| Title: | Human Rights |
|---|---|
| Course Section Number: | PSC-240-01 |
| Department: | Political Science |
| Description: | This course critically examines the relationship between public opinion and the advancement of human rights, a central tension in modern democracies. We will investigate how popular beliefs, stereotypes, and misperceptions affect support for the rights of marginalized communities, including immigrants, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and racial minorities. Using an analytical lens that incorporates concepts of power dynamics, justice, and incentive structures, students will explore normative frameworks and political attitudes to better understand how public sentiment shapes policy and social inclusion. We will also examine the political psychology that underpins these beliefs and test whether interventions can reduce prejudice and build empathy. The course places a special emphasis on applying empirical methods, especially the design and analysis of survey experiments. Students will gain hands-on experience conducting their own research, from developing a hypothesis to analyzing data and effectively presenting the results to public audiences. This project-based approach equips students with the analytical skills necessary for careers in advocacy, business, policy-making, and research. |
| Credits: | 1.00 |
| Start Date: | January 19, 2026 |
| End Date: | May 9, 2026 |
| Meeting Information: |
01/20/2026-05/07/2026 Lecture Tuesday, Thursday 02:40PM - 03:55PM, Baxter Hall, Room 114
|
| Faculty: | Liou, Ryan |
Course Status & Cross-Listings
| Cross-list Group Capacity: | 20 |
|---|---|
| Cross-list Group Student Count: | 0 |
| Calculated Course Status: | OPEN |
| Section Name/Title | Status | Dept. | Capacity |
Enrolled/ Available/ Waitlist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PSC-240-01
(primary)
Human Rights |
OPEN | Political Science | 20 | 0 / 20 / 0 |
|
GHL-219-03
(cross-listing)
Human Rights |
OPEN | Global Health | 20 | 0 / 20 / 0 |
|
PPE-238-01
(cross-listing)
Human Rights |
OPEN | Philosophy, Politics, Economic | 20 | 0 / 20 / 0 |