Catalog Navigator : Political Science 790

Political Science 790

Department of Political Science, School of Arts and Sciences

Website: https://www.polisci.rutgers.edu

Chair: R. Daniel Keleman

Undergraduate Director: William Field

Assistant Undergraduate Director: Christine Cahill

Distinguished Professors:

Ross K. Baker, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., Pennsylvania

Milton Heumann, B.A., CUNY (Brooklyn College); M.Phil., Ph.D., Yale

Robert Kaufman, A.B., Ph.D., Harvard

Jan Kubik, B.A., M.A., Jagiellonian (Poland); Ph.D., Columbia

Richard R. Lau, B.A., Stanford; M.A., Ph.D., California (Los Angeles)

Professors:

Saladin Ambar, B.S. Georgetown; M.A. New School; Ph.D. Rutgers

Nikol Alexander-Floyd , B.A., Southern University and A&M; J.D. Texas School of Law; M.A., Ph.D., Rutgers

Cynthia Daniels, B.A., Ph.D., Massachusetts

Eric Davis, B.A., SUNY (Binghamton); M.A., Ph.D., Chicago

R. Daniel Kelemen, B.A., California (Berkeley); Ph.D., Stanford

Mona L. Krook, B.A., Columbia; M.A., Ph.D., Stanford

Beth L. Leech, B.S.J., Northwestern; Ph.D., Texas A&M

Jack Levy, B.S., Harvey Mudd College; M.A., Ph.D., Wisconsin (Madison)

Lisa Miller, B.A., Virginia; M.A., Ph.D., Washington

Kira Sanbonmatsu, B.A., Massachusetts; Ph.D., Harvard

Aleksandr Zamalin, B.A., Rutgers; Ph.D., City (New York)

Associate Professors:

Susan Lawrence, B.A., Furman; M.A., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins

Xian Huang, B.A., M.A., Peking; Ph.D., Columbia

Assistant Professors:

Elena Gambino , B.A. Oberlin; M.A. Lehigh; Ph.D., Minnesota

Stacey Greene, B.S., Loyola (New Orleans); M.A., Ph.D., California (Los Angeles)

Michael Kenwick, B.A., Illinois (Urbana-Champaign); Ph.D., Pennsylvania State

Summer Lindsey, B.A., M.A., M.A., Ph.D., Columbia

Yalidy Matos, B.A., Connecticut College; M.A., Ph.D., Ohio State

Katherine McCabe, B.A., Harvard; M.A., Ph.D., Princeton

Andrey Tomashevskiy, B.A., Kean; M.A., New York; Ph.D., California (San Diego)

Professor of Teaching:

William Field, B.A., Connecticut College; Ph.D., Brandeis

Associate Professor of Teaching:

Richard Ewan Harrison, B.Sc., Bath (UK); M.Sc., Ph.D., Bristol (UK)Roland Rich, B.A., L.L.B. Sydney; Ph.D., Australian National

Associate Professor of Professional Practice:

Ava Majlesi, B.A, M.P.A., J.D., Rutgers

Assistant Professors of Teaching:

Christine Cahill, B.A., Iowa; Ph.D., California (Davis)

Bailey Eaise, B.A., M.A., Ph.D, Rutgers

Dilafruz Nazarova, B.A. Tajik State National (Tajikistan); L.L.M., Essex (UK); Ph.D., Rutgers

Teaching Instructor:

Douglas Cantor, B.A. Rutgers; M.A. Baltimore; PhD Illinois (Chicago)

The political science major is designed to engage students with the philosophical and practical problems of political organization, action, and governance and to encourage critical thinking about the nature of citizenship, rights, and duties in the modern world. The undergraduate political science curriculum is divided into three general areas: theoretical approaches to politics, American institutions and politics, and foreign and international politics. While majors may choose to focus their studies on one of these areas, they are required to develop a solid intellectual foundation and understanding that spans all three and to approach the study of political science within the broader context of the social sciences.

Students completing the political science major are expected to develop the ability to read and listen critically, to reason analytically and engage in thoughtful moral judgment, and to write and speak clearly and forcefully. The major emphasizes the enhancement of key intellectual skills and qualities of mind--the habits of questioning, debating, challenging, and shaping coherent and persuasive arguments and interpretation--and seeks to involve undergraduates in the active research life of the department.

Coursework is organized into two general levels. Classes at the 100 and 200 levels are regarded as introductory and are designed to familiarize students with general concepts, basic knowledge, and modes of inquiry, as well as to serve as a foundation for additional coursework. Classes at the 300 and 400 levels focus on more specialized issues, questions, or problems. In general, students should complete appropriate introductory coursework before enrolling in upper-division classes.

Political science majors are strongly encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to engage in experiential learning at Rutgers. These opportunities include the one-semester Washington Internship Program, Rutgers Study Abroad, and internships supervised by the department.

Prior to declaring a major in political science, a student must complete at least two 100-level political science courses with an average grade of C or better. These courses can be counted toward major credit.