Campaigns and Elections

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Campaigns and elections are the cornerstones of our democracy. Formally, they are the way we select our elected officials; informally they tell us a lot about the American ethos, the preferences of particular demographics, and the future direction of our country. This year’s elections will be no different. This class will examine American campaigns and elections through three lenses: the candidates and voters that participate in them, the consultants that conduct them, and the political scientists that study them. Special emphasis will be placed on the 2016 elections, particularly how it compares to previous campaigns and fits into the canonical political science theories that attempt to explain them.