Professors: Xiaobo Lu, Kimberly J. Marten (Chair), Richard M. Pious (Adolf S. and Effie E. Ochs Professor), Flora S. Davidson (Term, in Political Science and Urban Studies), Paula Franzese (Visiting)
Professors Emeritus: Demetrios J. Caraley ( Janet H. Robb Professor Emeritus and Research Scholar), Dennis G. Dalton, Peter H. Juviler
Associate Professors: Sheri Berman, Alexander A. Cooley
Assistant Professors: Séverine Autesserre, Mona El-Ghobashy, Ayten Gündoğdu, Kimberley S. Johnson, Lorraine C. Minnite
Departmental 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 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); international relations (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); comparative politics (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); 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 inquire about the five-year joint-degree programs at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. These include the Graduate Program in Public Policy and Administration (MPA) and the Master of International Affairs Program (MIA).
A total of ten courses are necessary to complete the Political Science major:
– Three introductory lecture courses,
– Two colloquia,
– Two semesters of senior research seminar, and
– Three elective courses.
The introductory lecture courses expose students to the study of at least three of the four subfields of political science. Majors can then specialize in one or two subfields, continue a broader mix of courses, or work out interdisciplinary programs enabling them to double-major, or major and concentrate, in additional fields.
After taking the relevant introductory lecture courses, students are eligible to take the two required colloquium courses. The colloquia have limited enrollment to ensure a maximum class size of sixteen; they introduce students to methods of research, and provide opportunities to develop skills in discussion and analysis. The two-semester senior seminar requires students to complete a major research paper and further develop skills in framing a research question, using rigorous analytical methods, and developing primary research sources.
The two colloquia and the two-semester senior seminar sequence must be taken with faculty at Barnard College. Many of the introductory and other lecture courses may also be taken with faculty at Columbia College, if these courses are listed in the Barnard Political Science course catalogue. Various study-abroad options and summer courses may also meet your specialized interests, but these require prior consultation with your major adviser, as well as prior approval by Professor Kimberly Marten, the 2008-09 Department Chair (a form is required) and subsequent approval by the Department Chair once you apply to transfer the credit to Barnard (approval form).
Please use the Progress Report to plan your program and track your courses for the major.
Three introductory courses are required of all majors and concentrators from among the four subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. (Note: In this section, an “advanced course” is understood to be 3000-level or higher.)
What fulfills the American Politics intro requirement:
What does not fulfill the American Politics intro requirement:
A summer session course offered at Columbia or elsewhere may not be used to satisfy this requirement. A student who took a summer session introductory course prior to declaring the major in Political Science at Barnard may apply to Professor Kimberly Marten, the 2008-2009 Department Chair, for permission to substitute an advanced course in American Politics (listed in the Barnard catalogue) in lieu of the introductory requirement. Upon completion of the advanced Barnard course, the student will fulfill the American Politics introductory course requirement.
What fulfills the Comparative Politics introductory requirement:
What does not fulfill the Comparative Politics intro requirement:
A summer session course offered at Columbia or elsewhere may not be used to satisfy this requirement. A student who took a summer session introductory course prior to declaring the major in Political Science at Barnard may apply to Professor Kimberly Marten, the 2008-2009 Department Chair, for permission to substitute an advanced course in Comparative Politics (listed in the Barnard catalogue) in lieu of the introductory requirement. Upon completion of the advanced Barnard course, the student will fulfill the Comparative Politics introductory course requirement.
What fulfills the International Relations introductory requirement:
What does not fulfill the International Politics intro requirement:
A summer session course offered at Columbia or elsewhere may not be used to satisfy this requirement. A student who took a summer session introductory course prior to declaring the major in Political Science at Barnard may apply to Professor Kimberly Marten, the 2008-2009 Department Chair, for permission to substitute an advanced course in International Relations (listed in the Barnard catalogue) in lieu of the introductory requirement. Upon completion of the advanced Barnard course, the student will fulfill the International Relations introductory course requirement.
