Descriptions for recent courses. Syllabi available upon request.

Political Inquiry (undergraduate research methods) — This course introduces students to the scientific method as used by social scientists. Student practice skills such as quantitative reasoning, clear and concise writing, and applied statistical analysis in R. This course helps students become better consumers of data, information, and research.

Money, Media, and Politics — This course focuses on the implications of the current media and campaign finance landscape for the functioning of American government, including its impact on public policy. Students practice skills transferable to the workplace, such as creative thinking, writing clearly and concisely, and time management.

Improving Democracy: How to Fix Government by the People — This course encourages students to think critically and creatively about our political institutions in order to improve American democracy. Students will identify problems, evaluate solutions, and adopt a plan to reform government.

Graduate Seminar in American Politics — This course introduces students to the scientific study of American politics. Through discussion with one another, students learn about the field of American politics in a collaborative and constructive environment.

Class, Inequality, and Democracy  — This course explores the trend of increasingly unequal division of resources in society, and its consequences for American democracy. Students learn through data and narrative, exploring statistical estimates related to inequality and public policy and reading about people’s experiences with poverty and inequality.

Interest Groups and Lobbying  — This course introduces students to interest groups and their lobbying and grassroots activities, with special focus on group access and influence in the policy process. Students complete tasks designed to develop skills for the workplace, such as clear and concise writing and regularly interacting with others in constructive and creative manner.

Introduction to American Government  — This is an introductory course on the U.S. Constitution, American political institutions, and political behavior. Students should leave this course with a better understanding of how democracy works and greater confidence in their ability to participate in it.

I have also taught (as co-instructor or TA) the following courses: State and Local Government, Nonprofits and Advocacy, The American Worker, and Survey Research Methods.

Course flyers