POLS 363, Senior Seminar: American Political Institutions

Description:  POLS 363, Senior Research Seminar (4 credits); The Senior Research Seminar provides a process and structure for writing and presenting a senior thesis in an area related to U.S. political institutions. Students work individually and collaboratively to plan and successfully execute extended research projects. The resulting thesis demonstrates the student's abilities to synthesize coursework in the major, to apply skills and knowledge to research on important political questions, to work independently on a major project, and to communicate the analysis and recommendation to appropriate audiences.

Recommended For:

• American Politics and Institutions track of studies in Political Science
• Students planning to do graduate study

POLS 363-01A: Senior Research Seminar: Political Institutions

Instructor:  Claire Haeg

Office:  SJU, Simons 144

Description:  The Research Seminar provides a process and structure for writing and presenting a senior thesis in an area related to U.S. political institutions. Students work individually and collaboratively to plan and successfully execute extended research projects. The resulting thesis demonstrates the student's abilities to synthesize coursework in the major, to apply skills and knowledge to research on important political questions, and to communicate the analysis and recommendation to appropriate audiences.

Core Designations: 

Prerequisites:  Senior class standing

Required for POLS Major:  Yes, you must complete one Senior Research Seminar

Open to Non-Majors:  No

Class Format:  Seminar style discussion of assigned materials, independent readings, research methods, work plans, peer critiques, class presentations, individual conferences, and independently sustained research tasks.

Class Texts and Materials:  TBA

Method of Evaluation:

1. Approximately 1/3 on assignments, class discussion, and collegial responsibility
2. Approximately 1/3 on research process and drafts
3. Approximately 1/3 on the quality of final research project

POLS 363-01A: Senior Research Seminar: Political Institutions

Instructor:  Dr. Kay Wolsborn

Office:  CSB Main 410A

Description:  The Research Seminar provides a process and structure for writing and presenting a senior thesis in an area related to U.S. political institutions. Students work individually and collaboratively to plan and successfully execute extended research projects. The resulting thesis demonstrates the student's abilities to synthesize coursework in the major, to apply skills and knowledge to research on important political questions, and to communicate the analysis and recommendation to appropriate audiences.

Gender is one of the most fundamental influences on human behavior. Public policy is formed and conducted in political institutions that are, compared to U.S. population, disproportionately male. Can gender-skewed governing structures produce public policies that are not themselves gender-skewed? Would gender-neutral public policies and institutions be much different from what we have now? Seminar students will research and write about institutions of U.S. public policy through the lens of gender to understand these and other questions of political significance.

Core Designations:  Writing Flag; Discussion Flag

Prerequisites:  Senior class standing

Required for POLS Major:  Yes, you must complete one Senior Research Seminar

Open to Non-Majors:  No

Class Format:  Seminar style discussion of assigned materials, independent readings, research methods, work plans, peer critiques, class presentations, individual conferences, and independently sustained research tasks.

Class Texts and Materials:  Handbook for thesis writing and samples of gender research in U.S. politics. Other materials will be identified individually as they pertain to student projects.

Method of Evaluation:

1. Approximately 1/3 on assignments, class discussion, and collegial responsibility
2. Approximately 1/3 on research process and drafts
3. Approximately 1/3 on the quality of final research project