Classes

POSC 180S – The Politics of Public Health, University of California, Riverside – Winter 2017
Syllabus

The class addresses the “public” part of Public Health. Lectures and reading will expose you to
aspects of the “health” parts of Public Health, but it does so for the purpose of understanding what
is at stake when debates about health play out in the political arena. The primary focus will be on the
politics of health in the United States, including the social, environmental, and political factors that
shape population health. In addition to exploring some of the history of health politics in the
United States, we will trace major developments in American democracy, the rise of the American
welfare state, and major political episodes that feature the themes of inequality and power. When
appropriate lectures and class readings and lectures will connect the politics of public health to the
African American Freedom struggle, the immigrant rights movement, as well as key moments in
women’s rights, and LGBT rights. By the end of the course, you will learn how scholars investigate
public health, how policy makers have translated political fights into policy solutions like Medicare,
Medicaid, Obamacare, and why a single-payer national health care system continues to be stymied in
American politics.

POSC 104 – Latino Politics and the 2016 Election, University of California, Riverside – Fall 2016
Syllabus

This class is will cover the 2016 elections.  Although the primary focus will be on Latinos and the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, related topics will be explored.  In addition to closely monitoring the 2016 Presidential election, you will learn about Latino diversity with respect to various demographic, social, economic and political characteristics, and broadly cover social science research that connects these characteristics to politics.  When appropriate, scholarly material that provides comparisons to other racial/ethnic subgroups in the United States will be covered.  By the end of the course, you will learn why distinctions by immigrant generation, language proficiency, country of origin, race, class, partisanship, and sex are critical to how Latinos see themselves, how they are seen by others, how and which policies provide them benefit or burden, how this matters for Latinos’ political attitudes and their civic engagement, and why all this matters for the American political development of yesterday and tomorrow. Individual writing assignments are required in lieu of a final exam.

Active Reading Guide:  This is a tool for mindful reading.  It facilitates “analytical” thinking to help achieve mastery of content, but it also serves as a useful prime for “synthesis” thinking.

In-class writing exercise #1

Mobilization research readings:

Ramirez: pro-active, reactive, tactical

Garcia-Bedolla & Michelson: Mobilizing Inclusion Chpt4

Valenzuela & Michelson: Mobilizing Latinos to Vote with Group Appeals

POLS 674 – Seminar on Immigration and Politics

Syllabus

A special topics course on immigration that blends literature from multiple traditions and approaches. The goal is to encourage innovative thinking about the study of immigrants and immigration by engaging empirical and political theory studies, evaluating cross-national research and studies focused on a single country, and drawing from research in psychology, sociology, political science, history and economics.

POLS 674 – Seminar on Race, Ethnicity and American Politics
Syllabus

Provides a foundation for thinking about the questions of minority status in American politics. Especially, examining the historic and contemporary struggles of American minority groups for political power and social acceptance, we will attempt to address such broad questions as the nature of bias and stereotype, its affect on political behavior, comparing the current political dilemmas and African-Americans, and Latinos and Asian Americans, their political behavior, the specific policy issues important to each group, and disputes within minority groups over what their political/social goals should be and how best to accomplish them.

POLS 304 – US Latino Politics
Syllabus

The history and contemporary role of Latinos as political actors in the United States. Review Latino diversity with respect to various demographic, social, economic and political characteristics, and broadly cover social science research that connects these characteristics to politics.

POLS 207 – State and Local Government
  Syllabus

The origin and development of the Texas Constitution, structure and powers of state and local government, federalism and inter-governmental relations, political participation, the election process, public policy, and the political culture of Texas.