2019-2020 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Courses
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PHYS 130 - Oscillations, Waves and Optics
The third of a four-semester introductory survey of physics. The seminar meets for three hours per week plus an afternoon laboratory. Oscillations and harmonic motion, wave phenomena such as interference, diffraction and standing waves, plus ray and wave optics are some of the topics covered. Key experiments include studies of mechanical, acoustic and optical waves, wave resonance in oscillating systems, construction of optical instruments, and measurement of the speed of light. Prepares the student for the study of quantum systems in PHYS 131 . Fulfills the Scientific Perspective.
Prerequisites: PHYS 121
Corequisites: MATH 130
Course Designation/Attribute: SP
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every fall
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PHYS 131 - Quantum Physics and Relativity
The last in a four-semester survey of physics; intended to follow PHYS 130. After an introduction to relativity theory, the course emphasizes the experimental basis of atomic and nuclear structure leading to the development of wave mechanics. The laboratory uses modern research instrumentation to investigate contributions by Einstein, Rutherford, Compton, Moseley, Chadwick and others. Fulfills the Scientific Perspective.
Prerequisites: PHYS 130
Corequisites: MATH 131
Course Designation/Attribute: SP
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every spring
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PHYS 150 - Thermodynamics
Introduces the concepts of thermal physics with the goal of understanding the behavior of macroscopic systems on the basis of the Laws of Thermodynamics. Topics include temperature, heat and work, efficiencies of simple engines, entropy, the chemical potential, thermodynamic potentials, and phase transitions.
Prerequisites: PHYS 130 .
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every spring
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PHYS 160 - Classical Mechanics
PHYS 160 and PHYS 161 constitute an introduction to the concepts of classical physics at the intermediate level. Topics include particle and rigid body dynamics in inertial and noninertial reference frames. The necessary mathematical methods are introduced and applied.
Prerequisites: MATH 131 and PHYS 111 or PHYS 121 .
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every year.
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PHYS 161 - Electricity and Magnetism
Continuation of PHYS 160 . Topics include electro- and magnetostatics and electrodynamics through Maxwell’s quations and relativity. Develops useful mathematical methods.
Prerequisites: PHYS 160 .
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every year.
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PHYS 167 - Fluid Mechanics and Applications
Fluids refer to liquid and gas state of matter which covers more than 70% of the surface of the Earth and all of atmosphere. This course will explore the physics of fluids, and doing calculations using analytical and numerical techniques in weekly instructor led discussion sessions, and a semester long group based project. The project will include building a table top demonstration, and making a video presentation. Examples of project topics include water, oil and gas processing in industry, designing robots that swim, water purification, and more.
Prerequisites: Introductory calculus, Phys 160
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered Bi-annually
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PHYS 169 - Information Theory, Inference, and Networks
This course will explore the basic concepts of Information theory – a topic that lies at the heart of many exciting areas of contemporary science and engineering – and its applications to statistical inference and network theory. Topics covered in the course include entropy as a measure of information, mutual information, information transmission and communication through noiseless or noisy channels, maximum likelihood methods for data analysis, and neural network models. The basic concepts developed will be applied to examples from a wide range of academic fields such as data compression and storage, biophysics, signal processing, neuroscience, machine learning, and finance, where information theory can be related to the theory of optimal investment in the stock market. Finally we will discuss how methods from information theory can be used to study and quantify interaction networks, a subject that lies at the heart of the modern science of complex systems.
Prerequisites: Math 120 or Math 124, and Math 121 or Math 125
Anticipated Terms Offered: varied
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PHYS 171 - Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
Intermediate-level course providing an introduction to quantum mechanics and its applications to atoms, nuclei, molecules, and solids.
Prerequisites: PHYS 131 and MATH 131 .
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every year.
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PHYS 201 - Classical Dynamics
Designed to prepare students for graduate work in physics. Topics include Hamilton’s principle, classical scattering theory, rigid body motion, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, and mathematical methods of physics. Lectures are the same as PHYS 301 , but the assignments and evaluation are separate.
Prerequisites: PHYS 160 and PHYS 161 .
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every fall
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PHYS 202 - Electrodynamics
Designed to prepare students for graduate work in physics. Topics include boundary value problems in electrostatics and magnetostatics, electromagnetic-field equations and special relativity, electromagnetic waves, radiation theory, multipole fields, and mathematical methods of physics. Lectures are the same as PHYS 302 , but the assignments and evaluation are separate.
Prerequisites: PHYS 161 .
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every spring
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PHYS 205 - Quantum Mechanics – Part I
PHYS 205 and PHYS 206 constitute a comprehensive introduction to the concepts of quantum mechanics and their application in physics and chemistry. Sequence prepares students for graduate work. Lectures are the same as in PHYS 305 , but the assignments and evaluation are separate.
