The Four Subfields of Political Science @ UVM
At UVM, the Department of Political Science is divided into four subfields: American Politics Systems, International Relations, Political Theory, and Comparative Politics.
American politics systems
American Politics Systems (course numbers POLS 21-39) focuses solely on the political system and governance in the United States. Classes will focus on the system as a whole as well as examine in more detail the particular institutions of the American political system.
Introductory Course (021)
POLS 021 examines the institutions, processes, and problems of American government. This course is most often taught in lecture format and writing assignments are typically brief and analytical. Arguments in this subfield require strong historical and statistical evidence. The use of specific historical examples and trends is crucial to writing in the discipline.
Much of the writing that a student in POLS 021 should expect to do is exam-based. Subsequently, writers should be as concise and direct as possible. Students can prepare for in-class essays by preparing mock theses and outlines prior to the exam. Take–home essays should similarly concise and direct, but are expected to provide a deeper analysis of the material.
International relations
International Relations (course numbers POLS 51-59) examines the interactions between countries, past and present. Topics range from international political grievances to interstate commerce to international security concerns. Studies in International Relations focus generally on war or conflict, international economics and globalization, and/or human rights. There are clear differences between the writing expected in the Introductory IR course (051) and Advanced IR courses (100 & 200 level).
Introductory Course (051)
The introductory course often requires a term paper(s)as well as in-class essays. In these papers, professors look for a summary and a degree of brief analysis of theories learned in class. The writing is not as demanding as that for advanced courses in terms of originality.
An introductory term paper will often ask the student to layer or contrast theories. The most popular prompt is to ask students to apply a theory to an era, such as the “post-Cold War era,” which requires a layering of history into the paper.
Some commonly discussed theories include:
- Realism – holds that mankind is inherently self-centered and competitive. Realist theory focuses on state security and seeks comparative gains in state relations
- Liberalism – political doctrine that takes protecting and enhancing the freedom of the individual to be the central problem of politics. Liberalism focuses on the use of institutions to promote cooperation between states
- Constructivism – focuses on influence of ideas, beliefs, and identity (individual or collective) on policies and politics
- Democratic Peace Theory – holds that democracies, for some appropriate definition of democracy, rarely, or even never, go to war with one another.
- Domestic Politics – holds that intranational workings impact how states act and implement policy at the international scale.
Political Theory
Political Theory (course numbers POLS 61-79) is distinct from the other three sub-fields because it examines how states should be instead of how they actually are. Political theory focuses on the purposes of government and the philosophy and theories behind governmental policies. It discusses the difference between how states should be and how the currently are. There is emphasis on the nature of justice and which types of government can best achieve it.
Introductory Course (041)
Introduction to Political Theory often has several smaller papers and occasionally a term paper at the end of the course. In these papers, the idea is to synthesize lectures with the course readings and add some analysis. Political theory papers tend to have more room for originality and personal input, because they are based in philosophy and therefore more open to interpretation. However, in the lower level course of POLS 041, instructors tend to stress comprehension of material over originality.
Political theory is also referred to “political philosophy.” Due to their content, papers in political theory are often structured like philosophy papers.
Comparative politics
Comparative Politics (course numbers POLS 71-79) concerns itself with the domestic policies of a country and compares them to various other systems of rule. It considers each country as a case study in the larger context of a specific regime type.
Introductory Course (071)
POLS 071 is an introduction to the type of thinking that students will do in the field of comparative politics. This is achieved through the examination of different political systems and also through the development of skills that will help students analyze the nature of those differences and their implications.
The course is primarily taught in a lecture format, with the students’ grades being based most heavily on exams and essays (with a few reading quizzes throughout), as well as a project in which the student will select a country and examine analyses of different aspects of that country’s governance and human rights practices.
Overall, the course asks students to research and think critically about how differences in countries’ styles of governance originate and contribute to modern differences in policy and practice.