Political Science and Economics Track
Our Political Science and Economics track is perfect for students who want to learn more about the important role the economy plays in shaping politics and the government-- and vice versa. Students will also explore the role gender plays in shaping social and economic policy.
Program Structure
This track is residential with the option of commuting. Classes take place on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:30 AM- 12:00 PM and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 2:00- 4:30 PM EST. Enrichment and student life activities will be held in both the early day and evening time frames (10am EST- 8pm EST)
The Curriculum
Lean in or Dig Deep
Instructor: Michelle Smith
We examine the theory and practice of two “models” of feminist leadership: liberal-individualist and radical-collective. Advocates of both models seek women’s empowerment. However, they disagree over the means and ends of women’s activism. Broadly, liberal feminists seek equal power in political institutions and corporations as well as equal access to the means for social and economic advance. Liberal feminists may pursue “reproductive rights” and consider gender-equality the mark of feminist success. Social justice feminists seek nothing less than the end of sexism and all forms of subjugation (racial, class, sexual orientation ETC.) which sustain existing anti -egalitarian, sexist, racist and hetero-normative structures. Social justice feminists may pursue “reproductive justice” and consider the transformation of existing gender, social and economic relations success. Culture, language, and representation are important venues for all sorts of feminist action and theorizing. But again, disagreement is more common than not. In this course, we ask more questions than we answer. What sorts of feminist commitments do the #METOO movements manifest? What might a truly intersectional feminism achieve? Should feminism necessarily be sex-positive? Can women seek BOTH freedom from subjugation AND inclusion in the existing socio-political order? (How) can feminists who disagree nevertheless ally with each other in pursuit of common ideals and objectives? Do feminists seek gender justice or freedom? And post-Dobbs, how much can any of these questions matter when women’s bodily autonomy, the cornerstone of feminist demands, is once more under threat? Assignments consist of multiple drafts of a <7-page final paper, a group “zine” project, daily journaling in response to readings, and participation in facilitated classroom discussion.
Time: Mon, Tues, Wed, and Thurs 9:30 AM- 12:00 PM EST
Thurs afternoons from 2:00- 4:30 PM EST
Leading by Example: Theories of Leadership from Antiquity to the Present
Instructor: Alejandro Cuadrado
How should those in positions of power use it? What is the role of society, mentorship, education, and individuals in preparing people for leadership roles? This course will take a historical view at the ways in which people in various cultures and societies across different time periods have sought to answer these questions. In approaching this topic, we will consider the role of exemplarity—the idea that someone else’s actions, behaviors, and political ideas might inform our own practice. To this end, we will read texts that use exemplarity to model political and non-political leadership. This class will consist of several readings, brief writing assignments, and a final in-class symposium in which students will present the results of a research project.
Time: Mon, Tues, Wed, and Thurs 9:30 AM- 12:00 PM EST
Thurs afternoons from 2:00- 4:30 PM EST
The Instructors
Alejandro Cuadrado
Leading by Example: Theories of Leadership from Antiquity to the Present
Alejandro Cuadrado is a literary critic and historian of the Italian middle ages and early modern period, with a focus on Dante and Boccaccio. He has an BA in French & Italian from Princeton University and will receive his PhD from Columbia University's Italian Department and Institute for Comparative Literature & Society in May of 2023. At Columbia he has taught courses in Italian language, academic writing, and the western literary tradition. He is working on a book on Dante as a historian of religious orders, as well as some related projects on exemplarity, history, and the political education in medieval and early modern Italy.
Michelle Smith
Lean In or Dig Deep
Bridging Curriculum and Community
We believe student life does not start and end in the classroom. Each night after class students can choose from 2-3 evening activities led by our Program Assistants.
Program Assistants
Program Assistants are current Barnard students who manage small cohorts of student teams. Your PA is a resource for you to ask questions about non academic issues (remember: your Course Assistant is your point of contact for academics). PAs plan and facilitate nightly community building activities such as self care nights, Netflix parties, Broadway shows, and much more.
Technology and Academic Support
IMATS/ Canvas/Zoom
Barnard PCP utilizes Canvas, an online platform, where students will find their syllabus, assignments, discussion boards, and access to message their instructor or peers outside of class.
All classes and workshops are hosted in person. However, our instructors have worked to create robust lessons that utilize various technology capabilities and platforms such as Zoom, Twine, Canva, and even apps developed by our professors!
Our team will go over technology usage extensively in the student manual and during Orientation.
Course Assistant
Each course has the added support of a Course Assistant (CAs), a current Barnard student (or a recent graduate). CAs assist faculty with administrative tasks, classroom management, and facilitate office hours to help students.
Community Office Hours
Each Monday at 2:00 PM EST students are invited to meet with any member of our Pre-College Programs team. Office hours emphasize PCP’s open door office policy and gives students a space to meet with instructors, course assistants, or a professional staff member.