Prerequisites: PHYS 171 and MATH 131 .
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every fall.
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PHYS 206 - Quantum Mechanics – Part II
PHYS 206 is a continuation of PHYS 205.
Prerequisites: PHYS 205.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every spring.
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PHYS 209 - Statistical Mechanics
Designed to prepare students for graduate work in physics. The lectures are the same as in PHYS 309 , but the assignments and evaluation are separate.
Prerequisites: PHYS 150 and PHYS 171 .
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every fall.
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PHYS 210 - Condensed Matter Physics
Investigates experimental properties and the quantum theory of solids. Topics include crystal and reciprocal lattice structures, the free-electron theory of metals, electronic band structure and the Fermi surface, lattice vibrations and the elementary excitations of solids, magnetism, superconductivity. Prepares students for graduate studies. Lectures are the same as PHYS 310, but the assignments, projects, examinations, and evaluations are differentiated.
Prerequisites: PHYS PHYS 150 and PHYS 171
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every spring
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PHYS 219 - Electronics Laboratory
Examines principles of modern electrical measurement and control. Introduces DC- and AC-circuit theory and use of test instruments such as multimeters and the oscilloscope. Emphasizes electronic circuit design, operational amplifiers and digital circuits. Two lectures and one laboratory each week. Suitable for intermediate-level undergraduates and graduate students in the sciences.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every other year
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PHYS 230 - Advanced Topics in Condensed Matter Physics
The second half of the twentieth century has seen important new paradigms in physics. In this course, we will explore some of the central paradigms in the context of condensed matter physics. I will apply the concepts of broken symmetry and order parameters, which have emerged as unifying concepts in physics, to provide the framework of this course. We will begin by characterizing the structure and symmetries of condensed matter systems, then develop Landau-Ginzburg theories to model such systems and to provide a framework to explore the relation between order parameter, broken symmetry, and thermal fluctuations. We will use these ideas to study a wide range of condensed matter systems that include liquids, crystalline solids, exotic states of matter such as liquid crystals, superconductors, and quantum magnets. We will also introduce concepts that are important in other areas of physics, such as the Higgs mechanism and the generation of mass, that play a central role in particle physics. The prerequisites for this course are statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics (or instructor’s permission). A previous course in solid state physics is not needed.
Prerequisites: P = PHYS 150. Undergraduate (or graduate) statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics or instructor’s permission.
Corequisites: None.
Anticipated Terms Offered: varies
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PHYS 243 - Technology of Renewable Energy
This course is designed to give an overview of the technical issues confronting the conversion of the world’s fossil fuel economy to one where the major sources of energy are sustainable. The pros and cons of major renewable energy sources (such as solar and wind) will be discussed, along with some of the less universal sources such as tides and geothermal, including, of course, efficiency, the hidden energy resource. No discussion of renewables is complete without a good understanding of the electrical grid, which is central to the implementation of renewable energy. The present grid is designed for a smaller number of large generating stations and relatively constant power generation and loads. The renewable grid will have many smaller energy sources, as small as single solar panels on the top of telephone poles, and also rapidly fluctuating sources, as when winds gust through wind turbines, and clouds cover and uncover solar panels. Through lecture and demonstration we will learn how a nationwide energy network might work in the future. This course is designed for science and non-science majors alike, however math skills including algebra and trigonometry will be expected.
Over the past two years a small microgrid consisting of solar panels, a wind turbine, batteries, and LED lights has been built at Clark. A main focus of this course will be on the design and building of the microgrid, and related projects and issues. This will require significant time, outside class, to work on building the microgrid system. We will be building physical systems, such as mounting solar panels and working to connect electrical systems, in order to control and measure the energy flows in our microgrid. We will need computer programs for controlling the system and to analyze data, and we also will need web pages for our own monitoring and in order to display the system to others.
There will be a significant hands on component to this class, in addition to regular homework assignments. Each student will be expected to spend about three hours a week during an afternoon, preferably Tuesday or Friday, working on the project. Please consider this time commitment carefully when you sign up for this course.
Course Designation/Attribute: POP
Anticipated Terms Offered: Fall
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PHYS 251 - Statistical Physics
This is an introductory course on statistical mechanics which starts with ensemble theory and ends with an introduction to critical phenomena. Starting from probability theory, we will derive relations between microscopic and macroscopic properties of a system. We will review basic thermodynamics and study its statistical interpretation. Methods of statistical mechanics will be used to develop Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics. During the second half of the semester, selected topics will be approached numerically and students will use computer simulations to study more complex, yet more realistic, systems.
