Feb 16, 2025  
2019-2020 Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions


UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

Lower Division Courses numbered 1–99 are designed primarily for freshmen and sophomores but are open to all students for lower division credit. (Graduate students requesting to enroll in lower-division undergraduate courses will not receive unit credit nor will the course fulfill degree requirements.) Upper Division Courses courses numbered 100–199 are open to all students who have met the necessary prerequisites as indicated in the catalog course description. Preparation should generally include completion of one lower division course in the given subject or completion of two years of college work.

GRADUATE COURSES

Courses numbered 200–299 are open to graduate students. (Undergraduate students must obtain the signature of the instructor, School Dean, and the Dean of Graduate Studies. Graduate level units will count towards the required 120 units for graduation; however students are urged to meet with their academic advisor in order to determine if graduate course units may be used to fulfill a graduation requirement.)

CROSS-LISTED/CONJOINED COURSES

Cross-listed Courses are the same course offered under different course subjects at the same level (either undergraduate or graduate) that share the same meeting time, requirements, units, etc. Conjoined Courses are the same course but one is undergraduate and one is graduate.

COREQUISITE COURSE

A corequisite course is a course that must be taken at the same time as another course.

PREREQUISITES

Prerequisites for courses should be followed carefully; the responsibility for meeting these requirements rests on the student. If you can demonstrate that your preparation is equivalent to that specified by the prerequisites, the instructor may waive these requirements for you. The instructor also may request that a student who has not completed the prerequisites be dropped from the course. If the prerequisite for a course is not satisfied, students must obtain the approval of the instructor (or school designee) of the course they wish to take.

For all undergraduate courses a “C-” or better grade is required for a course to be used as a prerequisite for another course. If a course was taken for a “P/NP” grade then a “P” grade is required.

For all graduate courses a “B” or better grade is required for a course to be used as a prerequisite for another course. If a course was taken for a “S/U” grade then a “S” grade is required.

WORLD LANGUAGES

No credit is allowed for completing a less advanced course after successful completion (C-or better) of a more advanced course in the world languages. This applies only to lower division world language courses, not upper division courses. 

GRADING OPTIONS

Unless otherwise stated in the course description, each course is letter graded with a P/NP or S/U option (unless required for your major or graduate program). The policy regarding Grading Options , can be found in an alternate section of the catalog.

More information about Course Substitutions  and Course Materials and Services Fees  can be found in alternate areas of the catalog.

 

Physics

  
  • PHYS 199: Upper Division Individual Study


    Lower Unit Limit: 1
    Upper Unit Limit: 5

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Pass/No Pass only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: Yes


    View course scheduling information


  
  • Syllabus

    PHYS 201: Teaching and Learning in the Sciences


    Units: 1

    An introduction to ‘scientific teaching’ - an approach to teaching science that uses many of the same skills applied in research. Topics will include how people learn, active learning, designing, organizing and facilitating teachable units, classroom management, diversity in the classroom and assessment design.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Crosslisted with: MATH 201
    Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 204: Biophysics


    Units: 4

    Provides an understanding of relevant physical principles for biological systems, introduce them to experimental and theoretical techniques of biophysics and to communicate the excitement of cutting-edge biophysics research. Topics include diffusion, fluids, entropic force, motor proteins, enzymes, nerve impulses, networks and evolution.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Conjoined with: BIO 104, PHYS 104
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


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  • Syllabus

    PHYS 205: Classical Mechanics


    Units: 4

    Topics in classical mechanics, including Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations, Conservation Laws and Symmetry and the relationship, Calculus of variations and variational principle, Euler angles and rigid body dynamics, Oscillations and normal modes.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


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  • PHYS 209: Soft Matter Physics


    Units: 3

    Introduction to the physics of soft materials designed for graduate students in physics. Uses a physics based approach to study the structure and assembly of a variety of materials including liquid crystals, polymers, colloidal systems and surfactants including biological examples.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Conjoined with: PHYS 109
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


