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COURSE CATALOGUE

POLITICAL SCIENCE

Political Science
417A Lehman Hall  
212-854-8422; Fax 212-854-3024
www.barnard.edu/polisci/

Professors: Xiaobo Lü, Kimberly J. Marten, Richard M. Pious (Adolf S. and Effie E. Ochs Professor), Flora S. Davidson (Term, in Political Science and Urban Studies), Paula A. Franzese (Visiting)
Professors Emeritus: Demetrios J. Caraley (Janet H. Robb Professor Emeritus and Research Scholar), Dennis G. Dalton, Peter H. Juviler
Associate Professors: Sheri E. Berman (Chair), Alexander A. Cooley
Assistant Professors: Séverine Autesserre, Mona El-Ghobashy, Elise Giuliano (Visiting), Ayten Gündoğdu, Yanzhong Huang (Visiting), Kimberley S. Johnson, Lorraine C. Minnite
Department Administrator: Nell Dillon-Ermers

For a complete list of faculty on leave see:
 http://www.barnard.edu/provost/facleavelist.html

Political science examines questions about power in society: who exercises it, how, and why.  Sometimes it tries to explain past and current events and make predictions about the future; other times it asks normative questions, about how political power should be distributed and for what purposes it should be used.

The political science discipline is divided into four subfields:
•  American Government & Politics (including the study of the presidency and the bureaucracy, the Congress, the judiciary and the Constitution, political parties and elections, state and local governments, and interest groups and social movements in the United States);
•  Comparative Politics & Foreign Government (including the study of politics in different countries and regions around the world, focusing on what makes national institutions and trajectories similar to or different from each other, such as the rise and fall of democracy, liberalism, radicalism, nationalism, and corruption);
•  International Relations & Foreign Policy (including the study of relationships between nation-states, such as war, intervention, and diplomacy, and aid, trade and investment, as well as international institutions such as the United Nations, and non-state actors who have international influence); and
•  Political Theory (focusing on the philosophy, both ancient and modern, that underpins and sheds light on all of these institutions, processes, and developments).

The major prepares students to play a leadership or participant role as citizens in a democratic society, as public or party officials, civil servants, commentators, or civic volunteers and voters. It equips students with skills in critical reading, analysis and argument, research, writing, and oral presentation that are vital for a wide variety of professional careers, including law, business, journalism and communications, and work in philanthropic, public interest, or international development organizations.  It also prepares students for advanced graduate study in political science or in schools of public and international affairs, leading to careers in research, policy analysis, and teaching.

Students interested in public careers should consider the five-year joint-degree programs at Sciences Po, France, and at Columbia University's School of International & Public Affairs (SIPA).

Printable Version

Barnard Catalogue 2009-2010