Prerequisites: PHYS 150 , PHYS 127 & PHYS 131
Anticipated Terms Offered: Spring
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PHYS 290 - Senior Seminar
This capstone covers a selection of topics of current interest in physics.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered periodically
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PHYS 297 - Honors
Readings and research for students in the honors program. May be repeatable for credit.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Every Semester
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PHYS 299 - Directed Studies in Physics
Independent student work in physics with the guidance of a faculty adviser. With permission of the instructor, students may enroll for senior capstone or honors projects, directed readings in areas not covered in regular courses, or independent research in theoretical, experimental or applied physics. Offered for variable credit. PHYS 299 may be taken more than once.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every semester.
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PHYS 301 - Classical Dynamics
Graduate-level course in classical mechanics. Topics are similar to PHYS 201 , but are treated in greater depth.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every fall
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PHYS 302 - Classical Electrodynamics
Graduate-level course in classical electromagnetism. Topics are similar to PHYS 202 , but are treated in greater depth.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every spring
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PHYS 303 - Research Apprenticeship
Students participate actively in an experimental or theoretical research group, under the supervision of a faculty member.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every semester
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PHYS 305 - Quantum Mechanics – Part I
PHYS 305 and PHYS 306 offer a comprehensive introduction to quantum mechanics and its application in physics and chemistry. Topics include the foundations of quantum mechanics, symmetries and angular momentum, particle in a central potential, electron spin, and perturbation theory.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every fall
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PHYS 306 - Quantum Mechanics – Part II
PHYS 306 is a continuation of PHYS 305 . Topics include scattering theory, interaction of radiation with matter, second quantization, applications to simple atoms and molecules, and an introduction to many-body theory.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every spring
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PHYS 309 - Statistical Mechanics
Examines statistical mechanics with applications to physical systems. Topics include ensemble theory, the statistical basis of thermodynamics, quantum statistics, the virial expansion of a classical gas, ideal Bose and Fermi systems, the renormalization group, and fluctuations.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every fall
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PHYS 310 - Condensed Matter Physics
Examines experimental properties and the quantum theory of solids. Topics include crystal and reciprocal lattice structures, the free-electron theory of metals, electronic band structure and the Fermi surface, lattice vibrations and the elementary excitations of solids.
Prerequisites: PHYS 305 or permission of instructor.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every spring
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PHYS 317 - Research
This is a variable unit, graduate course for students engaged in research at the PhD level.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Every semester, including summers
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PHYS 319 - Advanced Electronics Laboratory
Similar to PHYS 219 , but more advanced. Topics are treated in greater depth. Suitable for graduate students in the sciences.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every other year
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PHYS 320 - Advanced Seminar in Physics
Provides for special coverage of topics in physics of current research interest.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered periodically
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PHYS 327 - Advanced Computer Simulation Laboratory
Similar to PHYS127 but more advanced. Suitable for graduate students in the sciences or undergraduates with prior programming experience.
Prerequisites: Instructor permission.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every year
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PHYS 330 - Advanced Topics in Condensed Matter Physics
The second half of the twentieth century has seen important new paradigms in physics. In this course, we will explore some of the central paradigms in the context of condensed matter physics. I will apply the concepts of broken symmetry and order parameters, which have emerged as unifying concepts in physics, to provide the framework of this course. We will begin by characterizing the structure and symmetries of condensed matter systems, then develop Landau-Ginzburg theories to model such systems and to provide a framework to explore the relation between order parameter, broken symmetry, and thermal fluctuations. We will use these ideas to study a wide range of condensed matter systems that include liquids, crystalline solids, exotic states of matter such as liquid crystals, superconductors, and quantum magnets. We will also introduce concepts that are important in other areas of physics, such as the Higgs mechanism and the generation of mass, that play a central role in particle physics. The prerequisites for this course are statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics (or instructor’s permission). A previous course in solid state physics is not needed.
Anticipated Terms Offered: varies
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PHYS 343 - Technology of Renewable Energy
This course is designed to give an overview of the technical issues confronting the conversion of the world’s fossil fuel economy to one where the major sources of energy are sustainable. The pros and cons of major renewable energy sources (such as solar and wind) will be discussed, along with some of the less universal sources such as tides and geothermal, including, of course, efficiency, the hidden energy resource. No discussion of renewables is complete without a good understanding of the electrical grid, which is central to the implementation of renewable energy. The present grid is designed for a smaller number of large generating stations and relatively constant power generation and loads. The renewable grid will have many smaller energy sources, as small as single solar panels on the top of telephone poles, and also rapidly fluctuating sources, as when winds gust through wind turbines, and clouds cover and uncover solar panels. Through lecture and demonstration we will learn how a nationwide energy network might work in the future. This course is designed for science and non-science majors alike, however math skills including algebra and trigonometry will be expected.