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  • Syllabus

    PHYS 210: Electrodynamics and Optics I


    Units: 4

    Introduction to electrodynamics. Electrostatics including Poisson and Laplace Equations, Green’s Theorem and different Boundary Value Problems, Polarizibility, Susceptibility and dielectric media. Magnetostatics, Maxwell’s equations, Plane Electromagnetic Waves, Polarization of light, Electromagnetic radiation in different media.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 211: Electrodynamics and Optics II


    Units: 4

    Continuation of electrodynamics. Wave guides and resonant cavities, Multipole radiation, Relativistic charged particles in electromagnetic fields, Collisions between charged particles and radiation from moving charges with relativistic corrections, introductory magnetohydrodynamics.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: PHYS 210
    Instructor Permission Required: No


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  • PHYS 212: Statistical Mechanics


    Units: 4

    Topics include: General principles of statistical mechanics including microcanonical, macrocanonical and grand canonical ensembles, fluctuations and equilibrium. Thermodynamics including Legendre transforms and Maxwell relations, fluctuations and stability and Landau theory. Quantum statistical mechanics including Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 230: Computation and Modeling for Interdisciplinary Biophysical Sciences, Biomaterials and Biotechnology


    Units: 3

    Covers cutting-edge applications of computation and modeling tools to problems in biophysical sciences, biomaterials and biotechnology. Team of students will undertake open research projects utilizing tools and languages such as R, Python and C/C++ to address questions ranging from epidemic spreading to protein design.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Crosslisted with: BEST 230
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No
    Completion of the NSF-CREST CCBM IB3 Summer Training Module in Computation and Modeling is strongly recommended.


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 231: Imaging and Spectroscopy for Interdisciplinary Biophysical Sciences, Biomaterials and Biotechnology


    Units: 3

    Covers cutting-edge applications of imaging and spectroscopy tools to problems in biophysical sciences, biomaterials and biotechnology. Teams of students will undertake open research projects utilizing tools such as protein expression and purification, single molecule, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy to understand the structure and dynamics of biomolecules.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Crosslisted with: BEST 231, BIOE 231
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No
    Completion of the NSF-CREST CCBM IB3 Summer Training Module in Computation and Modeling is strongly recommended.


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 232: Bio and Nano Fabrication for Interdisciplinary Biophysical Sciences, Biomaterials and Biotechnology


    Units: 3

    Covers cutting-edge applications of fabrication tools to problems in biophysical sciences, biomaterials and biotechnology. Teams of students will undertake open research projects utilizing tools such as lithography, electrospinning, cell culture and confocal microscopy to explore cellular and multicellular systems.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Crosslisted with: BEST 232, BIOE 232
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No
    Completion of the NSF-CREST CCBM IB3 Summer Training Module in Nano Biofabrication is strongly recommended.


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 237: Quantum Mechanics I


    Units: 4

    Introductory Quantum Mechanics starting with simple Quantum two-state systems and one-dimensional problems, Uncertainty relations, Solution of Schrodinger’s equation for important two and three dimensional physical situations, Angular momentum, identical particles and spin statistics. Hydrogen and multi-electron atoms.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 238: Quantum Mechanics II


    Units: 4

    Perturbation methods, both stationary and time-dependent, Scattering, interaction with electromagnetic fields, Stark effect, Measurement theory and decoherence, Quantum Hall effect.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: PHYS 237
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • Syllabus

    PHYS 241: Condensed Matter Physics


    Units: 4

    This course is an introduction to the physics of materials designed for graduate students in physics or chemistry. The course will cover traditional solid-state physics and examine the relationship between microscopic structure and bulk properties in different materials.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Conjoined with: PHYS 141
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No
    Students should have taken classes in electrodynamics, thermal physics and introductory quantum mechanics. Intended for students who have not taken a course in solid-state physics.


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 242: Advanced Condensed Matter Physics


    Units: 4

    Topics include elementary excitations and quasiparticles, bandstructure of electrons and photons, optical and dielectric properties, symmetry and group theory for solids, simulation techniques for electronic structure, and electrical and thermal transport.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: PHYS 241 with B or better
    Instructor Permission Required: No
    Students should have taken classes in electrodynamics, thermal physics, quantum mechanics, and introductory solid-state physics.


