American Public Policy focuses on the outcomes or products of political institutions and political controversy. The course first addresses the dynamics of policy formations and stalemate, the identification of policy goals, success and failure in implementation, and techniques of policy analysis. Class readings then turn to several case studies to examine the dynamics at work. Students are encouraged to apply public policy concepts in the study of a specific policy area of their choosing, such as foreign, social, urban, energy or environmental policy, for a final paper.

The course has been designated as a writing intensive (WI) course. This means that students are required to complete several writing assignments over the course of the semester, and that writing assignments make up a significant portion of their final grade.

There is no specific preparation for this course, but a basic understanding of American political institutions is assumed.

Class meets twice a week, for 1h50m each session, for seven weeks.

Student understanding of the course material will be evaluated through completed in-class activities, research assignments, and a midterm exam. At the end of the term students should be able to: hold an informed discussion on American policymaking (our institutions, processes, and salient issue areas); understand the basic concepts and theories of public policy studies; and identify public policy problems and potential policy solutions. Students will apply this knowledge by producing academic research on an American public policy topic, in the form of a final policy analysis paper.

• Kraft, Michael and Scott Furlong. 2013. Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives. 4th edition. Los Angeles: CQ Press. The textbook is identified as “PP” in the calendar.

Additional required and suggested readings will be posted to myWPI. Students should regularly access a news source (print, online, or television) to keep up-to-date with current affairs related to national concerns.

GOV 1320 is a survey course designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of international relations: power and influence, nations and states, sovereignty and law. These concepts are explored through the study of issues such as diplomacy and its uses, theories of collective security and conflict, and international order and development. The study of international organizations will also supplement the students’ understanding of the basic concepts. The class meetings alternate between two different types of sessions. Most sessions consist of seminars on the basic concepts of and theoretical approaches to international relations. During these meetings, students take short reading quizzes, participate in discussion about the assigned readings and current events, and complete in-class writing assignments. Over the course of the term, six sessions are dedicated to “International Relations in Action: A World Politics Simulation,” which students play in teams. The simulation gives the students the opportunity to apply the concepts and theories from the seminar-style sessions.

Class meets twice a week, for 1h50m each session, for seven weeks.

Student understanding of the course material is evaluated through reading quizzes, low-stakes writing assignments, a theory paper, individual reports on the IR simulation, group reports, and a final group presentation. At the end of the term students should be able to: hold an informed discussion on current international issues, understand the basic theories and concepts of the study of IR, and be able to apply those concepts and theories to international actions.

• Goldstein and Pevehouse. International Relations. 2013-2014 Update. 10th Edition. Boston: Pearson, 2014. (Readings from textbook will be noted as “G&P” on the reading schedule).
• Tessman, Brock. International Relations in Action: A World Politics Simulation. Boulder: Rienner Publishers, 2007. (Readings from textbook will be noted as “Tessman” on the reading schedule).

Students should regularly access a news source (print, online, or television) to keep up-to-date with current affairs related to international affairs. Additional readings on current events are posted to the course website during the term.

The study of environmental problems and their solutions requires an interdisciplinary approach. This course will examine current environmental issues from the intersection of several key disciplines including: environmental philosophy and history, environmental policy, and science. The course will develop these different approaches for analyzing environmental problems, explore the tensions between them, and present a framework for integrating them. Topics such as environmental justice, developing nations, globalization, and climate change policy will be explored.

Class meets twice a week, for 1h50m each session, for seven weeks.

Student understanding of the course material will be evaluated through completed reading responses, research assignments, and final paper. At the end of the semester students should be able to: hold an informed discussion on current environmental issues, understand the history of environmental movements, and produce academic research on an environmental issues topic.

• Charles L. Harper, Environment and Society: Human Perspectives on Environmental Issues, 5th Edition. Boston: Pearson, 2012. (Readings from textbook will be noted as “Harper”).

Additional required and suggested readings will be posted to myWPI. Students should regularly access a news source (print, online, or television) to keep up-to-date with current affairs related to environmental issues. Suggested sources: The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, The Washington Post, or the BBC. Students who have subscriptions to any news source are encouraged to set up email notifications when environment-related key words appear in-text.

Food is more than just what is on your plate at meal time. It can be framed in many ways, including as a cultural, ethical, or political issue. In this class, we explore the regulatory systems for food, with a particular focus on the United States and the European Union and their role in the international arena. The course will be split into five sections for advanced analysis: understanding food as a policy issue; technology in food production; food safety regulation; agriculture and sustainability; and food and foreign policy. Through readings, lectures, class activities, and research, students will learn the historical basis for current food issues, apply comparative theories and concepts to the American and European case studies, and develop analytic and research skills to engage effectively with the debates in contemporary scholarship on food production, regulation, and security issues. Recommended background: GOV1303 or GOV1320.

Class meets twice a week, for 1h50m each session, for seven weeks.

Student understanding of the course material will be evaluated through completed reading responses, research assignments, and a final exam. At the end of the semester, students should be able to: hold an informed discussion on current issues in food politics, research these topics, and write field reports that meet a high academic standard.

• Marianne Elisabeth Lien & Brigitte Nerlich (eds). The Politics of Food. Berg: 2006.

Additional required and suggested readings will be posted to Blackboard. Students should regularly access a news source (print, online, or television) to keep up-to-date with current affairs related to food issues. Suggested sources: The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, The Washington Post, or the BBC. Students who have subscriptions to any news source are encouraged to set up email notifications when food-related key words appear in-text.