constitution will be examined. Past and current amendment proposals will receive special attention.

Type:

Social Science

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course will explore the influence of media on contemporary political issues and public opinion; and the use of media in political campaigns, advertising, etc. Topics may include the impact of talk radio, the issue of media bias, the role of television, the Hollywood connection.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

The objective of this course is to analyze the mechanisms and processes of diplomacy. It provides a sense of the evolution of statecraft, and it seeks to assess the utility of different approaches to the development and implementation of foreign policy and to examine the successes and failures of these approaches in different circumstances.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course explores the institutional structures, political processes, and impact of international governmental and nongovernmental organizations. It analyses their increasingly prominent role in efforts to resolve a wide range of global problems and contribution to strengthen the current system of global governance. While the course covers the problems of international security, global distribution of wealth, deterioration of the environmental system and threats to social welfare, it focuses on the interaction between the United Nations System and regional organizations, on the one hand, and the role of non-governmental organizations in cooperating or something to solve specific problems in the area of international relations.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This class examines the political ramifications of social movements primarily but not exclusively within the United States. It looks at ideology, beliefs, and mechanisms of mobilization. Another important focus is an analysis of non-white social movements in this country and their impact on domestic politics. Among the movements to be examined are: the Pan-African movement 1919 to 1939 which will, to some extent, take us outside this country; the U.S. Civil Rights Movement 1955 to 1969 which covers the rise of the Black Power movement; and the U.S. Labor Movement 1900 to 1955 in terms of non-white influence on its programmatic goals.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

An examination of human rights at the end of the 20th Century. Attention will be given to the origin and expansion of the concept of human rights, the place of human rights in different political systems, the link between culture and human rights, and the means and mechanisms for safeguarding rights with particular reference to the United Nations system.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

A decision-making approach to understanding the domestic and institutional context of US foreign policy. Includes analysis of continuity and change since WWII using case studies of critical decisions, e.g., Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, etc.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Why did 17 European countries surrender the sovereign control of their currency and create the Euro? Will Turkey become a member of the European Union? Will Europeans continue free riding the security protection of the United States? Is the integration process another layer of bureaucracy or an institutional instrument to deal with the permanent crises in Europe? These are some of the questions guiding the discussions in this class.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Interlocking themes making the contemporary Middle East an area of chronic conflict: Big Power rivalries; social and political change within individual countries; unity and rivalry involved in Arab nationalism; the Palestinian-Israeli-Arab dispute.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Emphasis on a particular approach to the problems of economic modernization and political development. Historical background; the revolutionary movement; present political structures and current issues.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course examines the Canadian model of incorporating divers communities into its constitutional and political framework, including the founding British North American Act of 1867, the 1982 Constitution Act, and two later attempts at constitutional reform. Canadas role in balancing two official languages, English and French, is discussed, as is its recognition of a First Nations native-governed territory in the Arctic. This course introduces students to the Canadian polity and compares its parliamentary system with the U.S. separation of powers system.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course will explore the role played by the United States in the Middle East in the twentieth century, with emphasis on the period since World War II. Our study will begin with a decision-making approach to understanding the domestic and institutional context of Americas policy toward the region, followed by an examination of that policy as it confronted radical nationalist, socialist, and Islamic movements, Soviet influence, and specific contemporary problems - the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Lebanese civil war, the Iranian revolution, the Iran-Iraq War, and the Gulf War.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course explores the political and cultural history of Islam, with emphasis on the contemporary Islamic resurgence in Muslim countries. The origins and causes of this resurgence, its aims, and its effects on domestic, regional, and world politics will be examined. Cultural Diversity B

Type:

Cultural Diversity Opt B

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This internship option is recommended for students seeking careers in professional politics or international relations. Typically, an internship will involve supervised work at a professional level in a political campaign, on a legislative staff, in an international non-governmental organization, or in a legislative relations for a governmental agency or private organization. Internship placement must be approved by the students advisor, and will typically require at least 20 hours of work per week for the duration of a semester and the completion of a research paper based on the internship experience. The research paper must be approved by a departmental committee.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Core course for the Professional Politics Concentration. Students will read and discuss current research on legislative politics and organization, including committees, interest groups and lobbying, legislative voting and decision making, and other topics. Students will conduct their own research and present it to the seminar. Prerequisites: Open to graduate students only; at least one previous course in legislatures or interest groups, or consent of the instructor.

