POLI2301 · Political Science

Policy and Politics in the U.S.

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

This course is designed to acquaint students with the major features of American policymaking at the national level by engaging in primary research and extensive memo-writing on selected policy issues. Each student will be expected to become familiar with at least three policy areas, understanding existing government policies and underlying tradeoffs and paradoxes; proposing intellectually defensible and politically feasible reforms; and suggesting political strategies for enacting these reforms. Possible topics include social security, environmental regulations, federal aid and mandates for education, affirmative action, welfare, and the use of public lands.