<p>How strong is Williams' political science program? Perhaps I'm not well informed, but I'm not aware of any luminaries in the political science or history departments. Would anyone care to enlighten me?</p>
<p>Liberal arts colleges like Williams never have true luminaries in any department: if they do, they get picked off by research universities offering to double their salaries. I don't think this is a big deal, because the big names at universities get special treatment, meaning that they get to focus on their research and their graduate students and have little or no interaction with undergrads. In any case, luminaries aren't necessarily better at teaching undergrad courses than people who have been hired and promoted based on their teaching ability as well as their scholarship.</p>
<p>The strength of the department and the presence of big names is important in picking a graduate school, not a college. Remember: like most students, you will probably change majors at least once.</p>
<p>That is certainly a valid point. Does anyone have any experience as a Williams student in the political science department? If so, how are the classes? How dynamic are the professors?</p>
<p>Would anyone care to comment further?</p>
<p>Anyone, anyone at all? Bueller?</p>
<p>Perhaps I can shed some light on this subject, as I myself am a political science major here at Williams.</p>
<p>So far, my experience with the Political Science department has been hit or miss. My first exposure was to the intro to American Politics class which was taught by a pretty mediocre professor. He mumbled a lot and never made any earth-shatteringly impressive remarks. Last semester, though, I took a fantastic course called America and the World after 9/11. It was and is taught by a professor who absolutely knows his stuff and knows how to keep his students thinking. Hopefully, I'll be conducting research with him over the summer.</p>
<p>I also took a comparative politics course last semester and am currently taking a course in American foreign policy this semester. For the moment, I won't really get into those experiences, as both are taught by visiting associate professors (i.e. they won't be here next year). For the most part, though, the permanent faculty in the Williams Political Science department are very strong. Of note are professors Thomas, McAllister, and Crane, who specialize in constitutional law, foreign policy, and East Asian politics respectively. My best advice for anyone coming to Williams and contemplating a political science major is just to do research on the professors. They really make or break the class.</p>
<p>whoever said that departments at colleges like Williams could not have true luminaries is dead wrong. Take Amherst's PS department for example. We have Austin Sarat, Hadley Arkes - two of the most recognized public law scholars in the nation. We have William Taubman, well known for his books on Russian leaders/Russian politics. We have Corrales, a rising star in the Comparative Politics field. Perhaps Williams' doesn't have one 'cause it sucks :D
hhehe, j/k. I dont know much about Willliams' department but I'm sure if the PS department has no real star professor, at least some other departments do. Colleges like Amherst and Williams are probably not good places for famous scholars in the sciences, but arts and humanities - a different matter.</p>
<p>Definition of irony: </p>
<p>An Amherst alum saying 'Williams sucks.'</p>
<p>I don't know about luminary professors, but in my experience the political science department is excellent here (I'm going to be a poli sci major). Professor James McCallister and Professor Sam Crane are particularly excellent.</p>
<p>How would you describe the ideology/ideologies in the political science department?</p>
<p>I'm confused. I thought you said that you were on the waiting list... Did you hear already, or are you just deciding whether you want to stay on the WL</p>
<p>For the most part, the political leanings of the Political Science faculty (as is the case across the departments) are predominantly liberal. However, I'm glad to say there very few, if any, extreme leftists. And if they are out there, they certainly do a good job of at least keeping classroom discussion and lectures neutral (though it won't be uncommon to hear an offhand barb here and there). Probably my favorite professor in the department in McAllister, who incidentally leans a little right of center. If you have the chance, definitely take his course, PSCI 120: America and the World after 9/11. He usually teaches it in the fall, but he's on leave next semester, so it'll be during the spring.</p>
<p>i was thinking of taking courses in Asian politics...and Politics in India (most of which seem to be taught by Swamy) and i was thinking of double majoring in Philosophy and PSCI. WHat would be a good course to take for my first semester? i like comparitive politics and international studies...</p>
<p>You probably can't go wrong with either PSCI 202 (Intro to IR) or PSCI 204 (Intro to Comparative Politics). I'm taking PSCI 202 next semester with Lynch, who specializes in Middle Eastern politics and is supposed to be quite good. I also took PSCI 204 last semester with Swamy. In general, he's a good guy. He's not THE most engaging professor you'll ever meet, but he certainly knows his stuff. His lectures are pretty structured and straightfoward, and his assigned readings are relevant. And trust me when I say that even though there are some courses here at Williams for which you can skip most of the reading and still do fine, one would be wise to get most of the reading done for PSCI 204. Not only will doing so help you to demonstrate that you know the material for discussions (which he values), but it's almost indispendable for papers.</p>