Moderation + Requirements

Areas of Study
Courses in the Political Studies 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 three Politics seminars, which are 300-level intensive seminars in the program. 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 seminars 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.

Beginning in Fall 2022, the Politics program will introduce a new curriculum and set of requirements.  Students who enter the College in Fall 2022 or after must fulfill these new requirements.  Students who entered the College before then may choose which set of requirements to complete before moderation and graduation.  Current unmoderated students may substitute any of the new core curriculum courses for any of the three core courses currently required for moderation.  Students should choose their core courses in consultation with their advisor.

Moderation Requirements

Political Studies 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 (a response to one of four assigned readings), 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 program. The program will determine the student’s Moderation board, which will include a mix of Political Studies faculty from the four subfields. 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 spring semester.

Fall Moderations are generally discouraged and must be organized individually by the student’s adviser.

For students planning to moderate in Spring 2022:  you will hand in your short papers to the registrar by March 18th.  The Politics moderation paper is not due until April 25th and should be emailed to your moderation board, along with copies of the short papers.  Moderations will happen during advising days and the program will determine your moderation board.  You will receive the details of your moderation board and time by April 15th.  

For the Politics moderation paper, choose one of the articles below, read the article and follow the instructions linked below for how to write your paper.