Academic Year 2026/2027 Classes

Note: This is a tentative list of courses offered by the Barnard political science department in Academic Year 2026-7, and should only be used by students and advisors for informational and planning purposes. For confirmed information and registration details, please see the Columbia Directory of Classes, available here. 

Students may also take Political Science elective courses at Columbia. You may view all Columbia courses on Vergil or the Directory of Classes.

As of Summer 2025, Barnard students may only take Barnard intro courses to fulfill their introductory requirements. Intro courses taken at Columbia will only count toward elective requirements.

Spring 2027 Courses

 

Introductory Courses

POLS-BC1110
Introduction to Political Theory
Professor Alyssa Battistoni

POLS-BC1610
Introduction to International Politics
Professor Gideon Rose

 

Elective Courses

Note: this is a list of elective courses offered by Barnard faculty. Any POLS elective course taken at Columbia is equally valid towards your major's elective requirement. Additionally, some of the courses below count toward a student's introductory requirements. See the notes below for more information. 

POLS-BCXXXX
Introduction to International Security
Professor Kimberly Marten
Note: Introductory Equivalent

POLS-BC2XXX
Politics of the Arctic
Professor Kimberly Marten

POLS-BC3424
Asian American Politics
Professor Sonya Chen

POLS-BCXXXX
Democratic Backsliding
Professor Sheri Berman

POLS-BCXXXX
New York in Global Politics
Professor Alexander Cooley

POLS-BC3205
Public Opinion and American Democracy
Professor Katherine Krimmel

POLS-BC3565
Drugs and Politics in the Americas
Professor Eduardo Moncada

POLS-BCXXXX
Non-State Armed Governance
Professor Eduardo Moncada

POLS-BC3620
Introduction to Contemporary Chinese Politics
Professor Xiaobo Lu
Note: Introductory Equivalent

POLS-BC3254
First Amendment Values
Professor Paula Franzese

INAF-6549
Peace Building After Political Violence
Professor Severine Autesserre

POLS-BCXXXX
New Harriman or SIPA Course
Professor Alexander Cooley

 

Colloquia

POLS-BC3350
The Promises and Perils of Identity Politics
Professor Sonya Chen

POLS-BCXXXX
Populism
Professor Sheri Berman

POLS-BCXXXX
Political Polarization
Professor Paula Franzese

POLS-BC3435
Law and Violence
Professor Ayten Gundogdu

POLS-BCXXXX
The State
Professor Alyssa Battistoni

POLS-BC3801
Politics of Economic Development in the World
Professor Xiaobo Lu

 

Fall 2026 Courses

 

Introductory Courses

POLS-BC1210
Introduction to American Politics
Professor Jonathan Keller

POLS-BC1510
Introduction to Comparative Politics
Professor TBD

 

Elective Courses

Note: this is a list of elective courses offered by Barnard faculty. Any POLS elective course taken at Columbia is equally valid towards your major's elective requirement. Additionally, some of the courses below count toward a student's introductory requirements. See the notes below for more information. 

POLS-BC1401
Democracy and Dictatorship in Europe
Professor Sheri Berman

POLS-BC1605
Global Politics of Climate Change
Professor Kimberly Marten

POLS-BC2875
Russia and the West
Professor Kimberly Marten

POLS-BC3003
Political Theory at the Border
Professor Ayten Gundogdu

POLS-BC3017
American Political Thought
Professor Jonathan Keller

POLS-BC3025
American Political Parties
Professor Katherine Krimmel

POLS-BC3035
Feminist Political Thought
Professor Alyssa Battistoni

POLS-BC3438
Introduction to American Constitutional Law
Professor Jonathan Keller

POLS-BC3513
Politics of Illicit Economies in the Americas
Professor Eduardo Moncada

POLS-BC3521
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Professor Paula Franzese

POLS-BC3695
Race and Ethnic Politics
Professor Sonya Chen

POLS-BC3697
Global Authoritarianism
Professor Alexander Cooley

POLS-BC3731
Data Science for Politics
Professor Michael Miller

POLS-GR8471
Chinese Political Economy - Comparative Perspectives
Professor Xiaobo Lu

 