Over the past two years a small microgrid consisting of solar panels, a wind turbine, batteries, and LED lights has been built at Clark. A main focus of this course will be on the design and building of the microgrid, and related projects and issues. This will require significant time, outside class, to work on building the microgrid system. We will be building physical systems, such as mounting solar panels and working to connect electrical systems, in order to control and measure the energy flows in our microgrid. We will need computer programs for controlling the system and to analyze data, and we also will need web pages for our own monitoring and in order to display the system to others.
There will be a significant hands on component to this class, in addition to regular homework assignments. Each student will be expected to spend about three hours a week during an afternoon, preferably Tuesday or Friday, working on the project. Please consider this time commitment carefully when you sign up for this course.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Fall
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PHYS 351 - Statistical Physics
This is an introductory course on statistical mechanics which starts with ensemble theory and ends with an introduction to critical phenomena. Starting from probability theory, we will derive relations between microscopic and macroscopic properties of a system. We will review basic thermodynamics and study its statistical interpretation. Methods of statistical mechanics will be used to develop Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics. During the second half of the semester, selected topics will be approached numerically and students will use computer simulations to study more complex, yet more realistic, systems.
Prerequisites: PHYS 327
Anticipated Terms Offered: Spring
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PHYS 367 - Fluid Mechanics and Applications
Fluids refer to liquid and gas state of matter which covers more than 70% of the surface of the Earth and all of atmosphere. This course will explore the physics of fluids, and doing calculations using analytical and numerical techniques in weekly instructor led discussion sessions, and a semester long group based project. The project will include building a table top demonstration, and making a video presentation. Examples of project topics include water, oil and gas processing in industry, designing robots that swim, water purification, and more.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Bi-annually
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PHYS 369 - Information Theory, Inference, and Networks
This course will explore the basic concepts of Information theory – a topic that lies at the heart of many exciting areas of contemporary science and engineering – and its applications to statistical inference and network theory. Topics covered in the course include entropy as a measure of information, mutual information, information transmission and communication through noiseless or noisy channels, maximum likelihood methods for data analysis, and neural network models. The basic concepts developed will be applied to examples from a wide range of academic fields such as data compression and storage, biophysics, signal processing, neuroscience, machine learning, and finance, where information theory can be related to the theory of optimal investment in the stock market. Finally we will discuss how methods from information theory can be used to study and quantify interaction networks, a subject that lies at the heart of the modern science of complex systems.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Every other year
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PHYS 390 - Colloquium
Weekly invited lecturers speak on current research topics. Required for all graduate students and recommended for undergraduates involved in research. Not offered for credit.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every semester
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PHYS 394 - Ph.D. Dissertation Writing
This is a variable unit, graduate course for students engaged in writing a Ph.D. Dissertation.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Every semester, including summers.
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PHYS 399 - Directed Study
Directed research in physics under the supervision of a faculty adviser. Graduate students may enroll for research in theoretical, experimental, or computational physics. Offered for variable credit. PHYS 399 may be taken more than once.
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PHYS 1010 - Introductory Physics I
This is an introductory level course stressing both conceptual understanding and problem solving skills. This is a survey course for undergraduate students irrespective of their major. The course stresses the simplicity and self-consistency of physical models in explaining a variety of physical phenomena. Topics include Newtonian mechanics, Mechanical Waves and a brief introduction to the thermal properties of matter. Calculus is not required, but elements of algebra and trigonometry are reviewed and utilized. PHYS 1010, with PHYS 1020, fulfills the usual entrance equiremnets for medical and dental schools. Labs are integrated within the course frame work, and will be conducted at the same classroom where lectures are held. Computer simulations will be utilized to enhance students’ understanding of course topics. Students will be charged a $100 Lab Fee.
Course Designation/Attribute: SP (summer only)
Anticipated Terms Offered: varies
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PHYS 1020 - Introductory Physics II
This course is a continuation of PHYS 1010. Topics include: Electricity, Magnetism, Optics and a brief account of modern physics. The PHYS 1010-1020 sequence is designed to fulfill most of the science perspective of the usual entrance exam requirements for medical and dental schools. Calculus is not required, but elements of algebra and trigonometry are reviewed and utilized. Labs are integrated within the course frame work, and will be conducted at the same classroom where lectures are held. Computer simulations will be utilized to enhance students’ understanding of course topics. Students will be charged a $100 Lab Fee.
Prerequisites: Introduction to Physics I.
