METHODS COURSES IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
Political Science is rapidly becoming a discipline where advanced training and experience with multiple research methods is becoming de rigueur. All graduate students are required to take the 532-533 sequence of introductory courses, where they are exposed to important epistemological and research design issues, and a variety of formal, qualitative, and statistical methods. Students in every subfields are strongly encouraged to seek as much methods training as possible, and as described above several fields have formal methods requirements beyond the 532-533 sequence for their majors.
While the Rutgers department does not have a separate Methods subfield, it is possible to take methods as a second minor by taking advanced courses in the department, in other departments at Rutgers, or through summer programs such as that run by the Inter-university Consortium for Social and Political Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan.
Courses
Required Courses
16:790:532-533 Research Design in Political Science
A general introduction to research methods in political science, including basic issues in research design and the philosophy of science, various qualitative methods, and introductory probability and statistics. (This course is required of all Ph.D. students in political science.)
Electives
16:790:595 Advanced Survey Research
Sample design, questionnaire construction, interviewer training and evaluation, analysis of survey data, and preparation of proposals for potential users.
16:790:599 Research Seminar in Political Science Applications of Quantitative Methods
Intensive study and research application of selected methods
16:790:633 Multivariate Statistics
The primary focus of this class is multiple regression. A number of additional multivariate methods are covered more briefly, including factor analysis, causal modeling, analysis of variance, scaling, and various "limited" dependent variable methods.
16:790:634 Game Theory for Political Scientists
An introductory course in game theory for political science graduate students. This course can serve either as a first step to a more thorough study of the game-theoretic literature, or it can stand alone, providing an appreciation of this field to non-specialists.
16:790:642/643 Advanced Topics in Multivariate Statistics
Course focuses on multivariate techniques beyond OLS regression. Topics include maximum likelihood estimation; dichotomous, ordinal, and nominal logistic regression; multilevel modeling; hazards models; latent variable structural equation modeling; and related techniques.
16:790:644 Applied Formal Models in Political Science
This course is a wide-ranging survey of applied formal models in political science. Students will learn how to read, appreciate, and constructively engage formal-theoretic arguments. Students will develop an understanding of significant "modeling dialogues" that are shaping our discipline and an awareness of the potential for intellectual gains from exchange across sub-fields. Possible topics include (but are not limited to) legislative organization, comparative electoral institutions, crisis bargaining, and the political economy of dictatorship. "Applications of Formal Models" complements 790:634 "Game Theory for Political Scientists." These two courses may be taken independently or in either order.