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 243: Interdisciplinary Computational Graduate Education


    Units: 1

    Focuses on teaching first-year graduate students from a variety of graduate programs skills in computational methods, programming languages, team science, project development, problem solving, social networking, and career preparation.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Crosslisted with: CHEM 243, COGS 243, EECS 243, MATH 243, ME 243, PSY 243, QSB 243
    Laboratory included
    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: Yes


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 244: Modern Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics


    Units: 4

    Covers modern topics in the atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics. The interaction of atoms with radiation, laser cooling and trapping, Bose-Einstein condensation, atom interferometry, and ion trap quantum computing. Quantitative understanding of the physics effects is required for graduate students.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Conjoined with: PHYS 144
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


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  • PHYS 248: Quantum Optics


    Units: 3

    Covers the quantum nature of light, atom-light interaction and experimental quantum optics. It will provide a basis for research in the field of quantum optics. Fundamental concepts and techniques will be linked to modern experimental research.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


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  • PHYS 249: Introduction to Quantum Field Theory


    Units: 4

    An introduction to quantum field theory with a special emphasis on quantum electrodynamics (QED). Topics include canonical quantization of scalar fields, electromagnetic fields, perturbation theory and renormalization methods among others.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: PHYS 238
    Instructor Permission Required: No


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  • PHYS 251: Introduction to Graduate Research


    Units: 1

    A survey of research in the physics graduate group, designed for first-year graduate students to broaden perspectives on physics research and help in choosing an advisor. Faculty will present seminars on basic ideas and challenges in their subfield, research in their group, and opportunities for new students.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Open only to following major/minor(s):
    • Physics (Graduate)-PHYI

    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 270: Academic Writing in Graduate Studies


    Units: 3

    Designed to increase the writing proficiency of graduate students, with a focus on strategies for reading critically, organizing and developing thoughts, choosing appropriate vocabulary, and generating and revising writing in a given scientific field. Topics address scientific disciplines. Projects may include writing abstracts, research reports, literature reviews, posters, and grant proposals.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Crosslisted with: CHEM 270, MATH 270, QSB 270
    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Open only to following major/minor(s):
    • Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Graduate) - CCB
    • Physics (Graduate) - PHYI
    • Quantitative & Systems Biology (Graduate) - QSB
    • Applied Mathematics (Graduate) - AMAT

    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 280: Nonlinear Dynamics


    Units: 4

    Most processes encountered in nature are inherently nonlinear. This course introduces the main topics of low-dimensional nonlinear systems, with applications to a wide variety of disciplines, including physics, engineering, mathematics, chemistry, and biology. Specific topics include maps and flows in one and two dimensions, phase portraits, bifurcations, chaos, and fractals.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Conjoined with: PHYS 180
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: (PHYS 008 or PHYS 008H) and MATH 023 and MATH 024
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 285: Seminar: Nanomaterials for Space Exploration


    Units: 1

    Designed for students in materials engineering, physics, and chemistry. Intended to expose students to various nanomaterial-based devices, foster students’ critical thinking in postulating feasible approaches, and develop students’ communication and presentation skills.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Crosslisted with: BEST 285, CHEM 285, ME 285
    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 290: Current Topics in Physics and Chemistry


    Units: 3

    Exploration of current research directions, problems, and techniques in molecular and materials chemistry, physics and engineering. Course format emphasizes student-led presentation, analysis, and discussion of reading assignments from the current and recent scientific literature. Topics determined by the instructor and changes each semester.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 291: Physics and Chemistry Seminar


    Units: 1

    Graduate seminar on current research in molecular and materials chemistry, physics, and engineering.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Crosslisted with: CHEM 291
    Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 292: Special Topics in Physics


    Lower Unit Limit: 1
    Upper Unit Limit: 4

    Treatment of a special topic or theme in Physics at the graduate level.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No
    Course may be repeated for credit in different subject area


    View course scheduling information


  
  • Syllabus

    PHYS 293: Physics Colloquium


    Units: 1

    This is a colloquium series with talks on a wide range of research topics in Physics. Speakers for the colloquia are primarily invited researchers from other Institutions. Some of the seminars additionally showcase the research performed by UC Merced Physics faculty, post doctoral researchers and graduate students. This is a forum to introduce the undergraduate and graduate students to cutting edge research in Physics conducted on-site and elsewhere, and to give them an opportunity to meet researchers and faculty from other Universities/Research Institutions.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 6

    Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 295: Graduate Research


    Lower Unit Limit: 1
    Upper Unit Limit: 15

    Supervised research.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: Yes


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 298: Directed Group Study


    Lower Unit Limit: 1
    Upper Unit Limit: 12

    Group project under faculty supervision.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: Yes


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 299: Directed Independent Study


    Lower Unit Limit: 1
    Upper Unit Limit: 12

    Independent project under faculty supervision.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: Yes


    View course scheduling information


  
  • PHYS 399: University Teaching


    Units: 1

    PHYS 399 is the counterpart to PHYS 201 , which focuses on the theory of teaching and learning. The goals of PHYS 399 are to implement and practice select elements of the Scientific Teaching approach to instruction and to identify teaching challenges and use the foundation from PHYS 201  to seek solutions.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Laboratory included
    Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information



Political Science

  
  • POLI 001: Introduction to American Politics


    Units: 4

    A general introduction to political institutions and political behavior in the United States. Specific topics include the U.S. Constitution, Congress, the presidency, the federal judiciary, political parties, interest groups, mass public opinion, elections, and voting behavior.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Diversity and Identity

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 002: Controversies in American Politics


    Units: 4

    Examination of select problems in contemporary American politics. Possible subjects include campaign finance, culture wars and party polarization, barriers to third party success, and media coverage of politics.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 003: Introduction to Comparative Politics


    Units: 4

    Introduction to the cross-national study of political institutions and behavior. Formal and informal aspects of politics in selected countries are covered, as are comparative research methods.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Societies and Cultures of the Past
    • Badge: Global Awareness

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 005: Introduction to International Relations


    Units: 4

    Introduction to the study of the politics of conflict and war, diplomacy, international cooperation, and international institutions.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Societies and Cultures of the Past
    • Badge: Global Awareness

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 006: Global Issues


    Units: 4

    Examination of select problems in international relations and foreign policy. Possible topics include terrorism, proliferation of nuclear weapons, and conflict in the Middle East.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Societies and Cultures of the Past
    • Badge: Global Awareness

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 009: Community Mobilization and Politics


    Units: 4

    Examination of political and social mobilization at the local level, including strategies for organization and advocacy.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Crosslisted with: SOC 009
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Diversity and Identity
    • Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge
    • Badge: Leadership, Community, and Engaging the World

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 010: Understanding Political Controversies


    Units: 4

    Overview of the application of social scientific methods to the study of politics. Covers research design, hypothesis testing, measurement, and a variety of methodological approaches (e.g. experiments, descriptive and inferential statistics, qualitative analysis) to answering political questions.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Discussion included
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Lower Division: Quantitative Reasoning
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 090X: Freshman Seminar


    Units: 1

    Examination of a topic in political science.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 1

    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 092: Internship in Political Science


    Lower Unit Limit: 1
    Upper Unit Limit: 4

    Provides oversight and structure for a student’s internship in a field of political science in community organizations, professional research projects, etc. connected to the study of political science. Requires students to write an original research paper or relevant product that demonstrates how the internship advanced their knowledge of political science.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Pass/No Pass only

    GE Requirements
    • Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge
    • Badge: Leadership, Community, and Engaging the World

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: Yes


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 095: Lower Division Undergraduate Research


    Lower Unit Limit: 1
    Upper Unit Limit: 5

    Supervised research.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Badge: Scientific Method

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: Yes


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 098: Lower Division Directed Group Study


    Lower Unit Limit: 1
    Upper Unit Limit: 5

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Pass/No Pass only

    GE Requirements
    • Badge: Scientific Method

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: Yes


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 099: Lower Division Individual Study


    Lower Unit Limit: 1
    Upper Unit Limit: 5

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Pass/No Pass only

    GE Requirements
    • Badge: Scientific Method

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: Yes


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 100: Congressional Politics


    Units: 4

    Elections and representation, legislative organization and process, legislative parties and leadership, lobbying, legislative outcomes, and the determinants of these outcomes in the U.S. Congress.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Upper Division: Writing in the Discipline
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: (POLI 001 or equivalent exam) and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam)
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 101: The Presidency


