PoliSci Curriculum Keeps Up With the Times

By Alan Goldsmith

Yeshiva University’s department of Political Science, under the leadership of David W. Petergorsky Professor of Political Science Dr. Ruth Bevan, has undergone a recent escalation in the number of students now selecting it as their major.  The department recently revamped its course selections, and it now provides students with the ability to acquire knowledge in fields that are currently gaining extreme importance.

The most heralded recent addition to the curriculum is the Politics of Terrorism class, which is being taught by Dr. Veena Thadani.  Thadani explained that “after September 11, campuses nationwide have been trying to respond to the issue of terrorism.  This department has decided to try and situate this event in a political and historical context.  This course deals with the nature of terrorism and what makes it distinct from other kinds of political violence.”

Thadani, who is in midst of her second full year teaching at Yeshiva, has made world politics her field of expertise.  She holds a Ph.D. in international politics, with a focus on Third World issues, from Bryn Mawr College.  This semester, she is teaching both the terrorism course and a course on the United Nations, and she hopes to teach a course on International Law in the fall of 2002 semester, which will address the issues of just wars, the relevance of the Geneva Convention, and the treatment of captured terrorists.

So far, student sentiment about the value of the Politics of Terrorism class has been mixed.  “I’ve learned a lot through the course about the definition and historical significance of terrorism,” said Yeshiva College Junior Jason Koslowe.  However, the reaction of those who took the course is not entirely positive.  “The material is very interesting,” remarked one student speaking anonymously, “but, unfortunately, the professor lacks the rhetorical ability to effectively communicate some important aspects of this issue to us.”

The Political Science department has made other numerous decisions recently, including the addition of Dr. Jeremy Zilber, who is in his first year on the YU faculty.  “Yeshiva students are sharp, inquisitive, and interesting,” commented Zilber.  “I’m having more fun teaching at YU than any of the other places I’ve taught.  The only disappointments have been the rather underwhelming physical facilities and a shortage of support staff for faculty and students, but I’m hopeful these things will improve in the near future.”

Zilber has taken an active role in the department, teaching both American Politics, which is a prerequisite for any Political Science major, and the newly-offered Congressional Politics course.  He has also taught at both Yeshiva College and Stern, the only Poli Sci professor at Yeshiva College to do so this year.  He will continue to teach courses that are in demand in the fall of 2002, including a course on the American Presidency, as well as one on Campaigns and Elections, especially relevant because of the congressional elections that will be held this November.

When asked about his teaching style, Zilber answered that “the primary goal of every class I teach is to get students to think critically and systematically about American politics, and to equip them to anticipate and understand future political events.  When Congress is voting on important legislation ten years from now, I want my current students to be able to make sense of the vote without having to rely on other people’s analysis.  When they see a campaign ad on TV, I want them to be able to figure out what the candidate is trying to accomplish with the ad, and whether the ad’s message is credible and effective. I also intend to help students become better thinkers in general.  The skills emphasized in these courses should come in handy in other classes and in other aspects of life.”

The department itself has gained a measure of stability and strength in the last few years. The hiring of Zilber added another tenure-track position, and interviews were recently conducted for a tenure-track position at Stern as well.  “Lectures were delivered by professors with experience in feminism and electoral politics,” said Stern Senior and Political Science Major Beth Meshel.  “The department’s main flaw is that it is currently small, with no Stern department head.  It would be great to see expansion of that field, as well as the creation of a more specialized department in Middle Eastern studies.”

Yeshiva College’s Political Science Department now has the added advantage of offering the prerequisite courses of American Politics and Fundamentals of Political Science every semester, thereby ensuring greater access for interested students.  An Fundamentals Honors course, being taught by Bevan, is currently being offered this semester, requiring students to compile empirical research projects that require a great deal of time and involvement.  Although Bevan will likely go on sabbatical for the Fall 2002 semester to write a book on globalism and the European Union, she intends to find a replacement to fill the void.

The best, however, may be yet to come, with a planned course in methodology to be offered sometime within the next two years.  This course will be taught by Zilber, who possesses extensive knowledge in that area, and will afford students the opportunity to conduct original research at a much more sophisticated level.

“It’s an advantage for students planning to pursue graduate degrees in the social sciences,” said Zilber, “because most graduate programs require some sort of formal methodology training.  And the really nice thing about methods courses is their portability.  Having a background in political science research methods, for example, will help students deal with the challenges of other disciplines that emphasize systematic human analysis, such as sociology, psychology, and economics.”

Bevan is staunchly positive about the future of political science in YU.  “We have a much more solid and stable footing now,” enthused Bevan.  We have excellent students, and the potential to bring in new professors to fill gaps that we have in the past filled with adjuncts.  We invite all students to take one of the courses in what we feel is shaping up to be a very dynamic department.”