| Course |
Descriptions |
| US Congress |
This course will focus on three main areas: the intellectual origins of the design of the government based upon a complex system of checks and balances; how has Congress changed over nearly two and a half centuries of its existence and how it is organized and how does it operate contemporarily; what are the structural and underlying features of the American political system that complicate effective governance and what innovations might mitigate these obstructions or inequities; is it possible to do so and maintain the federal system envisioned by the Founders or is a new model of government required in the 21st century? If so, how is that goal to be achieved without fragmenting the country even further? |
| US Presidency |
Many Americans can name several presidents and hold opinions on “good” versus “bad” presidents. But what do presidents actually do? What resources and limitations shape their ability to act, and how do we measure their performance? This course places the modern presidency in historical and theoretical context, examining how different frameworks explain presidential action or inaction. With a divided Congress and intense polarization, we will also consider what to expect in the final months of the Biden/Harris administration. Ultimately, this course explores executive power in democratic government—its potential, its limits, and the ways we analyze presidential leadership from just down the street at the UC Washington Center. |
| US Supreme Court |
Abortion. Immigration. LGBT rights. Healthcare. Cell phone privacy. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on all of these issues in recent years, shaping the lives of all Americans. This course explores the Court’s role in the U.S. legal system, including how cases reach the Court, the justices and advocates, the purpose of oral arguments, the symbolism of the building, and media coverage. Students will attend live oral arguments and analyze pending cases, writing papers that assess why the Court took each case and how the justices might rule. The class is ideal for students interested in law, public service, or understanding the legal dimensions of today’s most pressing policy debates. |
| Immigration Law & Policy |
This course examines the history of immigration law and policy in the U.S., including the changing historical, political, and cultural conditions shaping immigration law and policy over time. We explore the history of the immigrant rights movement and immigrant community organizing, and we learn about the diversity of immigrant communities in the Washington D.C. area. Students develop their capacities for civic engagement by writing letters to elected officials about immigration law and policy and developing policy proposals of their own. |
| International Development |
This course introduces students to the field of international development, focusing on key questions, challenges, and achievements. Through readings, documentaries, and current event discussions, students will explore dominant approaches to poverty alleviation, the roles of national and international development actors, and the post-2015 Development Goals, including the empowerment of women and youth. The course emphasizes theoretical foundations while encouraging students to connect these ideas to their internships, expert interactions, and policy engagement in Washington, D.C. Ultimately, students will deepen their understanding of the causes and consequences of development challenges and develop their own perspectives on effective strategies for global change. |
| Economics of Public Policy |
Economic thinking provides an important set of tools for almost every aspect of public policy making. This course aims to offer students a basic understanding of economics and its importance in public policy making. The course will begin by providing a broad-based introduction to economics that offers students an understanding of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory including a discussion of when markets can work to achieve policy goals and when “market failures” call for government intervention. The class will then use these economic tools and theories in order to survey several specific policy areas – including health policy, tax policy, and national debt. |
| Science Policy |
Students in political science, history, economics, and STEM fields are often well trained in their disciplines but may lack a broader understanding of how science intersects with society and public policy. This course introduces the field of science policy, exploring the role of science in the federal government. Topics include the history of science policy, major federal agencies (e.g., NSF, NIH, NASA, EPA), key policy institutions (e.g., OSTP, House Science Committee), and the role of science in regulation and rulemaking. The course also examines the politicization of science, its treatment in political campaigns, and the influence of non-governmental organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and professional scientific societies. |
| Race & Politics |
The study of race and politics is often shaped by assumptions and anecdotal evidence. This course examines how scholars, organizers, and activists approach the study of race through social scientific inquiry, engaging questions of power, domination, and identity as central to understanding American politics. Designed for students with little to no methodological background, the course introduces ways to interpret data and theoretical arguments without losing sight of substance. Readings span multiple methods and perspectives, allowing students to critically engage with both the empirical and conceptual dimensions of race and identity in political life. Ultimately, the course invites deeper reflection on how identity politics shape our political understanding. |