    Units: 4

    Powers, constraints, and behavior of the U.S. president and executive branch. Includes specific topics such as legislative-executive interactions, presidential control of the bureaucracy, nomination campaigns and general elections, and public opinion and the presidency.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Upper Division: Writing in the Discipline
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Open only to the following class level(s):
    • Sophomore
    • Junior
    • Senior

    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 102: Judicial Politics


    Units: 4

    Structure, function, and politics of the U.S. court system, with a particular focus on the selection of judges, judicial decision making, external political influences on the judiciary, and the impact of court decisions.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: (POLI 001 or equivalent exam) and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam)
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 105: Interest Groups and Political Parties


    Units: 4

    Formation, strategies, and effectiveness of interest groups and political parties in the U.S.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: (POLI 001 or equivalent exam) and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam)
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 106: Urban Politics


    Units: 4

    Examines urban political development and policy processes in the United States. It will trace the historical development of local government, analyze urban coalitions and the distributions of power, and tackle the relationship between politics and policy making in the areas of growth, education, cultural issues, and welfare.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade only

    GE Requirements
    • Upper Division: Crossroads
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Societies and Cultures of the Past
    • Badge: Diversity and Identity

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 001 or SOC 001 or equivalent exam
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 107: California Politics


    Units: 4

    Examines issues and challenges confronting the State of California; uses California as a window into state politics in general.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis
    • Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge
    • Badge: Leadership, Community, and Engaging the World

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Open only to the following class level(s):
    • Sophomore
    • Junior
    • Senior

    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 108: Direct Democracy


    Units: 4

    The politics of the initiative, referendum, and recall in the American states. Specific topics may include the history and origins of direct democracy, voter support for ballot measures, the role of interest groups, the effect of initiatives and referenda on candidate elections and civic engagement, and policy implications.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis
    • Badge: Leadership, Community, and Engaging the World

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: (POLI 001 or equivalent exam) and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam)
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 110: Governmental Power and the Constitution


    Units: 4

    Introduces students to the manner in which Supreme Court decisions shape our political system by delineating the sources and limits of governmental power. The powers of the three branches of the federal government are covered, as is the relationship between the federal government and the states.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade only

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Literary and Textual Analysis

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 111: Liberty, Equality and the Constitution


    Units: 4

    Examines the constitutional politics of landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases involving civil liberties and civil rights. Specific topics may include First Amendment freedoms, privacy, the rights of criminal suspects, and discrimination based on race, gender, and sexual orientation.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Literary and Textual Analysis
    • Badge: Diversity and Identity

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 001 or equivalent exam
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 112: Public Policy: Analysis, Strategy, and Impact


    Units: 4

    Introduces public policy and policy analysis. The material builds practical skills for effecting change while developing a theoretical understanding of policymakers’ goals – and how these goals are pursued. Emphasizes methods and strategies applicable across policy spheres. Students will strengthen their proficiency in asking relevant questions, assessing problems from multiple perspectives, and using a variety of analytical tools (rooted in political science, economics, psychology, and more) to evaluate and solve policy problems.

    Course Details
    Anticipated term(s) course will be offered:
    • Fall

    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Ethics
    • Badge: Leadership, Community, and Engaging the World
    • Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Open only to the following class level(s):
    • Sophomore
    • Junior
    • Senior

    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 120: Voting Behavior, Campaigns, and Elections


    Units: 4

    Voting behavior, voter turnout, campaign strategies, and election outcomes.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Open only to the following class level(s):
    • Sophomore
    • Junior
    • Senior

    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 123: Political Psychology


    Units: 4

    An introduction to the field of political psychology. Political psychologists have applied insights from psychology to a host of questions relating to political behavior. Sample from across this broad range of topics in order to discover how people think and feel about politics.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade only

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 001 or equivalent exam
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 125: Public Opinion


    Units: 4

    An examination of the nature and origins of public opinion in the United States and the role of public opinion in the policy process.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis
    • Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: (POLI 001 or equivalent exam) and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam)
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 127: Race, Gender, and Politics


