Elective Courses in Liberal Arts & Sciences
Origin, structure, functions, and dynamics of legislatures in the United States. Although some attention is given to state legislatures and municipal lawmaking bodies, the major emphasis is on the Congress. Readings include a textbook, official sources such as the Congressional Record and Congressional District Data Book, and the new behavioral studies and commentaries.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks
Examines the relationship between gender politics, legal theory, and social policy. Studies the role that the legal arena and certain historical conditions have played in creating, revising, and protecting particular gender identities and not others and examines the political effects of those legal constructions. Analyzes the major debates in feminist legal theory, including theories of equality, the problem of essentialism, and the relevance of standpoint epistomology. In addition to examining how the law understands sex discrimination in the workplace and the feminization of the legal profession, also addresses to what extent understandings of the gender affect how law regulates the physical body by looking at the regulation of reproduction and of consensual sexual activity. In light of all of the above, considers to what extent law is or is not an effective political resource in reforming notions of gender in law and society.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks
POL-UA 336-000 (20835)09/01/2022 – 12/14/2022 Tue,Thu3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Harrington, Christine
Study of American political ideas and debate from colonial times to the present. Topics include Puritanism, revolution and independence, the Constitution framing, Hamiltonian nationalism, Jeffersonian republicanism, Jacksonian democracy, pro- and antislavery thought, Civil War and Reconstruction, social Darwinism and laissez-faire, the reformist thought of populism, progressivism and socialism, legal realism, the New Deal and 20th-century liberalism, modern conservatism, civil rights, and war protest. Readings and discussion are based on original and interpretative sources.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks
POL-UA 170-000 (20834)09/01/2022 – 12/14/2022 Tue,Thu6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Evening)at Washington SquareInstructed by
Systematic study of the international politics of the Middle East, emphasizing the period since World War II. Emphasis on the relationship among patterns of inter-Arab, Arab-Israeli, and great-power politics, and on the relationship between domestic and external politics. Attempts to relate the Arab-Israeli conflict to interregional politics, the place and role of Turkey and Iran, and the problems in the Persian Gulf.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 6 Weeks
POL-UA 760-000 (2364)05/23/2022 – 07/06/2022 Mon,Wed5:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Erbal, Ayda
Study of the American presidency, its origins, and roles, including those of commander in chief; director of foreign policy; leader in legislation, administration, and party affairs; manager of the economy; and dispenser of social justice. The president is also viewed as a decision maker and compared with the heads of other governments. Readings include the works of presidents and their associates, analytical commentaries by observers of the presidency, and biographies.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 14 Weeks
POL-UA 9310-000 (11251)at NYU Washington DC (Global)Instructed by
Characteristics and conditions of war and peace and the transition from one to the other from the perspective of political and social science. Examines the role and use of coercion in global affairs, with emphasis on attempts to substitute negotiation, bargaining, market forces, politics, and law for the resort to massive violence in moderating disputes.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 6 Weeks
Analyzes the theory and practice of diplomacy, with special emphasis on bargaining strategies that nations use to try to settle their differences and avoid wars, including the use of mediators, arbitrators, and institutions like the United Nations. Applies game theory to analyze the use of exaggeration, threats, and deception in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. Supplements case studies of international negotiation, especially in crises, with studies of domestic bargaining used in the formulation of foreign policy.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 6 Weeks
Prerequisite: V53.0700. Offered every year. 4 points. Starting with the traditional arena of national security and U.S. military policy, students analyze how national security decisions are made in this country, as well as the past and current military strategies used to carry out those decisions. From there, students examine the particular national security concerns and policies of Russia, China, Germany, and Japan. This course also looks at new thinking on national security, asking to what extent international trade and competition, immigration, illegal drugs, and the environment should be considered national security issues.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 6 Weeks
POL-UA 712-000 (4407)07/07/2022 – 08/17/2022 Tue,Thu2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Lutmar, Carmela
POL-UA 712-000 (5147)07/07/2022 – 08/17/2022 Tue,Thu2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Lutmar, Carmela
Democracy and dictatorships have traditionally been analyzed in terms of their apparently different institutional characteristics and legal foundations. Examines these traditional interpretations but leans heavily toward ideological and contextual factors. Challenges traditional distinctions between democracy and dictatorship.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 6 Weeks
POL-UA 160-000 (2363)05/23/2022 – 07/06/2022 Mon,Wed10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Erbal, Ayda
Analysis of the sources of U.S. foreign policy and the major international problems facing the United States today. Considers the role of national interest, ideology, and institutions in the making and executing of U.S. foreign policy.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 6 Weeks
