POLI 2301 Policy and Politics in the U.S.
Sophomores, juniors and seniors only. This course is designed to acquaint students with the major features of American policymaking at the national level by engaging in primary research and extensive memo-writing on selected policy issues. Each student will be expected to become familiar with at least three policy areas, understanding existing government policies and underlying tradeoffs and paradoxes; proposing intellectually defensible and politically feasible reforms; and suggesting political strategies for enacting these reforms. Possible topics include social security, environmental regulations, federal aid and mandates for education, affirmative action, welfare, and the use of public lands.
Course overview
- Department
- Political Science
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Periodically
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 3.44 / 5 · Good
- Instructor rating
- 3.64 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 5
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Rowell S Melnick | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 26 of 31 |
| Fall 2024 | Rowell S Melnick | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4–6 hrs/week | 29 of 34 |
| Fall 2023 | Rowell S Melnick | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26 of 34 |
| Fall 2022 | Rowell S Melnick | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 24 of 33 |
| Fall 2021 | Rowell S Melnick | 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4–6 hrs/week | 16 of 33 |