Department of Political Science

POLS 506: Qualitative Methods

Doner, W 9:00-12:00, MAX: 12

Content: Good social science research requires diverse methodological tools and shared standards. This course explores the diverse set of tools categorized as “qualitative.” Using a small number of cases or observations, these tools include various approaches to single cases, traditional cross-case comparisons, within-case process analysis, as well as more specific data-gathering strategies such as interviewing and historical records. We shall examine these tools with an eye to their particular and potential contribution to concept development and measurement, theory development, and theory evaluation. Overall, our concern is with establishing clear, high standards for qualitative research. Although most of the readings will be directly methodological, readings will also include several examples of qualitative scholarship, whether undertaken by itself or in conjunction with other methodologies.

Particulars: Students will write short papers on the weekly assignments and a longer paper proposing a qualitative research design in an area of the student's choosing.

POLS 509: The Linear Model

Reinhardt, TT 1:00-2:15, MAX: 12

Content: This course provides a thorough foundation for understanding and using regression analysis for empirical research in political science. After a basic primer on rudimentary calculus and matrix algebra, and a discussion of the properties of statistical estimators, the course builds the ordinary regression model and estimators from the ground up. It covers model assumptions and techniques for detecting and addressing violations of those assumptions, plus topics such as model specification, interactions and functional forms, measurement error, and endogeneity. The emphasis throughout is on applied techniques common in current political science research.

POLS 513: Introduction to Game Theory

Carrubba, M 1:00-4:00, MAX: 12

Content : Introduction to game theory. The focus of the class will be on the basic tools and solution concepts of game theory. We will also consider the usefulness of formal theory and its appropriate/inappropriate application.

Texts: James Morrow, Game Theory; David Kreps, A Course in Microeconomic Theory

Particulars: Exams--Midterm and final exams; Grading--Midterm exam-30%; Final exam-30%; Problem sets-40%.

POLS 514: Advanced Game Theory

Carrubba, Tu 9:00-12:00, MAX: 12

Content: This course is the second in the formal theory sequence offered in the political science department. The class builds on the skills learned in the Introduction to Game Theory class by applying the solution concepts learned in the introductory course to more complicated games. We will focus particularly on learning techniques to solve iterated games and games with incomplete information including Principal-Agent, signaling, cheap talk, and bargaining models.

Particulars: Each student will be responsible for completing a problem set each week that reinforces the techniques learned in class. There will also be a midterm and a final exam.

POLS 526: Comparative Political Economy

Hallerberg, W 1:00-4:00, MAX: 12

Content: This course focuses on the relationship between the market and the state. It considers, among others, the following topics: market effects and market failures, principal-agent frameworks, representation, and the government’s effect on economic growth, economic policy, and insurance. It pays particular attention to the role political institutions play in structuring market-state relationships. The focus is on advanced industrialized democracies, although other settings will be discussed where appropriate.

Texts: Adam Przeworski, States and Markets: A Primer in Political Economy; other articles as assigned.

Particulars: Grading based on class participation; preparation of questions and presentation of readings; three critical essays; and one final essay.

POLS 540: American National Government

Abramowitz, F 1:00-4:00, MAX: 12

Content: General survey of "classic" and recent research on American politics. Topics will include U.S. political culture, public opinion, political parties and elections, interest groups, Congress, and executive branch politics. Various theoretical perspectives on American politics will be considered, including pluralism and its critics and rational choice theory.

Particulars: Students will present a literature review paper and lead a class discussion on one of the major topics for the course during the second half of the semester.

POLS 553: Judicial Process

Giles, M 9:00-12:00, MAX: 12

Content: The class will focus on courts as political institutions. The topics covered will include the role of courts as policy-makers, inter-institutional relations (e.g. courts and Congress), courts and the public and the selection of judges. The focus will be on the U.S. Supreme Court but also on lower federal and state courts.

Particulars: An original research paper will be required.

POLS 572: Modeling Social Phenomenon

Brown, TT 1:00-2:15, MAX: 4

Content: This seminar is ideal for assisting graduate students develop unique and nontrivial theories of politics and society together with mathematical model specifications that exactly match those theories. Helping students develop theories and specifications useful for dissertation research is a key component of the course. The subject is taught with an extremely user-friendly approach, and students should have little or no trouble mastering the course content. High school algebra is all that is required to begin. Substantively, the course focuses on a system's view of modeling, and students will learn a great many practical tools that help to bridge the divide between a verbally-stated theory and its mathematical representation. Check out the syllabus and other course materials at www.courtneybrown.com. [Click on "Student Area (Emory)" in the navigation menu.]

Particulars: Written assignments; class presentations (students develop and present their own theories).

POLS 585: Variable Topics Seminar

Topic title: Congressional Politics

Strahan, F 9:00-12:00, MAX: 12

Content: This seminar will examine the leading theoretical and empirical work on the politics of the U.S. Congress, and on relations between Congress and the executive and judicial branches.

POLS 585: Variable Topics Seminar

Topic title: Politics of Race and Gender

[Same as WS 585]

Reingold, W 1:00-4:00, MAX: 8

Content: Gender and race interact and intersect in complex and confounding ways, yet they have a persistently powerful influence upon politics and society. This seminar will introduce students to major theoretical perspectives, debates, controversies, and research findings in the study of gender, race, and politics in the United States, and to a lesser degree, in the international context.
Readings and class discussion will concentrate on four general themes:

The role of gender and race, sexism and racism, in defining and shaping politics, political culture, and political science
The various ways in which women and persons of color, as political actors, observers, and scholars, have challenged and redefined "politics as usual"
The questions of whether and how women and groups of color constitute political (interest) groups
The relationships between gender, race, class, ethnicity, and religious and national identities
Thus, we will study gender and race both as political constructs or ideologies and as systems of political (economic and social) stratification. In addition, we will examine how these aspects of gender and race affect the political behavior and experiences of women and persons of color as citizens, workers, voters, political activists, community leaders, political candidates, and public officials. Our examination of the subject will necessarily take an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating the disciplines of political science, women’s studies, African American studies, history, sociology, social psychology, etc., into our overall understanding of gender and race and their critical influence upon politics.

Particulars: Grades will be based on the following:
(1) Critical discussion paper (5-10 pp.)
(2) Bibliographic essay (15-20 pp.)
(3) Research proposal (25-30 pp.)
(4) Class participation

POLS 585: Variable Topics Seminar

Topic title: Comparative Health Care Systems

[Same as HPM 570]

Saltman, W 9:00-11:50, MAX: 6

Content: Explores and analyzes the current reform process in European and North American health systems. Emphasizes normative policy as well as financial objectives, and the conflicting interests of key actors. Concludes with a consideration of implications for health system reform in the United States.

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The Department of Political Science, 327 Tarbutton Hall, 1555 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, 404-727-6572 phone, 404-727-4586 fax
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