Comparative and Regional Studies
Coordinator:
Austin Jersild
Description
The Comparative and Regional Studies Track is designed to help students understand and analyze socio-political phenomena cross-culturally and cross-nationally. This track is built upon two distinct yet closely related intellectual dimensions. One is a thematic dimension that deals with major socio-political issues that are common across national borders and cultures. Such issues include democratization, political violence, regime legitimacy, political change, economic reform, political participation, institutional formation and so on, all of which can be better understood through comparative study. The other dimension is a regional one that closely examines various regions (or countries), with attention to the aforementioned issues within the regions. Currently, these regions include East Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
Requirements
Students selecting this track as their major or minor must complete Comparative Studies Theory as their required course. M.A. students and Ph.D. students selecting Comparative and Regional Studies as their minor field must select two more courses within the track; Ph.D. students selecting Comparative and Regional Studies as their major field must choose four more courses. All students in the track are expected to acquire adequate knowledge of at least two geographic regions (or countries) in their course study. In consultation with the track director, students may take courses other than those listed in the track to fulfill the track requirements.
Field seminars
