Political Science

417A Lehman Hall  
212-854-8422
212-854-3024 (fax)
polisci.barnard.edu
Department Administrator: Anne Wolff-Lawson

Chair:  Alexander A. Cooley (Professor)
Professors Emeritus: Demetrios J. Caraley (Janet H. Robb Professor Emeritus and Research Scholar), Dennis G. Dalton, Peter H. Juviler
Professors: Sheri E. Berman, Xiaobo Lü (Department Representative), Kimberly J. Marten, Richard M. Pious (Adolf S. and Effie E. Ochs Professor), Flora S. Davidson (Political Science and Urban Studies), Paula A. Franzese (Visiting)
Associate Professors: Kimberely S. Johnson
Assistant Professors: Séverine Autesserre, Mona El-Ghobashy (Departmental Representative), Elise Giuliano (Visiting), Ayten Gündoğdu, Scott L. Minkoff, Michelle Smith, Claire Ullman (Adjunct)

Other Officers of the University Offering Courses in Political Science: Columbia Political Science Faculty

The Department of Political Science

Political Science explores questions about power: what it is, where it comes from, who exercises it, how it is used and legitimized. Concretely, political scientists study the processes, policies and institutions of different political systems as well as critical issues such as health care policy, civil rights, the origins of wars, the nature of democracy, the causes of authoritarianism, the meaning of justice, and the genesis of terrorism.

Mission

In accordance with the mission of Barnard College, the political science department aims to create a community of teachers and students committed to intellectual discovery, rigorous analysis, and independent thought. The department's courses emphasize reflection, discussion, deliberation and intensive interactions between faculty members and students. The Barnard political science department strives to help students think clearly and methodically about the questions and issues that make up political science, equip them with the intellectual and presentational skills necessary to understand and address practical political issues as well as prepare them for a wide range of careers in federal, state and local governments; law; business; international organizations; nonprofit associations and organizations; campaign management and polling; journalism; pre-collegiate education; electoral politics; research and university and college teaching.

The department recognizes four subfields of the discipline:

Political Theory: the study of the conceptual foundations of political systems and behavior.

• Student learning outcome: after completing one or more courses in Political Theory students should have a familiarity with some of the key concepts, theories and debates that have defined thinking about politics over time.

American Government and Politics: the study of all aspects of the American political system, including its development, institutions, procedures, and actors.

• Student learning outcome: after completing one or more courses in American Government and Politics students should understand the basic structure of the American political system and how some of its institutions, procedures, and actors function.

Comparative Politics: the study of the political systems of other countries and regions, including the use of comparisons across cases in order to gain a broader and deeper understanding of events, institutions, and processes.

• Student learning outcome: after completing one or more courses in Comparative Politics students should have a familiarity with the political systems of other countries and regions, and be able to use comparisons across cases in order to gain a broader and deeper understanding of political events, institutions, and processes.

International Relations: the study of relations between countries and the dynamics and development of the international system.

• Student learning outcome: after completing one or more courses in International Relations students should understand the key approaches to the study of the relations between countries and a familiarity with the basic dynamics and development of the international system.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Barnard Political Science major, students should be able to:

• Analyze, speak and write about the subject matter and major theories of at least three of the four subfields of political science;
• Apply social scientific reasoning and theories to the analysis of a wide range of political issues and problems;
• Generate and test hypotheses about political processes, relationships and institutions or engage in conceptual analysis and interpretation of political ideas, arguments, and phenomena;
• Complete independent research projects in political science, particularly via the capstone senior project.

Five-year Bachelors/ Masters of Arts Programs

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).

• Students interested in the Sciences Po–Barnard exchange program are encouraged to meet with the Dean for Study-Abroad, also for questions regarding the political science aspects of this BA/MA program.
• The SIPA programs include the Graduate Program in Public Policy & Administration (MPA) and the Master of International Affairs Program (MIA). For information, please contact the Department Representative.