This course begins with the relationship of political science to identity politics. Next, we study the shift in treating identity as a given to a process and consider four approaches to identity formation. We then turn to two pressing challenges: how to study identity and the interactions of identity groups with one another. The final section of the course addresses the consequences of identity politics, such a mobilization and voting.

Special Topics in International Relations

Supervised Research I

Examines qualitative methods in political science, including ethnography, interviewing, focus groups, process tracing, and archival research, while exploring their integration with large-n methodologies such as field and natural experiments and survey research. Explores theoretical, empirical, and epistemological issues in qualitative and multi-method research, with attention to concept definition and measurement.

Studies the legislative process in the U.S. Congress, US state legislatures, and some examination of comparative legislatures. Topics include the internal distribution of power, influences on legislative behavior, institutional changes in legislatures and their effects, relationships with other political institutions, the place of legislatures in the American polity, and the problems associated with it.

This course introduces regression analysis in political science. It covers linear regression, the ordinary least squares (OLS) estimator, interpretation of results, and regression diagnostics. The course also introduces generalized linear models (GLMs), maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), and regression analysis with binary outcomes. A separate section of the course focuses on implementation of regression analysis in R programming language.

Supervised Research II

For master's research, taken before a thesis director has been selected.

For master's research, taken before a thesis director has been selected.

For master's research, taken before a thesis director has been selected.