Provides students with the ability systematically to evaluate ethically controversial public policy issues using concepts from normative political theory. In the first half of the course, we consider the means by which policy is implemented: Under what conditions, if any, might we permit political actors to do bad in order to do good? In the second half, we consider the ends of public policy: What is it we want the state to accomplish, and at what cost? Substantive policy topics vary from semester to semester.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 6 Weeks
New research is the most exciting and important aspect of political science: we are able to pose novel questions, construct fresh theories, and provide new evidence about the way the world works. But before we start doing research, we have to learn how it is done. With this in mind, this class will introduce students to quantitative techniques used for research in the study of politics. Part of this task is conceptual: helping students to think sensibly and systematically about research design. To this end, students will learn how data and theory fit together, and how to measure the quantities we care about. But part of the task is practical too: students will learn a `toolbox’ of methods–including statistical software–that enable them to execute their plans.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks
POL-UA 850-000 (9156)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon,Wed9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Harvey, Anna
POL-UA 850-000 (9238)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by López Peceño, Alejandro
POL-UA 850-000 (9157)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Wed3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by López Peceño, Alejandro
POL-UA 850-000 (9158)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Thu12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Pulejo, Massimo
POL-UA 850-000 (9159)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Pulejo, Massimo
POL-UA 850-000 (9734)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Demin, Sasha
POL-UA 850-000 (25687)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Thu8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Melnick, Justin
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 14 Weeks
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 14 Weeks
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 14 Weeks
Introduces students to social choice theory applied to political science. It focuses on (1) individual choice, (2) group choice, (3) collective action, and (4) institutions. It looks at models of individuals’ voting behavior, the incentive structures of interest groups, and the role of institutions. The emphasis is analytical, though students are not expected to have a background in formal mathematics.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks
POL-UA 845-000 (20351)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Thu11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Lee, Sukwon
Political economy is a field of inquiry that has made great strides in recent years in explaining political and economic behavior by characterizing the incentives of actors and the context in which these actors make decisions and influence outcomes. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to these theoretical approaches and show how they can be used to address contemporary policy questions.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks
POL-UA 842-000 (8877)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Wed4:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Lee, Sukwon
This course serves as an introduction to the workings of the contemporary international political-economic system and introduces students to some of the main analytical frameworks that political economists use to understand this system. Finally, the course familiarizes students with analytical tools that serve to gain a better understanding of the current problems and opportunities facing actors in today?s international political economy.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks
Identical to V33.0770. Prerequisite: V53.0700. Offered every other year. 4 points. The relations of and between the principal Asian national actors (e.g., China, Japan, India) and the relationship of the Asian “subsystem” to the international system. Covers the traditional Asian concepts of transnational order, the impact of external interventions, the modern ideological conflict and technological revolution, the emergent multilateral balance beyond Vietnam, the changing patterns of relations in the Asian subsystem traced to the international evolution from bipolarity to multicentrism, and the U.S. role in Asia.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks
POL-UA 770-000 (10196)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon,Wed2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Hsiung, James
Offered every semester. 4 points. Analysis of state behavior and international political relations; how things happen in the international state system and why. Emphasizes the issue of war and how and in what circumstances states engage in violence. Topics include different historical and possible future systems of international relations, imperialism, the Cold War, game theory and deterrents, national interests, and world organization.
Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks
POL-UA 700-000 (8260)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon,Wed11:00 AM – 12:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Bueno De Mesquita, Bruce
POL-UA 700-000 (8261)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Becker, Michael
POL-UA 700-000 (8262)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Becker, Michael
POL-UA 700-000 (8263)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Yildirim, Mikdat
POL-UA 700-000 (8264)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Thu8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Yildirim, Mikdat
POL-UA 700-000 (8265)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Schwarz, Christopher
POL-UA 700-000 (8266)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Schwarz, Christopher
POL-UA 700-000 (8267)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Ge, Zoe
POL-UA 700-000 (9112)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Ge, Zoe
POL-UA 700-000 (10194)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Thu9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by MEDA, Francis William
POL-UA 700-000 (10195)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Thu2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by MEDA, Francis William