Moderation + Requirements

Areas of Study
Courses in the Politics program are divided into four subfields: political theory, American politics, comparative politics, and international relations. Political theory courses examine the tradition of thinking and writing about political questions and problems. American politics courses focus on the functioning and development of the American political system. Comparative politics traditionally focuses on non–U.S. politics, but it also seeks to develop theories that explain political phenomena across countries with a common set of analytical tools. International relations examines the relationships of states in anarchy and investigates the structure, functioning, and transformative potential of the international system.
Program Requirements
Photo by Chris Kayden

Program Requirements

Prior to or concurrent with Moderation, a student must take five courses in the program, including three from the core curriculum (see the Courses page). After Moderation, students are required to take two politics seminars, the Senior Project Colloquium, and one additional politics course at the 200- or 300-level. Depending on the interests of the student and the intended subject of the Senior Project, and with the approval of the academic adviser, one of these courses may come from another social science discipline, such as economics or sociology; from study abroad; or from Bard’s Global and International Affairs (BGIA) Program in New York City. All students are required to complete a Senior Project that examines a political problem/puzzle or that synthesizes the political science literature on a major subject, such as democracy, development, or war. Students should choose their core courses in consultation with their advisor.

Moderation Requirements

Politics Moderation boards aim to assess the student’s performance in the Lower College, interest in politics as an academic field of study, and capacity to undertake course work in the Upper College and to complete a Senior Project. Students are required to write a Moderation response paper (an analysis of an assigned reading) alongside a reflection upon your response paper, together with two other papers: a self-critical evaluation of past work done within the program and a detailed plan for the Upper College, including any plans for study abroad and ideas for the Senior Project.

Typically students moderate in the spring semester of their sophomore year. Moderations are held over spring Advising Days and are organized centrally through the Division. The program will determine the student’s Moderation board, which will include a mix of Politics faculty. Instructions on how to sign up for a Moderation board and submit the required Moderation papers will be emailed to the student early in the appropriate semester.

Your overall moderation submission should be made of three parts:
1.         For Politics: Completion of moderation questionnaire
2.         For the College: Evaluation of past work (1.5–2 pages)
3.         For the College: Detailed plan for the Upper College (1.5–2 pages)
 
The Politics moderation questionnaire should be submitted to the program by the assigned date. Papers 2 and 3 are usually due to the College earlier in the semester.

Second Focus Requirements

The Politics Program offers a second focus. Students who wish to pursue this option in Politics must complete six 4-credit courses in the program, including:
• One core course (100 level)
• Three elective courses (200 level)
• One seminar (300 level)
• One further course from any of the program’s offerings