We are hosting a virtual information session about the Public Policy graduate programs Thursday, December 3. Please join us!
December 3, 2020
4:30pm EST
Webex video conference
The info session will give you the opportunity to talk to Faculty and Staff to learn more about our Master of Public Policy, PhD in Public Policy, Accelerated Bachelor/Master, and joint degree programs.
To register, please click here.
]]>Hey Political Science Students,
The Political Science Department is in the process of adding two new courses to the Spring schedule: Russian Politics (POLI 475) and Arctic Geopolitics (POLI 409). Please see below for a brief description. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Grodsky (bgrodsky@umbc.edu)
POLI 475 - Russian Politics
The goal of this course is to introduce students to Russian politics and, in the process, provide a detailed case study of independence and democratization processes that play out across the world. The readings review the social and historical context of political life in Russia, tracing the country’s development from the early 20th century to the present.
The first part of this course is a historical exploration of the making of modern Russia, beginning with the communist revolution and culminating with the rise of President Vladimir Putin. We then look at formative elements of the Putin years, after which we explore several aspects of contemporary Russian politics. These include: ethnicity and nationalism, political development, economic reform and post-independence foreign policy construction. This course integrates broad theoretical issues in the study of political science – especially with respect to independence and the democratic transition – with important facts and approaches necessary to make sense of Russia today.
POLI 409 - Arctic Geopolitics
The goal of this course is to introduce students to the rapidly evolving international competition over the Arctic. There are currently eight Arctic states that span from the enormous, including the United States and Russia, to the tiny, such as Denmark and its dependent territory, Greenland. But as global warming continues to transform the Arctic, new and formidable powers, from Europe to Asia, are expressing greater interest in the region. They are drawn by the promise of newly accessible resources, from oil and gas to shipping lanes. The frozen, inhospitable territory long overlooked by most of humanity is suddenly attracting enormous attention.
This course takes a broad approach to the human experience in the Arctic, beginning with an overview of the Arctic and its historic place in geopolitics, as well as the environmental changes that have begun to alter both the land and sea in profound ways. Next, we explore the central economic draw to the region, including oil, gas, and transportation networks, before exploring ethical and legal constraints on human activity there. Finally, we consider individual country interests and common attempts at international governance of the Arctic.
Karsonya (Kaye) Wise Whitehead, Associate Professor of Communication and African and African American Studies in the Department of Communication at Loyola University Maryland. Dr. Whitehead earned her Ph.D. in 2009 from UMBC, in the Language, Literacy and Culture program.
2020 has been a very difficult year, with the violent deaths of Black men and women at the hands of police and would-be vigilantes and the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the Black and Brown communities. Conversations have been reignited around the country about anti-Blackness and anti-racism, policing and justice. As we move forward, questions remain about what the long-term impact will be on our society and the ways in which we can reimagine our way forward. Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead will address these questions and facilitate a larger conversation about systemic racism, engagement, and the current calls for justice.
In this workshop, panelists will share their advice, tips, suggestions, and experiences on how to apply for fellowships in the social sciences and the benefits of participating in such fellowships. Panelists will speak for about 30 minutes, followed by Q&A. This event is geared toward faculty at all ranks, as well as advanced graduate students.
Topics to be covered include:
Types of fellowships- policy, research, experience, etc.
Career stage considerations
Pros and cons of different fellowships-- full time, part time, etc.
Relationship of fellowship to scholarly productivity/advancement/promotion & tenure
What to expect during a fellowship
What to discuss with your department chair
Panelists:
Nancy Kusmaul, Associate Professor of Social Work, 2019-2020 Health and Aging Policy Fellow and American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow. Placed with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Senator Ron Wyden.
Christy Chapin, Associate Professor of History, 2017-2018 Fellow with the Library of Congress John W. Kluge Center, and 2020-2021 Fellow with the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)
Rachel Brubaker, Assistant Director, Grants & Program Development, Dresher Center for the Humanities
This event will be recorded. Following the event, the recording will be available on CS3's YouTube channel.
]]>Our generation has grown up with a dysfunctional political
system that seems exhausting. But it wasn't always like this. Our parents and
grandparents remember the days when Democrats and Republicans could sit down
and actually talk with each other.
But let's face it, if there is one thing we can all agree on it's this: we are
tired of the partisan fighting. Now more than ever, we need to bring fellow
Americans and our leaders together to solve problems after this election.
On Saturday, November 14th at 2PM ET, Youth Congress members will take part in
a conversation with No Labels Chief Strategist Ryan Clancy and two members of
Congress from the House Problem Solvers Caucus- a group of 25 Democratic and 25
Republican House members who work together to put country over party. From
there, we'll get to know each other through an interactive breakout session
before receiving a post-election briefing from Ryan Clancy.
The No Labels Youth Congress provides a rare opportunity for tomorrow's leaders
(ages 16-35) to learn from and with each other and to help grow a movement
whose mission - of bringing our leaders together to solve problems - suddenly
has a new urgency.
Register here for this free, virtual event: https://www.nolabels.org/uni_nlyc
In this workshop, panelists will share their advice, tips, suggestions, and experiences on how to apply for fellowships in the social sciences and the benefits of participating in such fellowships. Panelists will speak for about 30 minutes, followed by Q&A. This event is geared toward faculty at all ranks, as well as advanced graduate students.
Topics to be covered include:
Types of fellowships- policy, research, experience, etc.
Career stage considerations
Pros and cons of different fellowships-- full time, part time, etc.
Relationship of fellowship to scholarly productivity/advancement/promotion & tenure
What to expect during a fellowship
What to discuss with your department chair
Panelists:
Nancy Kusmaul, Associate Professor of Social Work, 2019-2020 Health and Aging Policy Fellow and American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow. Placed with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Senator Ron Wyden.
Christy Chapin, Associate Professor of History, 2017-2018 Fellow with the Library of Congress John W. Kluge Center, and 2020-2021 Fellow with the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)
Rachel Brubaker, Assistant Director, Grants & Program Development, Dresher Center for the Humanities
This event will be recorded. Following the event, the recording will be available on CS3's YouTube channel.
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