    Units: 4

    Contemporary and historical identity politics in the U.S., with a focus on the importance of race and gender in political representation, attitude formation, and civil rights.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis
    • Badge: Diversity and Identity

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Open only to the following class level(s):
    • Sophomore
    • Junior
    • Senior

    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 130: Institutions of Democracy


    Units: 4

    Cross-national comparison of the design, evolution, and impact of democratic political institutions, such as electoral systems, legislatures, executives, courts, and parties.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Upper Division: Writing in the Discipline
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis
    • Badge: Societies and Cultures of the Past

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: (POLI 003 or equivalent exam) and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam)
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 135: Political Behavior Around the World


    Units: 4

    Analysis of multiple forms of political behavior across a variety of countries. Includes public opinion, political culture, voting, and less conventional forms of participation.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis
    • Badge: Leadership, Community, and Engaging the World

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: (POLI 003 or equivalent exam) and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam)
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 140: Transitions to Democracy


    Units: 4

    Formation of democratic institutions and norms. Particular attention is paid to nations labeled as developing democracies.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade only

    GE Requirements
    • Upper Division: Writing in the Discipline
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis
    • Badge: Societies and Cultures of the Past
    • Badge: Diversity and Identity
    • Badge: Global Awareness
    • Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 142: Contemporary Chinese Politics


    Units: 4

    Introduces students to major issues in contemporary Chinese politics. Focuses on the major challenges confronting China today, including economic reform and development, social unrest, democratization and the Tiananmen movement, village elections, ethnic conflicts, news media, Taiwan, and China’s foreign relations.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade only

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Societies and Cultures of the Past
    • Badge: Global Awareness

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 145: Political Violence


    Units: 4

    Investigates the determinants, processes, and effects of (mostly intra-national) political violence. Covers topics including the individual decision to join dissent activities, protest and rebellion, civil war, government repression, the relationship between dissent and repression, terrorism, and the effect of domestic and international institutions on discouraging or encouraging these behaviors.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade only

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Global Awareness

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 003 or POLI 005
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 150: Causes of International Conflict


    Units: 4

    Investigation of the causes of international conflict and war, the conduct of war, its ultimate termination, and the possibility of its prevention.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Global Awareness

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 005 and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam)
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 153: Judgment and Decision Making


    Units: 4

    Study of human judgment and decision making. Topics include decision making under uncertainty, financial choices, health decision making, group decisions, rational theories of choice behavior, and improving decision making. The material will be related to cognitive science, psychology, economics, and other social sciences.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Crosslisted with: COGS 170, ECON 153, MGMT 153
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Upper Division: Crossroads
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge
    • Badge: Ethics

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: COGS 001 or ECON 001 or PSY 001 or equivalent exam
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 155: International Political Economy


    Units: 4

    The connections between politics, policy, and international economics.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Global Awareness

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 005 and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam)
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 158: Politics of Human Rights


    Units: 4

    Investigates the law, politics, and practices of international human rights. Explores the development of the modern idea of human rights, the motivations of governments to violate rights, and the institutions that enable or constrain rights violations and protections.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade only

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis
    • Badge: Diversity and Identity
    • Badge: Global Awareness
    • Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge
    • Badge: Ethics

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 003 or POLI 005 or equivalent exam
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 160: US Foreign Policy


    Units: 4

    The formation of U.S. foreign policy, with an emphasis on the modern era and an introduction to analytical tools for understanding current foreign policy issues and debates.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Societies and Cultures of the Past

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 005 and (POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam)
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 165: International Organizations & Regimes


    Units: 4

    Investigates the emergence and rise of international organizations and the network of regulation and international governance that they facilitate. The course explores the institutional structures, political processes, and impact of international organizations within three issue areas: international peace and security, human rights and humanitarian affairs, and global trade and development.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade only

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis
    • Badge: Global Awareness
    • Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 005
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 170: Theoretical Models of Politics


    Units: 4

    The development, utility, and limitations of theoretical models of the political world. May include rational choice theory, game theory, and psychological theories of politics.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Upper Division: Crossroads
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or MATH 005 or equivalent exam
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 171: Politics and Film


