Political Science 2009-2010
Overview
The goal of the Political Science Department is to help build within students the knowledge, skills, and desire to be lifelong public and global citizens. Students are challenged to think critically about their beliefs and understandings of the world around them, while developing the language, analytical and writing skills necessary for them to present these ideas effectively to others. Beyond the classroom we hope to provide students with the inspiration and opportunities to engage with politics in its multiple forms and locations.
Classroom Experience
The Political Science Department emphasizes small classroom learning situations. Aside from the introductory courses, no class will have more than 30 students. In all of our courses, students come to know different members of the faculty personally and become familiar with different approaches to the study of politics.
Throughout our curriculum we promote active learning where students are expected to engage in the intellectual enterprise of discussing ideas with their peers and professors.
To further facilitate classroom engagement several faculty utilize intricate simulations of the United Nations, U.S. Congress, and Presidential Elections.
In choosing a course of study, students select among a wide variety of classes focusing on U.S. politics, international affairs, comparative politics, and political philosophy. All courses emphasize the development of analytic thinking and writing skills; and at all levels students are expected to think critically about course material.
Political science majors must complete 12 courses, including at least two introductory-level courses, research-intensive courses, and the Senior Project.
Learning Outside of the Classroom
The Political Science Department believes strongly in the value of political experience, political engagement, and field learning to complement classroom learning.
In recent years, students have taken part in a number of political action projects, conducting research that has led to reports that have become influential in community politics. More specifically, students have worked on an evaluation of the Schenectady County Drug Court, written a Juvenile Justice reform proposal, and carried out research for several community organizations. The work of students is influencing the political process.
The department also runs internship programs in Washington, D.C. as well as with state and local government agencies. Examples of internship placements for the latter include the New York State Legislature, the Schenectady County district attorney, social services agencies, advocacy groups, and non-profit organizations. More than 30 students enroll in these programs each year.
Foreign Experience
In the increasingly interconnected world it is essential for students to develop skills and have experiences that will make them familiar with the global community.
Accordingly, majors are required to either study a foreign language or participate in one of Union’s Term Abroad programs throughout the world, where courses or projects are often available concerning political questions. Faculty members sometimes serve as resident directors of these programs.
The Senior Project
The capstone of the political science major is the senior project, a two-term endeavor in which students are expected to conduct original research. Students pick their own topic and are closely supervised by a faculty member who is a specialist in that sub-field. Students employ a range of methods in conducting research for the senior project. Some students, for instance, travel outside the U.S. to gather information, others analyze large data sets, while others meticulously comb original texts. Students are also encouraged to consider less traditional projects. Over the years, some students have written plays or novels, made documentary films, designed political websites, and formed political interest groups. Many graduates look back on their senior project as their most important undergraduate accomplishment.
College funding is available to support research costs, and some projects have been subsequently published jointly by the students and their advisors. Many political science majors are selected to present their senior research publicly, on campus, at the Steinmetz Symposium in May. Others do so off campus at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and/or at professional conferences together with their advisor.
The Students
We are looking for curious and energetic students who are passionate about politics.
Political Science students regularly win campus-wide and national honors. For example, in the last several years they have won such prestigious national awards as Watson fellowships, CORO fellowships, Kathryn Wasserman Davis Projects for Peace grants, and a Truman scholarship.
Many of the department’s students continue their education after graduation, with some attending law school and others to M.B.A. and Ph.D. programs. Our most distinguished students are admitted to top law schools (e.g. Columbia, Harvard, NYU) and top graduate schools in political science (e.g. Michigan, Stanford). Several graduates take jobs in Washington or in Albany, while others go on to the Peace Corps, Teach for America, and the Foreign Service.
But many go on to careers that have nothing to do with politics - Hollywood writers and producers, health care administrators, real estate developers, and poets.
The Faculty
Department members represent a wide variety of areas and approaches within the discipline. In addition to their strong commitment to teaching undergraduates, all are respected scholars and are widely published in their fields. The faculty members, their graduate schools and major areas of interest are listed below:
Michele Angrist
Associate Professor of Political Science
Ph.D., Princeton University
Middle East politics, international relations, democratization
Clifford Brown
Professor of Political Science
Ph.D., Harvard University
American political thought, U.S. presidency, international strategic affairs
Bradley Hays
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Ph.D., University of Maryland
U.S. politics, law and courts, constitutional and political development
Robert Hislope
Associate Professor of Political Science
Ph.D., Ohio State University
Comparative politics, ethnic and racial conflict
Thomas Lobe
Lecturer/DC Program Director
Ph.D., University of Michigan
International relations, CIA, politics and film
Lori Jo Marso
Professor of Political Science
Director of Women’s Studies
Ph.D., New York University
Political theory and philosophy, feminist theory
Zoe Oxley
Associate Professor of Political Science
Ph.D., Ohio State University
U.S. elections and voting behavior, political psychology and public opinion, media and politics
Matthew Scherer
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Modern, contemporary and American political philosophy, religion and politics
Guillermina Seri
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Ph.D., University of Florida
Latin American politics, political theory, policing, human rights
Terry S. Weiner
Professor of Political Science
Ph.D., University of North Carolina
Political sociology, health politics and policy, mass movements in American politics
Faculty have been asked in the past to provide expert commentary to government officials and the media. Nevertheless, they are all at Union because they care deeply about teaching undergraduates and working individually with students to foster their academic and personal growth.