Course Designation/Attribute: SP (summer only)
Anticipated Terms Offered: varies
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PSCI 015 - The European Union: Historical, Political, and Legal Perspectives
Course Description: The European Union: Historical, Political, and Legal Perspectives
After World War II, in order to help prevent another major war in Europe, several countries including France, Germany, Italy, and the three Benelux countries joined together in what would eventually become the European Union. This political science course will examine the European Union experiment from historical, political, and legal points of view. Today the European Union has 28 countries, with others hoping to join. Some of the countries have a common currency (the Euro), citizens of all of the E.U. countries have the right to live and work in any of the E.U. member states, and European law has been superimposed over national laws. We will look at how and why the number of member states in the E.U. expanded over time, as well as looking at why voters in the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in what is known as Brexit. We will examine how the Treaties of the E.U. have become constitutionalized. The course will also examine how the European Union manages the tricky politics among the 28 member states and the voters across Europe. We will also look at current issues like the Greek debt crisis and the refugee crisis in Europe.
Course Designation/Attribute: HP
Anticipated Terms Offered: For the May Term 2018
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PSCI 045 - Power
Power is essential to politics. Power relationships run the political world, and this class is designed to interrogate those relationships and highlight the side of state politics that is about control, coercion, and domination. Understanding how power operates can help us explain why some authoritarian regimes flourish or how individuals in a country respond to state control. In this class, we investigate a number of power relationships, looking at how the powerful justify their power, how power structures are perpetuated, and why it is so difficult for the powerless to shift the power dynamic.
Course Designation/Attribute: GP
Anticipated Terms Offered: Every four years
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PSCI 070 - Introduction to Comparative Politics
The study of comparative politics is based upon the premise that we can better understand domestic political dynamics and political phenomena in general, by comparing political conditions across and within (subnational units) countries. Specifically, comparative politics investigates the following types of questions: In what ways do groups and individuals participate in politics? Why have some countries developed stable democratic political systems, while others remain authoritarian or experience frequent changes in government? What relationship does a country’s political organization have with its economic performance, social stability and relations with other countries? In exploring these questions, we will compare both developed and developing countries in terms of political institutions (constitutions, executives, legislatures, courts and political parties), political behavior (voting and collective action), political culture and political economy. (CP)
Course Designation/Attribute: GP
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every semester
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PSCI 079 - Model United Nations I
The Model United Nations program is a realistic simulation of the activities of ambassadors and representatives of different member nations who serve in various agencies of the United Nations. Students assume the role of ambassadors or special U.N. representatives. They participate in live simulations of the U.N. Security Council, Economic Social and Cultural Council, and Special Middle East Summit. Students participate in the Harvard Model U.N. Conference every year. During this conference, Clark students known as delegates enter the world of diplomacy, negotiation and high politics as they grapple with complex realities of peace and security, human rights, women’s rights and economic development, and they pit their skills against delegates from other universities representing different countries. Delegates prepare by thoroughly researching policy positions of countries they are representing and contribute to a lively exchange of ideas and simulate an authentic environment that parallels U.N. meetings. This active-learning experience complements classroom learning and prepares Clark students to enter a professional career in government, international organizations or the academe. Repeat registration allowed.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every year
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PSCI 080 - Model United Nations II
The Model United Nations program is a realistic simulation of the activities of ambassadors and representatives of different member nations who serve in various agencies of the United Nations. Students assume the role of ambassadors or special U.N. representatives. They participate in live simulations of the U.N. Security Council, Economic Social and Cultural Council, and Special Middle East Summit. Students participate in the Harvard Model U.N. Conference every year. During this conference, Clark students known as delegates enter the world of diplomacy, negotiation and high politics as they grapple with complex realities of peace and security, human rights, women’s rights and economic development, and they pit their skills against delegates from other universities representing different countries. Delegates prepare by thoroughly researching policy positions of countries they are representing and contribute to a lively exchange of ideas and simulate an authentic environment that parallels U.N. meetings. This active-learning experience complements classroom learning and prepares Clark students to enter a professional career in government, international organizations or the academe. Repeat registration allowed.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every year
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PSCI 092 - Women and War
This first-year seminar is part of the International Studies Stream (ISS): “to succeed in contemporary society, students must be familiar with the ways common problems such as economic growth, immigration, social welfare, environmental regulation are dealt with differently across the globe. They need to understand the historical, social and political foundations for these differences, and they need to be able to assess their own societies within an international context.” That said, this first-year seminar examines the impact of war on women as both victims (i.e. refugees, rape victims) and participants (i.e. warriors) as part of the larger understanding of women’s role in society, both domestic and international society. The course will introduce students to the theoretical approaches in international relations for understanding the connection between gender and war. Various case studies of wars will be explored. Questions to be considered include: How do we understand gender, particularly in conflict situations? Does war affect women and men differently? If so, how? How does militarization and conflict perpetuate patriarchal power arrangements? What can the various case studies tell us about women’s role in society before, during and after conflict and war?
