Intro to American Politics

This course introduces students to the major features of the American Government: The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; American ideals, especially equality and civil rights; the development of America’s political institutions and how they function; and the interplay between conservative and liberal thought in our nation.  

The American Presidency

In a constitutional democracy as carefully designed as the United States, each institution is created with specific ends in mind. The American Presidency is no different. Fashioned at the Constitutional Convention with a set of specific purposes, the presidency has evolved over the centuries through the alteration of these purposes by important chief executives and political movements. This class offers students a thorough introduction to the study of the American presidency by examining its original purpose and following its history over the subsequent centuries. In doing so, it gives students the knowledge not only to understand how the office of the President has evolved over time but a better idea of the forces that drive institutional development in all aspects of American politics.

Freedom in America

There is perhaps no term so thoroughly associated with the United States as freedom. America has long taken pride in being the “land of the free” and the “leader of the free world.” This course will explore the meaning of freedom in the context of American history, the tension between freedom and equality, American failures to live up to a commitment to freedom, and the ways in which our conceptions of freedom have shaped the development of America’s political institutions.  

Comparative Politics

This course introduces students to the study of comparative politics. First through a serious examination of the methods through which various political regimes and forms of government can be analyzed, followed by in-depth case studies of four starkly different forms of government. 

History of Ancient Greece and Rome

This course covers the history and politics of the Hellenic World from the founding of the Greek City States to the early days of the Roman Empire. More superficially it will focus on religious practices in the ancient world, the rise of ancient democracy, and the rise and fall of the Roman Republic.