Prerequisites:

OPEN TO GRADUATE STUDENTS ONLY

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Core course for the concentration in North American Politics. This course will examine the key concepts of an approaches to world politics. Special attention will be given the application of these concepts and approaches to the relations among the nation-states of North America.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course will focus on three main areas: a) United Nations and NGOs; b) Current Relevant Issues, and c) Regions, examining current issues and debates in each area. The courses is team-taught by full-time faculty specializing in each area.

Prerequisites:

Open to graduate students only; previous course in political science research methods or comparable course in another discipline or instructors consent.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Core course for the MS in Political Science, Professional Politics track. The aim of the course is to give students the ability to conduct their own research and to understand and use the research of others, with a emphasis on relevant topics such as voting behavior, elections, polling, legislatures, and public policy. Both qualitative and quantitative methods will be covered including, archival research, legislative documents, election data, and multivariate analysis.

Prerequisites:

Open to graduate students only; previous course in political science research methods or comparable course in another discipline or instructors consent.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Core course for the MS in Political Science, International Relations track. The aim of the course is to give students the ability to conduct their own research and to understand and use the research of others, with an emphasis on topics relevant to the field of international relations. Both qualitative and quantitative methods will be covered, including archival research and the use documents and data from a variety of sources.

Prerequisites:

Requires instructors consent

Credits:

3.00

Description:

An intensive off-campus experience, normally of two-weeks duration, arranged through a qualified agency in Washington, D.C. Topics vary. Students will be graded by both an on-site evaluator and an assigned Government Department faculty member. Students are normally required to keep a journal of the off-campus experience and to write a significant research paper based on the topic of the academic seminar upon their return. ECR

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Defamation, privacy, copyright, pornography, incitement to lawless conduct and harassment are six areas in which first Amendment freedoms historically have been constrained to some degree. The constraints have been worked out largely through judicial decisions issued over the last century. This course would look at the traditional interests that were balanced to produce the constraints, the Internets impact on those interests and whether the impact suggests the need for rebalancing.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

A course about how the constitution, common law and statutory law provide for environmental protection and pollution prevention. Students will learn basic skills needed to understand how environmental law works, including constitutional clauses and amendments, landmark civil litigation, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, landmark civil litigation, and hazardous waste law.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course will examine the changes in the US Congress in recent years, as both party unity and party polarization have grown, with particular attention to the evolution of Senate rules as the need for a 60-vote majority has become a given.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This basis of this course will be in depth examinations of various conspiracies in American Politics and Culture, beginning with the Salem Witch Trials through the Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy and the Sacco & Vanzetti case through the present day. Present day conspiracies will include an examination of the JFK and RFK Assassinations, the Pentagon Papers case, the Watergate Conspiracy, the Iran/Contra scandal, Whitewater and the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, the World Trade Center bombing, the Oklahoma City Bombing, Global Warming, and the 9/11 Investigation.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course begins with the premise that leadership is a continuous process, and that leadership can be studied, analyzed, and learned, across the public (as well as private for profit, and private non-profit) sectors. The first half of the course will, following the Northouse, Burns, and Gardner texts, delve into various theories of leadership, including the traits, skills, style, and situational approaches. We will also cover gender differences in leadership studies, and leadership ethics. The second half of the course will deal with transformational leadership, and real life (historical and recent) examples of political leadership, including Nelson Mandela, J. Robert Oppenheimer, George Washington, Margaret Thatcher, and others. There will also be in-class discussions on current challenges in public policy, asking students to envision what leadership skills they have studied that could come into play in solving these public policy challenges. During the second half of the course, students will be required to interview a leader of their choice, and, utilizing the material covered during the course, write a paper based on the interview.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Covers the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, known as the Reconstruction amendments. This course focuses upon these three critical amendments, with an eye towards their importance in framing race-based rights, and the 14th with regard to gender-based rights. It emphasizes the politics of these amendments language, ratification, and impact (including their 130-year interpretation by the Supreme Court.) The course treats the U.S. Constitution dynamically, as a political and social educator. It also examines the extent to which the Constitution could be viewed as race- or gender-blind.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This year, Bostons longest-serving mayor of 20 years, Thomas Menino, announced he would not seek re-election. Twelve candidates are now vying to be mayor of Boston. Boston is among the most educated cities and is an epicenter for research and development, building an innovation economy of engagement, community networks, and collaboration. Yet it faces a variety of challenges. Boston also counts itself as third most unequal cities in the United States in terms of income inequality. Can Boston sustain its success while also lifting more of its population out of poverty? This course examines these questions by focusing attention on the 2013 mayoral election. What prescriptions for success and visions for the future of Boston do the various candidates offer? What constituencies vote? How will the successful candidate craft a winning coalition? Guest speakers, including candidates, local media analysts, and policy makers will highlight key aspects of the urban issues we will examine. Neighborhood visits and a variety of readings will round out the course. For any student interested in the interplay between politics, local government and the global economy, this course is for you.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

