POLI 1091 Introduction to Comparative Politics
This course is open to majors and non-majors. This course is class restricted to freshmen and sophomores.. This course provides an overview of the political science subfield of Comparative Politics. Comparative Politics is the study of domestic politics among the 200 plus countries around the world. The class introduces students to three features of Comparative Politics: (1) comparative research design and the comparative method; (2) major theoretical themes in comparative politics; and. (3) sampling of case studies comparing politics in selected countries of the world.
Course overview
- Department
- Political Science
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Periodically in the Fall
Catalog details
- Satisfies core
- Social Science
Requirements fulfilled
- 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
- 4.36 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.63 / 5 · Excellent
- Terms evaluated
- 7
| 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 | Fernando Bizzarro Neto | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 45 of 53 |
| Fall 2025 | Sean Mcgraw | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.8 | — | 28 of 37 |
| Spring 2025 | Fernando Bizzarro Neto | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 22 of 31 |
| Fall 2024 | Sean Mcgraw | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4–6 hrs/week | 34 of 40 |
| Fall 2023 | Sean Mcgraw | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 of 38 |
| Fall 2022 | Sean Mcgraw | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 31 of 36 |
| Fall 2021 | Sean Mcgraw | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4–6 hrs/week | 20 of 39 |