POLS 311 - Public Opinion and Elections

This course will examine the nature and role of public opinion in American democracy, providing a broad-based introduction to the dynamics of citizens’ social and political attitudes in the contemporary United States. What is public opinion? Where does it come from? How does it change? Why does it matter? We will attempt to answer these questions by drawing on scientific studies from political science and social psychology and by conducting original research. The goal of this course is to help students arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of the forces that shape the beliefs, attitudes, and opinions of the American public, the means by which those views are publicly expressed, and the influence of those opinions on policy outcomes.

Credits 1

Area
Social Sciences

Division
Social Sciences

Compass Attributes
Social Science