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Course Info for POLS - 242 - 01, Fall 2025
Class number: 2760 Title: Pol Sci Research Methods Department: Political Science
Career: Undergraduate Component: Lecture Session: Regular
Instructor's Permission Required: No Grading Basis: Regular Units: 1.00
Enrollment limited to 19 Current enrollment: 21 Available seats: 0
Start date: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 End date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025 Mode of Instruction: In Person
Schedule: MW: 10:00AM-11:15AM, SH - S205 Instructor(s): Flom, Hernan
Prerequisite(s): None
Distribution Requirement: Meets Numerical & Symbolic Reasoning Requirement
Course Description:
Why do people participate in politics? Which government policies best serve the public good? What prevents wars between nations? Political scientists employ a toolbox of research methods to investigate these and other fundamental questions. By learning the strengths and weaknesses of various qualitative and quantitative methods, students in this course will identify how best to answer the political questions about which they feel most passionate. They will apply these practical skills in assignments that ask them observe, analyze, and report on political phenomena. Research skills will include field observation, interviewing, comparative case studies, and data analysis using statistical software. No previous statistical or programming experience is necessary. NOTE: Students may not earn credit for PBPL 220 and POLS 242.