American Politics and Government

This course goes beyond a more traditional focus on the history of structures of American government to examine issues of political behavior and decision-making among citizens and officeholders. Students learn about a wide range of topics relevant to American politics and government including, but not limited to, political institutions, the news media, voting, political parties, and campaigns and elections. Analysis of these and other topics is primarily informed by the social sciences, placing particular emphasis on students' comprehension and application of political science research methods.