| Law & Society |
This course examines the role of federal law in advancing civil rights in the United States. It begins with a historical overview of how civil rights have been shaped through federal jurisprudence and congressional legislation. Students will study major civil rights cases, federal statutes, and Constitutional amendments, applying them to both historical and hypothetical scenarios. The course explores how the Supreme Court’s interpretation of civil rights law has evolved over time and considers the broader societal and institutional forces influencing those shifts. Students will also examine the efforts of attorneys, judges, and activists who have worked—through the courts and beyond—to expand, protect, and sometimes challenge the boundaries of civil rights under federal law. |
| Urban Politics |
This course explores the cultural history of Washington, D.C., focusing on how intersecting identities and creative expression shape life in the nation’s capital. Students examine how culture is produced, preserved, contested, and politicized in an urban environment. How does culture respond to displacement, inequality, or redevelopment? Can culture be commodified—or mobilized as a political force? From the everyday experiences of residents to debates over the “creative class,” students consider how culture is tied to power, space, and survival. Through this lens, the course offers insight into how cultural narratives inform struggles over identity, belonging, and the future of cities like Washington, D.C. |
| Social Movements |
How does social and political change happen in Washington, D.C.? This course examines how grassroots movements and underrepresented groups challenge entrenched power and influence national policy. Students will explore the history of social movements in the capital, analyze advocacy strategies—such as protests, petitions, lobbying, and agenda-setting—and assess when and why they succeed or fail. Through readings, debates, guest speakers, and direct observation of advocacy in action, students will evaluate how social movements shape political outcomes. The course emphasizes real-world applications by connecting theory to practice and equipping students to identify advocacy actors, assess the effectiveness of different strategies, and communicate insights through writing and presentation. |
| Latino Communities in DC |
This course examines the history, contributions, and evolving presence of Latin American communities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Focusing on why Central American heritage is particularly prominent in this region, students will explore how these communities have shaped—and been shaped by—local politics, culture, and the economy. The course situates D.C.-area experiences within broader national and international frameworks, engaging questions of migration, identity, and policy. Through readings across disciplines, film, media analysis, guest speakers, and city-based excursions, students will gain a multidimensional understanding of Latin American life in the capital. Emphasis will be placed on both historical foundations and current debates influencing these communities today. |
| Musuems & Politics |
This course is an introduction to both Museum Studies and its politics: practical, historical, and theoretical. To take full advantage of our location in Washington D.C., we will focus specifically on the organizational hierarchies and histories of the federal museum system (the Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums) and national funding agencies (NEA and NEH) as well as examine culture as a historical form of “soft power,” that morphed in a strategic campaign to consolidate political power during the Culture Wars of the 1990s, and again more recently, over the last ten years. The content of this course consists of lectures, class and group discussions, readings and one optional field trip. |
| Black English in the Nation's Capital |
In this course, students will learn about the history and development of African American English (AAE), one of the most well-known varieties of English in the U.S.—and one whose speakers often face significant discrimination. What can the language of Black communities in D.C. reveal about broader social issues, both locally and nationally? As gentrification and displacement reshape the city, how are these changes reflected in language? How does AAE vary by class, education, and neighborhood in 2025? Students will participate in a community-based linguistic project, interviewing fellow students, neighbors, and local leaders to explore how AAE has evolved over time and how it is used in D.C. today. |
| News, Media, & Democracy |
Does TikTok threaten democracy? What’s the difference between fake news, propaganda, and journalism? Should the media report what people want to know—or what they ought to know? Does objectivity exist? This seminar examines the extraordinary changes in political communication and journalism and their consequences for American democracy. Washington, D.C.’s nonstop breaking-news environment offers a vivid backdrop for assessing the media’s mission, goals, and biases. We’ll explore the media’s incentive to fuel controversy, how politicians manipulate or mislead the press, and how the digital revolution has transformed how news is consumed. Classes combine lecture, discussion, and exercises, with an emphasis on current developments. Readings include scholarly articles, a book of your choice, and regular engagement with current news. |