Topic for Fall 2016: Comparative Politics and International Relations
This seminar is intended to help students conceptualize and complete a senior experience project. Readings from comparative politics and international relations will be used to model the various stages of, and approaches to, conducting research.

Topic for Winter 2017: Refugees and Global Politics
The basic assumption of this seminar is that refugees, rather than being a purely humanitarian concern, are instead a global issue with important strategic, political, economic, and social implications. Students will examine both the causes and consequences of mass refugee movements, from the Cold War years through to our own day. Students will have the opportunity to write a substantial research paper on either a particular refugee group, a host country, or a thematic issue facing the international refugee regime.

Topic for Spring 2017: Research in American Politics
The first part of the seminar will be devoted to an overview of the scope and methods of political science research. During the balance of the term, students will design and produce individual research projects or extensive literature reviews on topics of their choice related to American politics or policy. Projects must be descriptive or explanatory rather than prescriptive. Ideally, students entering this seminar should have some background in the topic they wish to study.