Fall Semester 2019

Most Americans can name several presidents and even have opinions on “good” versus “bad” presidents. But how do we evaluate and measure what presidents do and our expectations for their leadership? This course will put the modern presidency in historical and theoretical context, drawing on a variety of readings and approaches over time to determine which framework best explains presidential (in)action. At its core, this class is about the question of executive power in democratic government. In addition to studying and reflecting on the theme of presidential power in theory and practice, we will also consider the limits to this power and how presidents achieve their goals. Ultimately, we aim to understand the work of the presidency and some of the different perspectives by which we might analyze or assess presidents and their administrations.

Draft Syllabus

*Requirement for ALL semester students: 

The first four weeks of this semester (August 28 to September 18) will be spent in a special topics module taught by Professor Jennifer Diascro on Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m. This module will account for 15% of the core seminar final course grade. Please contact Professor Diascro (jennifer.diascro.edu) with questions.

Professor Nunez will begin teaching the Presidency seminar on Tuesdays, beginning September 24, and he will officially be your instructor of record for the term, responsible for computing and submitting final course grades at the end of the term.

**NO additional registration required.

"This seminar is designed to help you to engage critically and think systematically about crucial questions that are global in scope and to guide you through the process of developing a significant research paper. This is not a field seminar in international relations. Lectures and readings will touch on some foundational theories and concepts in comparative and international politics but will be heavily focused on principles of social science research. The issues and problems covered during class discussions and that you read and write about will be driven by your own geographical and substantive interests. The course is also designed to help you to connect your academic pursuits with your professional development in your internships and the broader political ecosystem of Washington, DC. Through the course, we will collectively engage with some of the most crucial problems facing the world’s peoples in the 21st century while examining their causes, consequences, and potential solutions.

Draft Syllabus

*Requirement for ALL semester students: 

The first four weeks of this semester (August 28 to September 18) will be spent in a special topics module taught by Professor Jennifer Diascro on Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m. This module will account for 15% of the core seminar final course grade. Please contact Professor Diascro (jennifer.diascro.edu) with questions.

Professor Danielson will begin teaching the International Policy seminar on Tuesdays, beginning September 24, and he will officially be your instructor of record for the term, responsible for computing and submitting final course grades at the end of the term.

**NO additional registration required."

Gathering knowledge and learning the truth about the world around us is a fundamental part of human development and progress. While most of us take knowledge and truth for granted, the process by which we understand our political, social, cultural, physical, biological environment has become particularly salient in the last couple of years as we’ve been confronted with an ever-increasing post-fact and post-truth world. While we are all affected by biases that obstruct critical thinking, challenging these biases is essential to making rational, evidence-based argument and decisions.

The focus of this seminar is writing and research. Students will choose a research topic related to the work of their internship organization and will spend the writing various parts of what will become a final research paper. This seminar is designed to hone the critical writing and thinking skills necessary for developing evidence-based arguments. Students of all majors and writing experience are welcome!

Draft Syllabus

*Requirement for ALL semester students: 

The first four weeks of this semester (August 28 to September 18) will be spent in a special topics module taught by Professor Jennifer Diascro on Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m. This module will account for 15% of the core seminar final course grade. Please contact Professor Diascro (jennifer.diascro.edu) with questions.

Professor Diascro will begin teaching the General Research seminar on Thursdays, beginning September 26, and she will officially be your instructor of record for the term, responsible for computing and submitting final course grades at the end of the term.

**NO additional registration required."