Senior thesis

How does this course work?

This is the capstone course for the political science degree. When you conduct your senior thesis with me, you are doing work in American politics, meaning you have some question about how politics works in this country, whether it be national or state or local. The end product of this course is an independent research paper that you take from start to finish: you discover the question you want to answer, you create the method for how you will answer it, and you will present your fidings.

This course is dependent on your initiative. You need to do this work on your own. Even though there are no weekly assignments, you should always assume you have something to do for this class. If you go a few days without logging some hours on your senior thesis, you are probably falling behind.

The summative assignment for the course is a 20-25 page senior thesis paper, with parts of it submitted every few weeks during the semester.

Teaching Philosophy

My approach to teaching upper division courses in the political science major is that I assume you are as into this very cool political show as I am. I think that some of you have been watching the show since the pilot episode, like me, and some of you joined in season 3 or 4. Just know that I am the kind of friend who is so excited to talk to you about my favorite show - I will be super excited and hope you catch the vibe.

For all of my courses, my goal is that you want to become an active and engaged citizen of the place you call home. My goal is that you become a good neighbor. If you are an active and engaged citizen and a good neighbor, you will be an asset to our republic, and I intend to give you all the skills you need to be these. This senior capstone is the most personal to the individual student as you ask the question you find most interesting.