When the German Democratic Republic was founded in 1949, observers in the West viewed it as an artificial construct created to serve the needs of the Soviet empire. The self-image of the GDR as created by its leadership revolved around the idea of an anti-fascist German state designed as a bulwark against any revival of National Socialism. Over a generation after the fall of the Berlin Wall, it is possible to undertake a dispassionate analysis of the forty-year history of the other German state as manifested in its cultural identity and political role during the Cold War.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course will examine US relations with East Asia through the lens of leading International Relations theories. We will analyze the growing regional influence of China, and will also examine the foreign policies of major regional powers including South and North Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. By exploring the economic and political factors that are working to shape the dynamic East Asian regional order, we will gain an understanding of the challenges faced by the US in this economically and strategically pivotal region.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

What is the role of the international community in nation building? Who are the key nation building actors? Who should pay for nation building? How long should it take? And what are the main reasons for success and failure in nation building? This course will investigate these questions, looking especially at the cases of the former Soviet Central Asia and Afghanistan. Students will learn about one of the most pressing issues of the contemporary world, with an eye toward helping students navigate a globalized world.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Individual program of reading, research and writing on an approved topic, under the supervision of a member of the department. Topic and assignments are to be determined by the faculty member and student.

Prerequisites:

Students must see the professor to get required Washington Center Application

Credits:

3.00- 6.00

Description:

An opportunity to do an internship through the Washington Center at either the Republican National Convention or the Democratic National convention. Graduate students will learn what goes on behind the scenes and interact with important public figures that are influential in setting public policy at various levels of government. They will spend a week prior to the convention studying the electoral process, familiarizing themselves with convention operations and preparing for their convention fieldwork assignments. In addition they will hear from a wide variety of speakers, including members of the media, party officials, and other political personalities. Students are then assigned as volunteers to assist with the work of the convention the second week. Normally offered every four years.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Specially arranged study trip to a foreign country for the purpose of obtaining knowledge through direct experience and observation. Includes pre-arranged site visits, meetings, required reading and written assignments. Offered as opportunities arise.

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course is fast-paced, highly interactive, multi-media and thought provoking. We apply the traditional academic requirements at The Washington Center, while adding the unique elements that allow you to connect with students at other universities. This course offers interesting guests, lively discussions, thoughtful debates, historic video from C-SPAN and the National Archives. As we examine and analyze the political, legislative and social issues facing our country, we will take an in-depth look at the issues and events shaping the agenda for next Congress & the next round of elections. Our focus will also include the historical process of public policy making, as well as an intense examination on the changing role of media, especially social media, in shaping public opinion.

Credits:

0.00

Description:

0 credit course for graduate students who are writing a thesis or internship report that need to be considered full-time. They will be charged for 1 credit, but earn 0 and are not graded.