Spring 2007 Political Science Schedule

Colleges & Universities University of California - Berkeley
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<p>Being the card-carrying nerd that I am, I’m always on the lookout for next semester’s schedule. I’m the type that likes to prim and preen my schedule to utter perfection…then scrap it and re-do it all over again :D</p>

<p>Anyway, as I was casually strolling through the Political Science Department website, I noticed that they had the course listings for the Spring 2007 semester. OOOOOOOOMMMMMGGGGGGGGGGG!!!</p>

<p>I am literally drooling at the AMAZING course selection…I’ve never seen ANYTHING like it…they have apparently hired a ton of new profs (or they at least seem new to me). They go from having 1-3 lame American Government courses a semester to freaking something like 7 of the best and most interesting courses! They have Congress, The Politician, The American Executive, AND Political Parties ::drools::</p>

<p>Not only that, but for all you newbies out there, the PS 1 course seems very interesting as well…I’m not too familiar with the prof, but any course that has The Godfather as a required reading is fine by me! hahaha</p>

<p>FURTHERMORE, to all you hard-core political science buffs out there- you know what a drag PS 120A International Relations w/Gurowitz can be (hope she doesn’t read this, hehe). BUT LUCKILY, Steven Weber (one of the most amazing profs on campus) is FINAALLLLLLLLLLLY teaching this course again. Ask any upperclassmen who has had Weber for 120A , and they shall enlighten you on the wonder that is Steven Weber. </p>

<p>But I’m not done yet! Spring semester is when Ron Hassner teaches his famed PS 124 WAR! course…wow, how is one to fit all of these courses in one semester? If I were you (which I’m not), I’d sign up for as many of these courses as POSSIBLE! I for one am…you never know when they’re gonna be back!</p>

<p>Lastly, aside from the wonderful American Politics courses, there are a myriad of new courses that haven’t been taught in ages (and some brand new ones if I’m not mistaken) that are being offered next semester…Chinese Politics, Middle-Eastern Politics, Latin-American Politics, California Politics…</p>

<p>Wow…I wonder what we did to deserve such a mind boggling course selection. (no, this wasn’t meant to be sarcastic!)</p>

<p>Anyway…I know that 99.9% of you won’t be as excited about this as I am, but take a minute to explore this wonderous, amazing, intellectually re-awakening schedule…thank you Pradeep Chhibber!!!</p>

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<p>UPDATE: After doing some research, I’ve been able to locate info on the new profs who will be teaching in the Spring of 2007.</p>

<p>-Rob Van Houweling (PS 103- Congress): Professor Van Houweling received his B.A. in political science from the University of Michigan in 1993 and his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2003. In his dissertation, “Legislator’s Personal Policy Preferences and Partisan Legislative Organization,” he examines how the polarization of elite preferences along partisan lines has affected the role of party organizations in Congress, altered legislative strategies, and shaped policy outcomes. Robert is interested in further investigating the primary impediments to federal health care reforms.</p>

<p>comment: new Harvard PhD, ey?..can’t wait for the class!</p>

<p>-Terri Bimes (PS 102- The American Executive): Terri Bimes (Ph.D., Yale University) is the Associate Director of the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard and also a lecturer in the department. This fall, she will be working on completing her book, The Metamorphosis of Presidential Populism, which examines the evolution of presidential rhetoric from Andrew Jackson through George W. Bush. In Spring 2004, she will be teaching a course on American Political Parties and Interest Groups. Her past publications include articles on presidential rhetoric and divided government. In addition, she has recently co-authored an article on the 2000 election entitled Safe at Any Speed: Legislative Intent, The Electoral Count Act of 1887, and Bush v. Gore. Her current research interests include exploring the nineteenth century practice of gambling on presidential elections as a precursor to modern polling and examining how party elites have adjusted to changes in rules governing presidential nominations. Before coming to Harvard University, Bimes was a research fellow and lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley. </p>

<p>comment: hehe, stole this one from Harvard too! Mr. Bimes was a prof at the Kennedy School of Government @ Harvard…but he apparently knows where the REAL political science students are at…and came back to Berkeley :)</p>

<p>-William Muir (PS 1): Professor Muir teaches in the fields of American Politics and Constitutional Law. He received his B.A. (magna cum laude) and Ph.D. from Yale University. His publications include The Bully Pulpit: The Presidential Leadership of Ronald Reagan (Conservative Book Club Alternate Selection, 1993), Legislature: California’s School for Politics (Choice Academic Book of the Year, 1982), Police: Streetcorner Politicians (Honorable mention, Washington Monthly Political Book of the Year; Pulitizer Prize nominee, 1977), and Law and Attitude Change (American Political Science Association’s Edwin S. Corwin Prize, 1967).</p>

<p>comment: Professor Emeritus…coming back to teach a course. Awesome!</p>

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<p>Sweet Hassner’s PS 124 is back, I’m definitely taking that as my first upper division course. Hurray for AP Gov’t Credit!</p>