POLI 1041 Fundamental Concepts of Politics
Restricted to freshmen and sophomores only. This is an introduction to the study of politics through a consideration of some of the basic elements associated with governing: the political association, justice, constitutions, equality, liberty, conflict among citizens and between citizens and governments, conflict among governments. Each of the course instructors uses a different set of readings, drawing on a mix of political philosophy texts, works on international politics, novels, biographies. Emphasis is on interesting and important readings, discussion, and writing. NOTE: for academic-year students, this course is major restricted.
Course overview
- Department
- Political Science
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Every Fall, Every Spring, Periodically in the Summer
Catalog details
- Satisfies core
- Social Science
Requirements fulfilled
- Islamic Civilization and Societies: Departmental Foundation Courses: Two Courses — Political Science (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Political Science: Introductory Sequence — First Introductory Course (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- University Core: Social Science (All undergraduates)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 3.82 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 3.96 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 13
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Alice Behnegar | 3.4 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 1–3 hrs/week | 55 of 68 |
| Fall 2025 | Alice Behnegar | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4–6 hrs/week | 53 of 66 |
| Fall 2025 | Hannes Kerber | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4–6 hrs/week | 33 of 36 |
| Fall 2025 | Kathleen Bailey | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 38 of 49 |
| Summer 2025 | Michael Tang | 3.3 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 2.7 | 5.0 | 7–9 hrs/week | 3 of 8 |
| Spring 2025 | Alice Behnegar | 3.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 14 of 22 |
| Spring 2025 | Candace Hetzner | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 57 of 67 |
| Fall 2024 | Alice Behnegar | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 29 of 38 |
| Fall 2024 | Candace Hetzner | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 20 of 28 |
| Fall 2024 | Kathleen Bailey | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 36 of 51 |
| Spring 2024 | Alice Behnegar | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 23 of 32 |
| Spring 2024 | Candace Hetzner | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 18 of 20 |
| Fall 2023 | Alice Behnegar | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 of 13 |
| Fall 2023 | Candace Hetzner | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 of 22 |
| Fall 2023 | Dennis Hale | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 of 34 |
| Fall 2023 | Kathleen Bailey | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 47 of 50 |
| Summer 2023 | Sam Biasi | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 of 4 |
| Spring 2023 | Candace Hetzner | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 18 of 23 |
| Spring 2023 | Paul Wilford | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4–6 hrs/week | 21 of 24 |
| Fall 2022 | Alice Behnegar | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 22 of 25 |
| Fall 2022 | Candace Hetzner | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4–6 hrs/week | 16 of 20 |
| Fall 2022 | Dennis Hale | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4–6 hrs/week | 27 of 33 |
| Fall 2022 | Kathleen Bailey | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 40 of 49 |
| Summer 2022 | Nicholas Anderson | 5.0 | — | 4.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 10+ hrs/week | 1 of 5 |
| Spring 2022 | Candace Hetzner | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 9 of 14 |
| Spring 2022 | Susan Shell | 3.6 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4–6 hrs/week | 17 of 30 |
| Fall 2021 | Alice Behnegar | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 8 of 12 |
| Fall 2021 | Candace Hetzner | 3.5 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 9 of 17 |
| Fall 2021 | Dennis Hale | 3.4 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 1–3 hrs/week | 15 of 28 |
| Fall 2021 | Kathleen Bailey | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | — | 27 of 46 |
| Fall 2021 | Paul Wilford | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 4–6 hrs/week | 15 of 27 |
Data freshness
Instructors
Sections
- Section 01
- Section 02
- Section 03
- Section 01
- Section 02
- Section 03
- Section 04