What fulfills the Political Theory introductory requirement:
What does not fulfill the Political Theory intro requirement:
POLS W1002, Intro to Political Thought
POLS BC 1014y Political Theory II
A summer session course offered at Columbia or elsewhere may not be used to satisfy this requirement. A student who took a summer session introductory course prior to declaring the major in Political Science at Barnard may apply to Professor Kimberly Marten, the 2008-2009 Department Chair, for permission to substitute an advanced course in Political Theory (listed in the Barnard catalogue) in lieu of the introductory requirement. Upon completion of the advanced Barnard course, the student will fulfill the Political Theory introductory course requirement.
The colloquium format involves weekly discussion of readings, and development of research skills through completion of a 25- to 30-page research paper, constituting the major piece of written work for the course. Admission is limited to sixteen students who are assigned by the department, not by individual instructors. Students must have completed the relevant introductory course prerequisite before enrolling in the colloquium (or must receive special permission from the instructor for that requirement to be waived). Two colloquia must be completed to fulfill the major requirement. Both colloquia must be taken with Barnard instructors, from the asterisked colloquium offerings listed in the Barnard catalogue. Columbia seminars do not fulfill this requirement.
If you plan on spending part or all of junior year abroad:
Plan to take a colloquium during the second semester of your sophomore year. This means applying for the colloquium near the end of first semester of your sophomore year. Note on your colloquium application that you plan to be abroad one or both semesters during junior year.
If you plan to be away for the entire junior year, plan on taking one colloquium in your sophomore year and one the first semester of senior year. You should e-mail or write both your academic major advisorand the department administrator by the middle of March of your year abroad, in order to apply for a colloquium in your senior year.
What fulfills the Senior Research Seminar requirement:
What does not fulfill the Senior Research Seminar requirement:
Independent Study Options may involve registration in a Senior Seminar section, but such registration does not count as a semester of senior research seminar.
No summer school course offered at Columbia or elsewhere, no course receiving transfer credit toward the degree, and no Columbia College course listed as a colloquium or seminar may be used to satisfy this requirement.
If you plan on spending junior year abroad:
You should e-mail or write both your academic major adviser and the departmental administrator by the middle of March of your year abroad, in order to apply for a section of senior research seminar (application).
What does not fulfill the additional Three-Course Electives requirements:
The Independent Study Option BC3799x-y does not satisfy the course requirement if the project is for 1 or 2 points.
College-granted AP credit for American Politics or Comparative Politics does not count as major course credit. (See items for American Politics I.C. and Comparative Politics I.C., above.)
Courses taken at other colleges, in summer sessions, or abroad, which are not equivalent in rigor and workload to Barnard courses, as determined by Professor Kimberly Marten, the 2008-2009 Department Chair, in consultation with other faculty of the department, will not count toward the major or minor requirements.
A student doing a combined major in Jewish Studies and Political Science must complete the full requirements for the Political Science major in addition to Jewish Studies courses.
A student doing a combined major in Women's Studies and Political Science must complete, in addition to Women's Studies courses, a minimum of seven political science courses of at least three points each, including two introductory courses and two colloquia. These seven courses must be selected in consultation with Professor Kimberly Marten, the 2007-2008 Political Science Department Chair, at the time of major declaration. The two-semester senior research seminar (for the senior essay) may be written in either department. The student must consult both essay sponsors on a regular basis throughout the two-semester senior research seminar. Both departments must agree on the senior essay grade and the departmental honors nomination.
Any other combined major (for example, Art History-Political Science) requires a petition to the Committee on Programs and Academic Standing and the approval of the Chairs of the sponsoring departments. (For Political Science, obtain the approval of Professor Kimberly Marten, the 2008-2009 Department Chair.) The student will be required to take a minimum of seven political science courses of at least three points each, including two introductory courses and two colloquia, to be selected in consultation with Professor Kimberly Marten. Obtain forms and instructions from the Class Dean in the Dean of Studies Office. The student must consult both essay sponsors on a regular basis throughout the two-semester senior research seminar. Both departments must agree on the senior essay grade and the departmental honors nomination.
A total of five courses are necessary to complete a minor, including one or more of the introductory courses or approved equivalents. Four of these courses must be taken from courses listed in the political science section of the Barnard catalogue. Only one course taken in a summer session, study-abroad program, Reid Hall Program, or another undergraduate college may be used to satisfy the five-course requirement for the minor, with the approval of Professor Kimberly Marten, the 2008-2009 Department Chair.