Course Designation/Attribute: GP
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered periodically
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PSCI 094 - Dictators and Revolutionaries in Latin America
This first-year seminar studies the stereotype of the Latin American military dictator or the leftist revolutionary which has become commonplace in contemporary culture. Whether it is the right-wing autocrat clad in Prussian-style military dress - General Augusto Pinochet of Chile or Alfredo Stroessner of Paraguay, for example, or leftist revolutionaries such as Fidel Castro and Ché Guevarra, bearded and combat ready in military fatigues, these stereotypical images convey to us in shorthand form understandings about Latin American society. They convey or reinforce the image of a militaristic and violent society, politically passionate and ideologically polarized. They convey the image of a society where the use of force trumps the rule of law. As with all stereotypes, there is more than a grain of truth in these characterizations but also much insight or understanding that they foreclose. In particular, such stereotyping begs the question as to why Latin America’s modern political history is rife with examples of political violence and extremism emanating from both ends of the political spectrum. This course seeks to enable students to answer this question. More broadly, it seeks to help students to develop their analytical skills and theoretical understandings of reactionary and revolutionary political movements. While the regional focus will be on Latin America, the skills development will be global in its applicability. Ultimately, the skills that students develop in this course should enhance their ability to think critically about contemporary incidents of political violence and inform their actions as concerned citizens.
Course Designation/Attribute: GP
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered periodically
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PSCI 096 - Just and Unjust Wars
This first-year seminar examines significant questions such as - why states and societies go to war, whether doing so is ever justified, and what (if anything) might make it so. Students will be afforded the opportunity to explore a range of historical and contemporary armed conflicts through the lens of the political, moral, ethical, and legal criteria which constitute the basis of the ‘laws of war’ as well as the international conventions and norms derived from them. Particular attention will be paid to the dilemmas associated with the decision to go to war, conduct during war, and war’s aftermath. Students will engage with these and related dilemmas through consideration of specific examples including (but not limited to) preemptive war, wars of self-defense, humanitarian intervention, peacekeeping and peace operations, terrorism and wars of national liberation, the status of non-combatants and non-state actors, and the rebuilding of post-conflict societies.
Course Designation/Attribute: VP
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered periodically
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PSCI 097 - The International Relations of Sports
Political Scientists spend considerable time researching and interpreting the relationships between nation-states, primarily international conflict and cooperation. Sports are one way to demonstrate those relationships between states. One need only think of the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup, for example, to reflect how players and spectators interpret sports within the context of national identities and international rivalries. Moreover, the international relations of sports is also gendered. With its focus on physical strength, camaraderie and competition, sports have long been understood as a benchmark for masculinity. This course will explore and examine several facets that connect the Political Science subfield/discipline of international relations with sports: globalization, diplomacy, war/conflict, identity and place, and the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, and gender.
Course Designation/Attribute: GP
Anticipated Terms Offered: PERIODICALLY
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PSCI 102 - Political Science Fiction
First-year seminar/Science fiction enables us to study the contemporary political world from a distance-to shed light on its problems and its weaknesses, and to be imaginative about alternatives, both hope-filled and deeply disturbing. This course will explore important questions and concepts in the study of politics through various works of science fiction, including novels, short stories, and films. Through science fiction, we will consider ideas like power, authority, legitimacy, and identity. We will also take up works of science fiction that examine and critique political systems, including democracy and dictatorship. We will read works that explore issues of racism and sexism through utopian and dystopian visions of society, and will consider the meaning and value of equality, as well as other controversial issues. Fulfills the Global Perspective requirement.
Course Designation/Attribute: GP
Anticipated Terms Offered: First-Year Seminar
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PSCI 103 - Africa and the World
Examines the historical and contemporary relationships of sub-Saharan Africa and Europe, the United States, the Middle East and parts of Asia, and Latin America. The course explores issues such as global involvement in Africa’s civil wars, genocide in Rwanda, Islamic fundamentalism, the role of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Africa’s development, and the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The role of the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations in development, conflict and humanitarian concerns is also explored.
Course Designation/Attribute: HP
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every other year
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PSCI 104 - Politics of Ethnicity and Identity
This course explores the ways in which ethnic and other political identities both shape and are shaped by historical processes and political narratives. In particular, we will examine the formation of racial, ethnic, and national identities from a range of theoretical perspectives. We will also look at how these identities are mobilized for political purposes and discuss the origins of and possible solutions to the phenomenon of ethnic conflict. (CP)
Course Designation/Attribute: GP, DI
Anticipated Terms Offered: Every other year
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PSCI 117 - Revolution and Political Violence
Analyzes the concept, the causes and process of revolution. Is revolution inevitable? How does it differ from terrorism, guerrilla warfare or coups? This course examines the Russian and Chinese revolutions as 20th-century prototypes; comparisons are then drawn to more recent revolutions in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and South Africa.
