Category Archives: Societies & the Social Sciences

Elective Courses in Liberal Arts & Sciences

Spring 2022

Comparative Politics (POL-UA 500)

Offered every semester. 4 points. Major concepts, approaches, problems, and literature in the field of comparative politics. Methodology of comparative politics, the classical theories, and the more recent behavioral revolution. Reviews personality, social structure, socialization, political culture, and political parties. Major approaches such as group theory, structural-functionalism, systems analysis, and communications theory and evaluation of the relevance of political ideology; national character; elite and class analysis; and problems of conflict, violence, and internal war.

Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Spring 2022)

POL-UA 500-000 (8257)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon,Wed9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Slough, Tara

POL-UA 500-000 (8258)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Williamson, Mark

POL-UA 500-000 (8259)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Wed4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Williamson, Mark

POL-UA 500-000 (10534)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Thu8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Niu, He

POL-UA 500-000 (9210)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Niu, He

POL-UA 500-000 (9360)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by He, Ning

POL-UA 500-000 (9361)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by He, Ning

POL-UA 500-000 (25686)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Cheng, Mengfan

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate
Spring 2022

American Constitution (POL-UA 330)

Offered every semester. 4 points. Interpretation of the U.S. Constitution through the reading of Supreme Court opinions. Distribution of constitutional power among Congress, the president, and the federal courts; between the national government and the states; and among the states. Constitutional law and American political and economic development. Cases are read and discussed closely for their legal and philosophical content.

Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate
Spring 2022

Urban Gov’T & Politics (POL-UA 360)

This course will introduce you to the study of local and urban politics in the U.S. Municipal governments profoundly impact the day-to-day of citizens. Cities have substantial power over policy areas from education and public safety to transportation, and they also address basic needs: making sure the trash gets taken out, the water runs, and that people are safe from crime. And yet, cities are often quite constrained in their policy choices. For example, one of the central challenges facing municipal government is how to attract and maintain a middle class tax base while providing essential services for low-income residents. This course will explore patterns of city politics against the background of American social and cultural history, including the impulse toward reform and the effects of reform efforts on the distribution of power in the community. Additional topics will include issues related to voting, race and ethnicity, gentrification, and the relationship between cities and the federal government.

Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate
Spring 2022

Power & Politics in America (POL-UA 300)

A survey of national political institutions and behavior in the United States, which introduces students to a variety of analytical concepts and approaches useful for the study of domestic politics. Concepts typically covered include public goods and collective action; preference aggregation and the median voter theorem; delegation, representation, and accountability; agenda control; inter-branch bargaining; and the mechanisms of private influence on public policy.

Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Spring 2022)

POL-UA 300-000 (8252)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon,Wed12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Dawes, Christopher Todd

POL-UA 300-000 (8253)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Wirsching, Elisa

POL-UA 300-000 (8254)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Palmer, Lexi

POL-UA 300-000 (8255)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Palmer, Lexi

POL-UA 300-000 (8256)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri11:00 AM – 12:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Wirsching, Elisa

POL-UA 300-000 (8796)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Wed8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Heo, Kun

POL-UA 300-000 (8797)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Thu4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Heo, Kun

POL-UA 300-000 (10192)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by McGrath, David

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate
Spring 2022

Political Theory (POL-UA 100)

Offered every semester. 4 points. Introduces students to some outstanding theories of politics. The theories treated offer alternative conceptions of political life, and they are examined from both theoretical and historical perspectives. Among the theorists included are Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Rousseau, Mill, and Marx.

Politics (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Spring 2022)

POL-UA 100-000 (9202)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Tue,Thu11:00 AM – 12:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Pevnick, Ryan

POL-UA 100-000 (9203)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Fri8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Bose, Amartya

POL-UA 100-000 (9204)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Thu12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Bose, Amartya

POL-UA 100-000 (9205)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Mon8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Yi, Sophie

POL-UA 100-000 (9206)01/24/2022 – 05/09/2022 Wed3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Yi, Sophie

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate
Fall 2020

Existentialism and Phenomenology (PHIL-UA 36)

Examines the characteristic method, positions, and themes of the existentialist and phenomenological movements and traces their development through study of such thinkers as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Sartre.

