Department Announcements
New 2012-2013 Course Descriptions
POLSC 2211 Campaign Strategies and Electoral Politics
How and why do certain candidates win elections while others are failures? Is it superior ability or clever campaign strategy? Ultimately, the question is whether or not we the people vote for the candidate or the campaign. This course attempts to answer these questions by exploring the American electoral system on the national, state, and local levels. We will assess effective campaign techniques, the role of political parties, and the increasing influence of interest groups in U.S. political campaigns to determine what factors affect a successful campaign strategy.
POLSC 22XX Political Parties and Interest Groups
While a great deal of attention is paid to the institutions of Congress, Presidency, and Judiciary in the American political arena, political parties and interest groups arguably have as much if not more influence in our society. Questions arise on the relative influence of parties and interest groups in U.S. political institutions and society. This course will explore the relevance and strength of parties in government and the electorate, as well as the role of interest groups in the process.
POLSC2421 Model United Nations
The Model United Nations (MUN) course aims to increase the student's knowledge of international issues, policy making and the activities of the United Nations. You will also gain valuable skills in public speaking, research and writing, negotiation and powers of persuasion, leadership, organization, and interpersonal communication. Students will gain these skills through course assignments, and, most importantly, by playing the role of United Nations delegates at MUN and Crisis conferences during the Fall semester. You will have the opportunity to represent EC as a delegate at Model UN and Crisis conferences locally as part of the course.
Students are responsible for attending classes, completing several assignments in preparation for attending and participating in two Boston area MUN conference at Boston University and the Harvard National Model United Nations conference in February, following the end of the semester.
POLSC3405 Strategies of War and Peace
This course emphasizes conflict resolution. It begins with the study of various methods of war and then moves to the analysis of the evolving methods of negotiation and reconciliation. The class will culminate with a month-long negotiation simulation working to resolve a contemporary conflict situation.