Course Designation/Attribute: GP
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every year
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PSCI 120 - International Negotiation and Mediation
This course is designed to familiarize students with strategies and tactics of negotiation and bargaining in general, and specifically with negotiation and mediation in an international context. The class will provide students with both exposure to prevailing theories and concepts of negotiation and mediation, as well as opportunities with direct, hands-on experience in these practices - as a means of illustrating the problems and possibilities of international interactions and conflict management and resolution. The first portion of the course will consist of deep and sustained engagement with the literature on international negotiation and mediation, bargaining, and foreign policy decision-making in the international security, conflict, economic, and environmental arenas. This engagement will be accomplished through a mix of in-class discussions, lectures, readings, and in-class exercises. The remainder of the course will be devoted to the application of acquired knowledge and refinement of acquired skills through participation in complex and multifaceted simulated negotiations. (IR)
Anticipated Terms Offered: Bi-annually
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PSCI 121 - State Government and Politics
In this introduction to the study of state government and politics in the United States, we will explore the how state governments impact a wide array of aspects of peoples’ lives, from driving a car, to marriage and family, to protecting the environment, and many others. What is the relationship between the politics of the fifty states and the politics of the nation as a whole? Do innovations in public policy flow from the states to Washington, from Washington to the states, or some of each? Who are the people who run for state elective office, and what motivates them to run and to serve? What role do money, media, and citizen activism play in influencing state laws and policies, and does this differ from state to state? The class will include both lectures and class discussions. (US)
Anticipated Terms Offered: Bi-annually
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PSCI 173 - Latin-American Politics
As an introduction to the study of Latin-American politics, this course demands no prerequisites except a basic curiosity about the region and a desire to learn about its development over the past century. In an effort to understand contemporary politics in the region, we consider alternative theoretical explanations for patterns of development as well as analyze the historical role played by influential political actors, including the Church, the military, economic elites, workers and peasants. Some of the fundamental questions we will be asking include: What is the relationship between a country’s social and economic conditions and its political system? Why have so many Latin-American nations alternated between democratic and authoritarian regimes? What is the relationship between Latin America and the so-called “First World,” particularly the United States? In attempts to answer these questions, the course will examine the political systems of countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Guatemala. (CP)
Course Designation/Attribute: GP, DI
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every year
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PSCI 177 - Transitions to Democracy
How can a dictatorship become a democracy? What challenges face countries emerging from repressive rule? Using firsthand accounts, historical analyses and contemporary films, this course explores the role of grassroots movements, elites and the international context in struggles to create and sustain democracy. The focus will be on transitions from totalitarian and authoritarian regimes in Europe and military dictatorships in Latin America.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every other year
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PSCI 179 - Asian Politics
This class is an introduction to the complex history and dynamic politics of Asian countries. The countries of Asia are highly diverse, so this introductory course will necessarily be broad rather than deep, and will focus primarily on the major powers in Asia. The course will focus on the history and politics of selected states, including China, Japan, and South Korea, with a particular emphasis on their political-economic choices and efforts (successful or otherwise) to democratize.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Once a year
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PSCI 180 - International Organizations
International Organizations (IOs) have grown in size, number, and institutional capacity since the end of the Second World War to address various policy matters in the area of economics, trade, taxation, finance, intellectual property rights, environment, human rights, international security, and humanitarian intervention. The increasing complexity of the global political economy has made policy coordination and harmonization through international organizations absolutely necessary because of the absence of a centralized governing authority at the international level. As the demand for IOs have increased, they have also become more controversial and divisive with supporters seeking to strengthen them, while detractors are attempting to modulate their influence. This course will explore the complex roles international organizations play in navigating international politics and mediating transnational policy issues by concentrating on a select set of international organizations that are central to the day-to-day functioning of the global political economy.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered periodically
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PSCI 208 - Comparative Politics of Women
Explores the roles, priorities, strategies and theories of women in the politics of industrialized and developing countries. Causes for changes or lack of genuine changes in women’s political influence are investigated to shed new light on those countries’ political systems. Discusses the politics of democratization, sexuality, labor and cross-race alliances. One or more previous courses in government or in women’s studies is strongly advised.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every other year
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PSCI 209 - Minority Political Behavior