Philosophy (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Fall 2020)

PHIL-UA 36-000 (19900)09/02/2020 – 12/13/2020 Mon,Wed11:00 AM – 12:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Jauernig, Anja

PHIL-UA 36-000 (19901)09/02/2020 – 12/13/2020 Thu12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Barat, Alan

PHIL-UA 36-000 (19902)09/02/2020 – 12/13/2020 Thu3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Barat, Alan

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate
Summer 2020

Recent Continental Phil (PHIL-UA 39)

Examines some of the most important philosophical ideas and developments in the “Continental” tradition in Europe in the twentieth century. After a review of some nineteenth-century developments, covers major works by Heidegger and Sartre, and some selection, determined by the instructor’s particular focus, of writings by such figures as Husserl, Gadamer, Arendt, Beauvoir, Merleau-Ponty, Foucault, and Deleuze.

Philosophy (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 6 Weeks

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate
Spring 2020

Philosophy of Physics (PHIL-UA 94)

We will investigate different approaches to understanding space and time, and how the account of space-time structure has evolved in physics. One of the main objectives is to have a clear and accurate understanding of the Special Theory of Relativity, detailed enough to allow the student to solve some physics problems. This will require a bit of mathematics, but not more than algebra. We will discuss the General Theory of Relativity in a more qualitative way, including an account of the structure of black holes. Philosophy students do not need any further background in physics or mathematics, and physics students will not benefit from greater mathematical sophistication. We will also study the relevant history of physics and philosophy, particularly the debate between Newton and Leibniz about the nature of space and time. There will be two lectures each week and a recitation section.

Philosophy (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Spring 2020)

PHIL-UA 94-000 (19175)01/27/2020 – 05/11/2020 Mon,Wed3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Maudlin, Tim

PHIL-UA 94-000 (19176)01/27/2020 – 05/11/2020 Tue9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Scambler, Christopher

PHIL-UA 94-000 (19177)01/27/2020 – 05/11/2020 Thu9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Scambler, Christopher

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate
Fall 2019

Set Theory (PHIL-UA 73)

An introduction to the basic concepts and results of set theory.

Philosophy (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 14 Weeks

Sections (Fall 2019)

PHIL-UA 73-000 (19544)09/03/2019 – 12/13/2019 Tue,Thu4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Fine, Kit

PHIL-UA 73-000 (19545)09/03/2019 – 12/13/2019 Wed4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Late afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Scambler, Christopher

PHIL-UA 73-000 (19546)09/03/2019 – 12/13/2019 Tue9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Scambler, Christopher

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate
Summer 2019

From Hegel to Nietzsche (PHIL-UA 32)

Examines some of the most important philosophical ideas and developments in Europe in the nineteenth century, preceded by a brief examination of some aspects of Kant’s philosophy. (Kant is examined in more detail in PHIL-UA 30.) Covers major writings by Hegel, and a selection of writings, determined by the special focus of the particular version of the course, from such thinkers as Fichte, Schelling, Feuerbach, Schopenhauer, Mill, Comte, Marx, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche.

Philosophy (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 6 Weeks

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate
Spring 2019

Consciousness (PHIL-UA 7)

Examines conceptual and empirical issues about consciousness. Issues covered may include the explanatory gap, the hard and harder problems of consciousness, concepts of consciousness, phenomenal concepts, the mind-body problem and neural correlates of consciousness, higher-order thought theories of consciousness, the inverted spectrum, views of phenomenality as representation, and arguments for dualism.

Philosophy (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Spring 2019)

PHIL-UA 7-000 (19756)01/28/2019 – 05/13/2019 Tue,Thu12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by

PHIL-UA 7-000 (19771)01/28/2019 – 05/13/2019 Fri11:00 AM – 12:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by

PHIL-UA 7-000 (19772)01/28/2019 – 05/13/2019 Fri9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by

PHIL-UA 7-000 (19773)01/28/2019 – 05/13/2019 Fri12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by

PHIL-UA 7-000 (19774)01/28/2019 – 05/13/2019 Mon12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate
Fall 2022

Advanced Logic (PHIL-UA 72)

An introduction to the basic concepts, methods, and results of metalogic, i.e., the formal study of systems of reasoning.

Philosophy (Undergraduate)
4 credits – 15 Weeks

Sections (Fall 2022)

PHIL-UA 72-000 (20815)09/01/2022 – 12/14/2022 Tue,Thu12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Dorr, Cian

PHIL-UA 72-000 (20816)09/01/2022 – 12/14/2022 Fri9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Morning)at Washington SquareInstructed by Roth, Richard

PHIL-UA 72-000 (20817)09/01/2022 – 12/14/2022 Fri12:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Early afternoon)at Washington SquareInstructed by Roth, Richard

Liberal Arts & Sciences - Electives Societies & the Social Sciences Undergraduate