Colloquia

POLS-BC3048
Capitalism and its Critics
Professor Alyssa Battistoni

POLS-BC3341
Grassroots Activisms and Social Change
Professor Sonya Chen

POLS-BC3367
Transnational Kleptocracy
Professor Alexander Cooley

POLS-BC3410
Human Rights in a Diverse World
Professor Ayten Gondogdu

POLS-BC3411
Building Peace
Professor Severine Autesserre

POLS-BC3500
Political Economy: Corruption/Control
Professor Xiaobo Lu

POLS-BC3540
Constructing and Deconstructing States
Professor Sheri Berman

 

Spring 2026 Courses

 

Introductory Courses

POLS-BC1110
Introduction to Political Theory
Professor Alyssa Battistoni

POLS-BC1510
Introduction to Comparative Politics
Professor Mark Schneider

 

Elective Courses
Note: this is a list of elective courses offered by Barnard faculty. Any POLS elective course taken at Columbia is equally valid towards your major's elective requirement. Additionally, some of the courses below count toward a student's introductory requirements. See the notes below for more information. 

POLS-BC3003
Political Theory at the Border
Professor Ayten Gundogdu

POLS-BC3205
Public Opinion and American Democracy
Professor Katherine Krimmel

POLS-BC3254
First Amendment Values
Professor Paula Franzese

POLS-UN3565
Drugs and Politics in the Americas
Professor Eduardo Moncada

POLS-BC3609
Political Psychology and International Relations
Professor Marjorie Castle

POLS-BC3407
Democracy's Guardrails? Resisting or Enabling Backsliding
Professor Marjorie Castle

Course Number POLS-BC3834
Introduction to American Constitutional Law
Professor Jonathan Keller

Course Number POLS-BC3021
African American Political Thought
Professor Jonathan Keller

 

Colloquia

POLS-BC3048
Capitalism and Its Critics
Professor Alyssa Battistoni

POLS-BC3445
Gender and Public Policy
Professor Katherine Krimmel

POLS-BC3543
Non-State Governance in Contexts of Crime and Civil War
Professor Eduardo Moncada

POLS-BC3801
Politics of Economic Development in the World
Professor Xiaobo Lu

POLS-BC3540
Constructing and Deconstructing States and Nations
Professor Sheri Berman

POLS-BC3055
Political Violence and Terrorism
Professor Marjorie Castle

POLS-BC3350
The Promises and Perils of Identity Politics
Professor Sonya Chen

 

Fall 2025 Courses

 

Introductory Courses

POLS-BC1210
Introduction to American Politics
Professor Jonathan Keller

POLS-BC1610
Introduction to International Relations
Professor Gideon Rose

 

Elective Courses
Note: this is a list of elective courses offered by Barnard faculty. Any POLS elective course taken at Columbia is equally valid towards your major's elective requirement. Additionally, some of the courses below count toward a student's introductory requirements. See the notes below for more information. 

POLS-BC1401
Democracy and Dictatorship in Europe
Professor Sheri Berman
Note: Introductory Equivalent for Intro to Comparative Politics

POLS-BC3017
American Political Thought
Professor Jonathan Keller

POLS-BC3019
American Political Development
Professor Katherine Krimmel

POLS-BC3035
Feminist Political Thought
Professor Alyssa Battistoni

POLS-BC3521
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Professor Paula Franzese

POLS-UN3565
Drugs and Politics in the Americas
Professor Eduardo Moncada

POLS-BC3695
Race and Ethnic Politics
Professor Sonya Chen

POLS-BC3602
Domestic Politics and International Relations
Professor Marjorie Castle

 

Colloquia

POLS-BC3019
American Political Development
Professor Katherine Krimmel

POLS-BC3033
The American Presidency
Professor Jonathan Keller

POLS-BC3120
The Politics of Nature
Professor Alyssa Battistoni

POLS-BC3341
Grassroots Activisms and Social Change
Professor Sonya Chen

POLS-BC3410
Human Rights in a Diverse World
Professor Ayten Gundogdu

POLS-BC3435
Law and Violence
Professor Ayten Gundogdu

POLS-BC3607
Causes of War
Professor Marjorie Castle