PUBLIC OPINION

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: Sophomore standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Social & Behavioral Science Breadth - Social Science Level - Advanced L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain theorists' claims about the role of the public and of public opinion in democracy and compare these claims to the role that empirical research suggests it does play. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Analyze what is meant by public opinion and how various methods of measurement help us understand it. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Interpret and critique public opinion poll results. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Discuss the nature and origins of individual and aggregate-level public opinion. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Participate in small group discussions, and listen to and hear other participants. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain theorists' claims about the role of the public and of public opinion in democracy and compare these claims to the role that empirical research suggests it does play. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Analyze what is meant by public opinion and how various methods of measurement help us understand it. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Interpret and critique public opinion poll results. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Discuss the nature and origins of individual and aggregate-level public opinion. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Participate in small group discussions, and listen to and hear other participants. Audience: Undergraduate