Colloquia

Every Barnard Political Science major must take three colloquia. The third colloquia integrates the senior capstone requirement. 
 
The colloquium format involves weekly discussion of readings, and development of research skills through completion of a 25- to 30-page research paper, constituting the major piece of written work for the course.  See the course catalogue for a detailed description of the colloquium requirement. A colloquium, as with any course used for the major or minor requirement, cannot be taken Pass/D/Fail. 
 
Prerequisite: Please make certain that, before enrolling, you will have successfully completed one lecture course in the relevant subfield or have received special permission from the instructor for that requirement to be waived. Colloquia are not suitable for first-year students. Sophomores will be admitted as room permits. When making your third colloquium selection, please keep in mind that it is to your benefit to choose one in the field of your anticipated senior essay topic.

Columbia seminars do not fulfill the colloquium requirement for political science (they do provide elective credit).
 
Each political science colloquium is limited to sixteen students who are assigned by the department, not by individual instructors. Preference is given in the following order: senior Barnard majors; junior Barnard majors; sophomore Barnard students who have declared the major and will be studying abroad during junior year; senior and junior majors from other undergraduate divisions of the University; non-majors from all undergraduate divisions of the university. 
 
Please print the application form or obtain an application from the Department, 417-A Lehman Hall. You may return the completed form in person to Anne Wolff-Lawson, the Department Administrator, fax it to 212-854-3024, or mail it to: Barnard College, Department of Political Science, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027-6598.

Note: If, and only if, you are currently studying away from Barnard, you may submit your application to Anne via email at awolffla@barnard.edu as long as you supply all the information requested on the application form; then email again after the rosters are posted (see date below) to ask about your placement. 

Essay Prize: Every semester colloquium instructors each can nominate one essay written by a Barnard Political Science major in her or his colloquium for the Political Science Quarterly Prize.

Application Deadlines

For the fall colloquia, Barnard Political Science majors must submit their applications to the Department Office, 417-A Lehman Hall, by 5:00 p.m. on April 1 - April Fools' Day! If April 1 falls on a weekend, the applications will be due the following Monday at 5pm.

For the spring colloquia, Barnard Political Science majors must submit their applications to the Department Office, 417-A Lehman Hall, by 5:00 p.m. on October 31 - Halloween! If October 31 falls on a weekend, the applications will be due the following Monday at 5pm. The placement roster will be posted on the "Class Information" bulletin board outside 416-A Lehman Hall after 12 noon on November 8. The Registrar's on-line filing deadline for your Spring 2013 advance program is Monday, November 25.

(Sophomores, please note: The Dean of Studies' due date for you to declare your major is March 1.)
 
Please note that students are assigned to a colloquium by the Department and not by individual instructors. Be sure to attend the first class session in order to secure your place in the course.

Fall 2014 Colloquium Schedule

Applications from Barnard majors are due by 5:00 p.m. on April 1 - April fools' day!
Placements will be posted after 12 noon on April 10th

POLS BC 3306  Politics of Judicial Interpretation
Prereq: POLS 1201 or the equivalent
Tuesdays 11:00 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Daniel Kato

POLS BC 3334  New Colloquium on American Elections - CLOSED
Prereq: POLS 1201 or the equivalent
Tuesdays 11:00 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Michael Miller

POLS BC 3507  Gender, Politics and Markets
Prereq: POLS 1501 or the equivalent
Wednesdays 2:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Claire Ullman

POLS BC 3540 Political Economy of Corruption
Prereq: POLS 1501 or the equivalent
Thursdays 4:10 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Xiaobo Lu
 
POLS V 3540 New Colloquium: States, Nations and Democracy
Prereq: POLS V 1501 or the equivalent
Wednesdays 2:10 - 4:00 p.m.
Sheri Berman

POLS BC3805 International Organization - CLOSED
Prereq: POLS V 1601 or the equivalent
Mondays 11:00 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
Alexander Cooley

POLS BC 3810 Aid, Politics and Violence in Africa
Prereq: POLS V 1601 or the equivalent
Wednesdays 2:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Séverine Autesserre

Spring 2014 Colloquium Schedule

Applications from Barnard majors are due by 5:00 p.m. on October 31 - Halloween!
Placements will be posted after 12 noon on Friday, November 8.

POLS BC 3118  Problems of International Security
Prereq: POLS V 1501 or V 1601 or the equivalent
Mondays 2:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m
Kimberly Marten

POLS BC 3329 New Colloquium:  Harlem in Theory
Prereq: POLS V 1013 or the equivalent
Mondays 2:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m
Michelle-Renée Smith

POLS BC 3328 New Colloquium: Politics of Urban Development
Prereq: POLS 1201 or the equivalent
Wednesdays 11:00 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Scott Minkoff

POLS BC 3306 New Colloquium: Politics of Judicial Interpretation
Prereq: POLS 1201 or the equivalent
Tuesdays 12:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.
Daniel Kato

POLS BC 3307 New Colloquium: Racial Violence (Will be cross-listed as American Politics, Political Theory, and Comparative Politics)
Prereq: POLS 1201 or 1013 or 1501
Thursdays 12:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.
Daniel Kato

POLS BC 3411 New Colloquium: Building Peace
Prereq: POLS 1601 or the equivalent
Tuesdays 2:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Séverine Autesserre

POLS BC 3417 New Colloquium: Sovereignty and its Challenges
Prereq: POLS 1601 or the equivalent
Tuesdays 2:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Alexander Cooley

Colloquium Application Form

Please note that we ask you to submit three colloquium choices. To the degree possible, the Department will try to honor one of your first two choices. If you list fewer than three choices, you will be assigned to a colloquium at random.
 
The number of semesters you have left at Barnard plays a role in the selection process. Therefore, if you are planning to study abroad or to participate in S.I.P.A.'s or the Sciences Po Joint Degree Program, be sure to indicate this.
 
Please don't forget: on the back of the application, write down for each one of your three choices (1) what courses you have taken in other departments that are relevant to this particular colloquium and (2) why you want to take this colloquium.
 
You can print the application form (in PDF) and bring the completed form to the Political Science Department, 417-a Lehman Hall. You can fax it to 1-212-854-3024, scan and email it to awolffla@barnard.edu, or mail it to:
 
Anne Wolff-Lawson
Department of Political Science
Barnard College
3009 Broadway
New York, NY 10027-6598
 
Please keep in mind that only if you are currently studying away from Barnard, may you submit your application as an email to awolffla@barnard.edu. Remember to supply all the information requested on the application form. Many thanks!
 

Updated on April 7, 2014 by Anne Wolff-Lawson