This is a course for students interested in how minority group identity influences political behavior. While this course could be taught through the black/white binary, we will explore minority group identity broadly, covering race, ethnicity, immigrant status, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. This course is meant to examine the history and contemporary role of minority groups in the U.S. political system. We will focus on political relationships between several minority groups and their relationship to political participation, party affiliation, voting coalitions, and public opinion, in addition to other groups. Throughout American history, the United States passed laws to restrict the rights of racial and ethnic minorities to purposely keep them outside the political system. In recent years, there has been a growing trend by political parties and politicians to court minority voters and promote diversity. During this semester, we will take up this debate and explore the current state of racial and ethnic politics in the U.S. (US)
Anticipated Terms Offered: Bi-annually
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PSCI 214 - Mass Murder and Genocide Under Communism
Is communism inherently genocidal? Do communism and mass murder necessarily go hand in hand? This course explores the origins, motivations and consequences of the brutal and deadly policies adopted in three very different communist regimes (the Soviet Union, China and Cambodia). We will also consider potential ways to avert mass killing and genocide.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every year
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PSCI 216 - Comparative Environmental Politics
Over the course of the past several decades environmental degradation and sustainability have assumed major significance as public-policy issues, both within nations and internationally. However, given the transnational nature of many environmental problems, addressing such problems has proven to be particularly complex and difficult. This course examines the complex nature of environmental policy from both an international and comparative perspective. We will examine the specific challenges that the international nature of environmental problems poses for policy makers. We will also compare different national experiences and strategies for addressing environmental issues with an eye toward identifying the factors, which impede or facilitate success in promoting effective environmental policy.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered every other year
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PSCI 218 - Punishment and Crime
This class examines theories that seek to justify criminal punishment and then analyzes those theories in a series of case studies. We will explore retributive theory (punishment because it is “deserved”), utilitarian theory (punishment because of the consequences that it will produce), and expressive theory (punishment that expresses social values). Thereafter we will take up a number of specific case studies: homicide, conspiracy, attempt, the law of self-defense, hate crimes, and the death penalty. Our goal throughout the course will be to consider the ways in which criminal law enforcement allows us to better understand our society and its values.
Prerequisites: first year with permission only.
Anticipated Terms Offered: Every other year
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PSCI 226 - International Political Economy
Focuses on political determinants of international trade and finance, and to a lesser extent, it is also about the economic determinants of international politics. In this course, we will learn how the international economic system has evolved and examine how we arrived at this pivotal juncture called the “global political economy.” We will study how the international political mechanism and historical forces led to the acceptance of certain economic models, theories and ideas. Particularly, the focus will be on actual international economic processes, their inner workings and interlinkages. We will analyze how domestic political alignments influence a country’s trade and tariff policies. Why do some countries make decisions that seem to defy conventional economic logic? Why do some countries choose to trade more and why do some countries choose to restrict international trade? More importantly, in this course we will try and unravel the mysteries behind the “international market system.” How does it work? And what are its benefits and consequences?
Anticipated Terms Offered: Offered periodically
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PSCI 229 - Arab-Israeli Conflict
This course (formerly PSCI 176) will introduce students to the domestic and regional dynamics of the Arab-Israeli conflict. We will explore the origins of the conflict, including the narratives embraced by all of the parties involved, as well as its consequences for the state and non-state actors who are parties to the conflict. We will also conduct model peace negotiations and discuss the possibilities for resolution of the conflict in the future.
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PSCI 242 - Special Topics in Comparative Politics
This course addresses current or timely topics. Special Topics can vary from semester to semester; the course focus changes with each offering, depending on the faculty interest.
Anticipated Terms Offered: PERIODICALLY
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PSCI 248 - Special Topics in International Relations
This course addresses current or timely topics. Special Topics can vary from semester to semester; the course focus changes with each offering, depending on the faculty interest.
May be repeatable for credit.
SPRING 2020 TOPIC: TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE - This course will deal with the problems and challenges faced by any country that attempts to establish accountability for past abuses of human rights in the aftermath of conflict or internal upheaval. The initial classes will offer a history of international accountability since the groundbreaking Nuremberg trials following the Holocaust and then examine the various philosophical and moral issues associated with this subject. Subsequent classes will analyze the pros and cons of all of the major strategies and mechanisms available for the pursuit of post conflict justice including the international ad hoc criminal tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia (the ICTR and the ICTY), the International Criminal Court (the ICC), and the” hybrid” tribunals in Sierra Leone and East Timor. The course will also examine the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions that have been employed in a range of cases, including South Africa, Guatemala, and East Timor (now Timor Leste) as well as the various informal transitional justice indigenous mechanisms that have been tried in various countries including Uganda and Rwanda. The final classes of the semester will be devoted to the challenges associated with the reconstruction of the domestic justice system in post conflict countries and will consider non-criminal sanctions and deterrents such as lustration (vetting) and reparations.
Anticipated Terms Offered: PERIODICALLY
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