    Units: 4

    Considers whether politics as portrayed on film differs from political reality as understood through political science, and further uses films as vehicles for better understanding an array of topics from political science, including legislative behavior, elections, presidential politics, local politics, war, and international relations.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade only

    GE Requirements
    • Upper Division: Writing in the Discipline
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Open only to the following class level(s):
    • Sophomore
    • Junior
    • Senior

    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 172: Games and Human Behavior


    Units: 4

    Teaches students the basics of game-theoretic modeling, and how those models have been used to explain human behavior across a number of social and political settings.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 175: Advanced Analysis of Political Data


    Units: 4

    The advanced application of social scientific methods to the study of politics. Covers quantitative testing of hypotheses about political phenomena, with a particular focus on the use of regression analysis.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Laboratory included
    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Upper Division: Writing in the Discipline
    • Approaches to Knowledge: Social Science
    • Badge: Scientific Method
    • Badge: Quantitative and Numerical Analysis

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 010 or ECON 010 or PSY 010 or SOC 010 or equivalent exam
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 190: Topics in Political Science


    Units: 4

    Topics in Political Science selected by instructor.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 3

    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Open only to the following class level(s):
    • Sophomore
    • Junior
    • Senior

    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 191: Seminar in Political Science


    Units: 4

    An in-depth, research-intensive, seminar-style treatment of a specific problem, topic, or puzzle in the field of political science. Recommended for students considering graduate school in political science.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 4

    Normal Letter Grade only

    GE Requirements
    • Upper Division: Crossroads
    • Badge: Scientific Method

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 010 or equivalent exam
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 192: Internship in Political Science


    Lower Unit Limit: 1
    Upper Unit Limit: 4

    Provides oversight and structure for a student’s internship in a field of political science in community organizations, professional research projects, etc. connected to the study of political science. Requires students to write an original research paper or relevant product that demonstrates how the internship advanced their knowledge of political science.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Pass/No Pass only

    GE Requirements
    • Badge: Practical and Applied Knowledge
    • Badge: Leadership, Community, and Engaging the World

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Open only to the following class level(s):
    • Junior
    • Senior

    Instructor Permission Required: Yes


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 194H: Senior Honors Thesis Seminar


    Units: 4

    Guides students through the writing of the thesis. Students will present completed theses and evaluate portions of each other’s projects.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: No
    Normal Letter Grade only

    GE Requirements
    • Upper Division: Writing in the Discipline
    • Upper Division: Culminating Experience
    • Badge: Scientific Method

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 175
    Open only to the following class level(s):
    • Senior

    Instructor Permission Required: Yes
    Acceptance into the Political Science Honors program.


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 195: Upper Division Undergraduate Research


    Lower Unit Limit: 1
    Upper Unit Limit: 5

    Supervised research.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Normal Letter Grade with Pass/No Pass option

    GE Requirements
    • Badge: Scientific Method

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: Yes


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 198: Upper Division Directed Group Study


    Lower Unit Limit: 1
    Upper Unit Limit: 5

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Pass/No Pass only

    GE Requirements
    • Badge: Scientific Method

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: Yes


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 199: Upper Division Individual Study


    Lower Unit Limit: 1
    Upper Unit Limit: 5

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Pass/No Pass only

    GE Requirements
    • Badge: Scientific Method

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: Yes


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 200: Research Design in Political Science


    Units: 4

    An introduction to designing political science research. The course will emphasize scientific method and causal inference, with special emphasis on designing strong tests, including introductory experimental and quasi-experimental design, as well as the use of natural experiments and observational data.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 210: Quantitative Analysis of Political Data, I


    Units: 4

    An introduction to the theory and practice of quantitative data analysis. As the first statistics course in the department’s research methods sequence, it is intended to prepare students for future work in methodology. Aside from formal treatment of the material, students will receive a basic introduction to the use of Stata statistical analysis software. As time permits, we will also discuss substantive examples of the quantitative techniques introduced in class.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 211: Quantitative Analysis of Political Data, II


    Units: 4

    Provides an in-depth introduction to ordinary least squares regression analysis and its use in political science.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 210
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 212: Quantitative Analysis of Political Data, III


