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Overview
Overview
Required for political science majors
survey of different types of political systems and cross-national comparisons of government and politics of some major nations in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and North America
Taught Spring 2022
Sample Syllabi
Sample Syllabi
Pedagogical Approach and Course Evaluation
Pedagogical Approach and Course Evaluation
PSCI 3010: Comparative Politics is a required course for political science majors that introduces students to the study of political systems through cross-national comparisons of government structures, institutions, and policymaking processes. I taught this course in Spring 2022, designing it to help students develop the analytical tools necessary for examining diverse political regimes and understanding how different institutional arrangements affect governance and citizen engagement.
To provide a truly global perspective, the course examined a range of countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and North America. The course was strategically sequenced to scaffold student learning: we began with political systems that students were likely already familiar with, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, before moving toward less familiar cases such as Nigeria and South Africa. This structure allowed students to gradually deepen their comparative understanding and apply increasingly complex analytical frameworks.
The course proceeded as follows:
U.S. Government Overview: Established a familiar foundation for comparative analysis.
United Kingdom: Explored shared traditions with the U.S., including common law and parliamentary democracy.
France & Germany: Introduced students to civil law systems and European institutional dynamics.
Japan & India: Japan was examined as a non-colonized state with Western-influenced governance; India served as a postcolonial democracy with deep ties to British legal and administrative structures.
South Africa & Nigeria: These cases illustrated the challenges of postcolonial state-building, democratization, and governance in the Global South.
Assessment Structure:
Four exams, each composed of 40 multiple-choice questions and two short-answer prompts, tested students’ comprehension of political systems, governance structures, and key comparative concepts.
Freedom House Research Project, in which students selected two countries from the Freedom House database and compared them on political rights and civil liberties. This project expanded students’ exposure to global political systems and introduced them to empirical indicators used in the study of democracy and authoritarianism.
Independent research days, which provided time for students to investigate specific countries and political phenomena, fostering greater methodological and conceptual engagement.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Understand the histories, cultures, and social changes that led to contemporary nations
Compare the structure of nations
Independently research classifications of nations using political science databases
Recall a survey of many geographical regions and the nations contained there
Course Evaluations:
Spring 2022 data based on 4 student responses
Student Feedback on Instructor:
Students described me as passionate, organized, well-prepared, and responsive to student needs, noting my clear mastery of the material and accessibility outside of class.
Student Feedback on Course:
Students appreciated the course’s global scope and straightforward assignments but suggested increasing in-class engagement and reducing reliance on PowerPoint to make class time feel more interactive and necessary.
Evaluation of Course:
This course provided students with a solid foundation in comparative political analysis and fostered the critical thinking skills necessary for evaluating political systems globally. The Freedom House project was particularly effective in encouraging independent, data-driven research, and students responded positively to the opportunity to explore political developments in countries beyond those covered in lectures. Students also appreciated the course’s organization and clarity in assignments and expectations.
However, some students indicated that class sessions could feel overly reliant on PowerPoint and suggested a stronger emphasis on in-class engagement and applied discussion. In future iterations, I plan to incorporate more interactive simulations, discussion-based activities, and case studies drawn from contemporary global events—such as democratic backsliding, populist movements, and digital authoritarianism. These enhancements would support a more dynamic classroom environment and deepen students’ understanding of the practical stakes of comparative political analysis.
Grade Distribution:
The grade distribution for the Spring 2022 class reflects a roughly normal distribution, which is often considered a healthy indicator of assessment balance.
The majority of students earned B’s (11 students), with a moderate number receiving C’s (7 students) and A’s (6 students). Notably, no students received D’s or F’s, suggesting that all students passed the course.
This bell-shaped pattern implies that the course likely had a fair level of rigor—challenging enough to differentiate performance, but not so difficult that students failed in large numbers.
It may also indicate effective teaching and consistent student engagement, where most students performed around the average, with fewer at the extremes.
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