POLI 1042 Introduction to Modern Politics
For majors only. Restricted to freshmen and sophomores only.. This course examines the politics and government of modern states, identifying what is distinctively modern (e.g., representative government, political parties), including in the survey both democratic and non-democratic nations. We will consider the nation-state itself--the most typical modern political arrangement--as well as efforts to "transcend" the nation (e.g., the European Union, the United Nations). We will examine the kinds of public policies that modern states adapt, and consider their consequences. Although this is not a class in international politics, some attention will be paid to the relations among modern states, including war and its causes.
Course overview
- Department
- Political Science
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Every Fall, Every Spring
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 — Second Introductory Course (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- University Core: Social Science (All undergraduates)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.21 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.36 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 10
| 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 | David M DiPasquale | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 7–9 hrs/week | 25 of 33 |
| Spring 2026 | Kathleen Bailey | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 4–6 hrs/week | 45 of 54 |
| Fall 2025 | David M DiPasquale | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4–6 hrs/week | 29 of 34 |
| Spring 2025 | Alice Behnegar | 3.5 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 1–3 hrs/week | 28 of 35 |
| Spring 2025 | Kathleen Bailey | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4–6 hrs/week | 40 of 48 |
| Fall 2024 | Candace Hetzner | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 24 of 31 |
| Spring 2024 | Alice Behnegar | 3.7 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4–6 hrs/week | 21 of 23 |
| Spring 2024 | Dennis Hale | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 1–3 hrs/week | 28 of 32 |
| Spring 2024 | Kathleen Bailey | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4–6 hrs/week | 37 of 46 |
| Fall 2023 | David M DiPasquale | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 of 24 |
| Spring 2023 | Alice Behnegar | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 23 of 34 |
| Spring 2023 | Dennis Hale | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 1–3 hrs/week | 20 of 25 |
| Spring 2023 | Kathleen Bailey | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 1–3 hrs/week | 43 of 50 |
| Fall 2022 | David M DiPasquale | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4–6 hrs/week | 24 of 29 |
| Spring 2022 | Alice Behnegar | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 13 of 26 |
| Spring 2022 | Dennis Hale | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 4–6 hrs/week | 10 of 22 |
| Spring 2022 | Kathleen Bailey | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4–6 hrs/week | 20 of 43 |
| Fall 2021 | David M DiPasquale | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 7–9 hrs/week | 20 of 35 |
Data freshness
Instructors
Sections
- Section 01
- Section 02
- Section 01