    Units: 4

    Maximum likelihood estimation and limited dependent variable models as applied to political science data.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 210 and POLI 211
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 213: Experimental Methods in Political Science


    Units: 4

    Intended to provide students with an understanding of experimental methods in political science. The first portion of the semester will emphasize concepts and tools from the experimentalist’s toolbox with a strong focus on causal inference, external and internal validity, and choosing subjects and subject’s motivations. Later weeks will focus on issues and challenges to specific types of political science experiments including survey experiments, laboratory experiments, physiological experiments, and field experiments.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 215: Introduction to Game Theory


    Units: 4

    An introductory course on game theory and its applications in social and political science. Students will learn basic concepts and tools of non-cooperative game theory, covering both complete and incomplete information games in static and dynamic settings, and see how they can be used in studying political/social phenomena.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 216: Formal Political Analysis


    Units: 4

    An introduction to the formal analytic tools that are now used extensively to model political phenomena. It will provide students with interests in formal theory a foundation to construct serious formal models of politics in their areas of interests.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade only

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Prerequisite: POLI 215
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 219: Special Topics in Political Science Methodology


    Units: 4

    A special, instructor-selected topic in political science methodology

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 220: American Political Institutions


    Units: 4

    Intended to provide students with a broad understanding of American political institutions (the constitution, Congress, presidency, bureaucracy, judiciary, electoral systems, and subnational governments). The first portion of the semester will emphasize concepts and tools while later weeks will examine institutions in more depth, emphasizing classic writings and contemporary research controversies.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 221: Legislative Politics


    Units: 4

    Provides an overview of the theoretical and empirical literature on legislative politics. The main focus of the course will be the U.S. Congress, but much of what we cover will have direct relevance for the study of legislatures more generally (both cross-nationally and the American state legislatures).

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 222: Executive Politics


    Units: 4

    An examination of executive politics, with special attention to the U.S. presidency and the politics of the bureaucracy. The course considers the theoretical and empirical literature on the processes of presidential selection (nomination and election), the ways in which presidents differ in their leadership styles, skills, executive management, and their roles as decision makers are also analyzed for their consequences.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 223: Judicial Politics


    Units: 4

    Development and consequences of judicial institutions; influences on judicial decision making; role of courts in political systems

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 224: Subnational Politics


    Units: 4

    An introduction to politics in American cities and metropolitan areas. We examine the historical development of local government institutions, analyze urban coalitions, investigate distributions of power, investigate the process and consequences of suburbanization, and examine local development and poverty policy.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 225: Political Parties


    Units: 4

    Provides a general overview of political parties and party systems. We investigate the goals of parties, organizational structures, and the sources of parties (including societal divisions, coordination needs, and institutional structures). We explore party competition and interaction, study the causes of party system change, and the effects of parties in electoral and policy making arenas.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 226: Interest Groups


    Units: 4

    Collective action problems, organization of interests, lobbying strategies, and the effect of advocacy activities.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 227: Media and Politics


    Units: 4

    An examination of the role of the mass media in politics. We analyze the function of media in different political settings, study the development and transformation of the media, explore sources of bias, evaluate theories of news development and analyze the effect of the media in campaigns, elections, and governance.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 228: Elections and Representation


    Units: 4

    Electoral institutions and their consequences for election outcomes.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 230: Institutions and Institutional Change in Comparative Perspectives


    Units: 4

    An exploration of the political economy of institutions and institutional change in comparative perspectives. It will analyze the causes of institutional emergence/change and the effects of institutions.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 235: International Institutions


    Units: 4

    International political institutions and their connection with international relations.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 240: Political Economy


    Units: 4

    An introduction to political economy, a field of inquiry that seeks to explain political and economic behavior by characterizing the incentives of actors and the context in which these actors make decisions and influence outcomes.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: 2

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


  
  • POLI 249: Special Topics in Political Institutions and Political Economy


    Units: 4

    A special, instructor-selected topic in political institutions and/or political economy.

    Course Details
    Repeatable for Credit: Yes
    Repeat Limit: Unlimited

    Normal Letter Grade with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option

    Requisites and Restrictions
    Instructor Permission Required: No


    View course scheduling information


 

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