Political Science

Taught by Prof. Kevin Pham: One of every 100 people on the planet has been displaced from their home due to war, violence, persecution, or human rights violations. This course examines the global issue of refugees through the lens of political theory and political science. Students engage diverse refugee narratives, and critically examine scholarly and popular discourses that grapple with questions such as: Who is a refugee? What are the causes and consequences of refugees? How should states respond to refugees?

Taught by Prof. Yasemin Akbaba: This course explores key theories, debates, events and issues in international politics through film and literature. It aims to provide students with an opportunity to unveil aspects of human condition in various political contexts though experiences of fictional characters. The course has two parts. In the first part, we use the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) to study theories of International Relations (IR). In the second part, we explore three IR topics-interstate and civil wars, the Cold War rivalry, and human security- though films.

Taught by Prof. Scott Boddery: This course offers a deep exploration of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment jurisprudence. Throughout the semester, students examine law enforcement liability, responsibility, and authority, as well as the constraints and requirements to surveillance, traffic stops, arrests, and searches and seizures. Upon successfully completing this course of study, students will have a comprehensive understanding of the role the U.S. Supreme Court plays in shaping police procedure in local municipalities nationwide, as well as the system’s inherent structural inequities and areas of possible policy change.