UMBC Political Science
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Students who major or minor in Political Science can expect to receive excellent instruction and training from the Political Science faculty, both on the main campus and on our campus at Shady Grove. Our students excel in the classroom and are involved in many different extracurricular activities, such as internships, research, study abroad, and participation in our clubs. Upon graduating our alumni have worked for local and state governments, the federal government, legal offices, and in the civil service. Others have gone on to law school or graduate school for some aspect of political science or public policy. Some alumni become teachers, with several beginning their teaching careers with the Teach for America program. We also have an excellent record in statewide and national competitions. For example, Political Science students from UMBC have served as the University of Maryland student regent, have received Fulbright grants for teaching and research around the world, and have won the highly selective Truman Scholarship for outstanding public service leadership. Furthermore, Political Science students have led UMBC’s Mock Trial team to national prominence and have placed exceptionally well at Model United Nations conferences. We also provide opportunities for students to interact with each other in the Department through the Council of Majors, politically-oriented clubs, and Pi Sigma Alpha, the national honor society for Political Science. Beyond regular coursework, there is a lot to do in the Department and we are proud that our students are leaving their mark in various ways both while at UMBC and after graduation.
Our faculty represent most of the subfields in Political Science, from political philosophy to American politics and public policy to law, international relations and comparative politics. Political Science faculty conduct innovative research and have written books and articles for top publishers and journals in the field. They have also won or been nominated for numerous teaching awards. We are known as being strong teachers and researchers at UMBC and, along with our wonderful staff, we enjoy working with our students both in and out of the classroom.
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Item Local Scientist Takes Disability Claim to Court(I Hate Politics Podcasts, 2024-01-12) Dasgupta, Sunil; Cheung, VivianIn December 2023, a Montgomery County jury heard a disability discrimination case against one of the world’s largest medical science philanthropies, the Chevy Chase-based Howard Hughes Medical Institute, in a lawsuit brought by one of its former research scientists, Vivian Cheung. Sunil Dasgupta asked Cheung about the case and its implications for scientific rigor, peer review, and disability accommodation. Local news: new statewide housing legislation shapes up. Music for this episode comes from 1923; sound recordings from that year just entered the public domain.Item 90 Days, 800 Bills, and A Budget(I hate politics Podcasts, 2024-01-05) Dasgupta, Sunil; Alex, Aileen; Tarlau, JimmyThe 2024 session of the Maryland General Assembly starts January 10 with a difficult revenue situation, big spending needs in education and transportation, and a reticent governor. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Aileen Alex and Jimmy Tarlau of the Maryland Legislative Coalition and Monica O’Connor of the Climate Justice Wing for a preview of what is coming up in the state legislature. Music for this episode comes from 1923; sound recordings from that year just entered the public domain. National Jukebox: https://t.ly/DDGgx MD Legislative Coalition signup: https://t.ly/HSeB4 Climate Justice Wing Summit Jan 6-7: https://t.ly/gCEV1.Item Story of the Year: Muslim Book Protests Revisited(I Hate Politics Podcast, 2023-12-29) Dasgupta, Sunil; Elkoshairi, WaelOne of the biggest local stories of 2023 were the Muslim protests demanding the right to opt out students from reading LGBTQ-themed books in public elementary schools. In Montgomery County, this was not just a fight between conservatives and liberals. The controversy frayed the Democratic coalition itself. Sunil Dasgupta’s interview with protest leader Wael Elkoshairi was the most downloaded episode (#121) of the year. We rerun the interview and update the story with the latest news. Music from Arlington roots music singer-songwriter Valeria Stewart and her band Crooked Sparrow: youtube.com/@valeriastewartmusic. Episodes 141 looked at coverage of the coverage and several shows between #130 and #141 carried student reviews of the controversial books. Don’t forget to check them out.Item 2023 Holiday Yule Log with Local Music and Nonprofits(I Hate Politics Podcast, 2023-12-22) Dasgupta , Sunil; Freeman, Shanika; Bobrow, Adam; Finster; et al2023 Holiday Weekend Special with local music featured on the podcast and local nonprofit stories: Artists and bands in order of appearance: Shanika Freeman, Adam Bobrow, Finster, Kara Levchenko, Reggie Right-Eye, Gabrielle Zwi, Ammonite, Catscan!, Jackie and the Treehorns, Grey Swift, Collide, Drew Pictures, Steven Gellman, Oren Levine, Valeria Stewart and the Crooked Sparrow, Seth Kibel, Rockambo. Nonprofit orgs: Martha’s Table, Community Farmshare, Asian American LEAD, MoCoPAAN, Friendship Place, Montgomery County Special Olympics, The Civic Circle, and Urban Adventure Squad. Links at ihppod.org.Item Can a Long-Awaited Data Dashboard Deliver Equity in MCPS?(I Hate Politics Podcasts, 2023-12-15) Dasgupta, Sunil; Stewart, Laura; Dove, Audra; Stocker, Cathy; Fouse, Jill OrtmanFollowing ten years of advocacy, Montgomery County Public Schools’ have launched a new web-based district-wide school-profile data dashboard (https://t.ly/Bsbi1) with information on enrollment, demographics, class size, learning, assessment, and more. Sunil Dasgupta talks with local education activists Laura Stewart, Audra Dove, Cathy Stocker, and Jill Ortman Fouse (Board of Education member 2014-18) to find out if they got what they wanted. Data dashboard feedback: https://t.ly/z6gB3. Music from Rockville singer-songwriter Andrew Glor and his band Drew Pictures: drewpicturesmusic.com. Local area nonprofits tell their stories and pitch for your support:Item Whose Neighborhood Needs? Assessing the Spatial Distribution of Federal Community Development Funds(Sage, 2023-12-03) Viscardi, Leandro Alex Moreira; Torri, Giuseppe; Adams, David K.; Barbosa, H. M. J.Local governments must balance their growth ambitions against needs arising from social inequities. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program aims to redress these disparities by directing funds toward disinvested tracts. We ask whether a city's institutional design, public and private actor composition, and resource availability influence the decision to invest in communities with greater levels of social need. Utilizing a social equity framework, we connect place-level procedural fairness mechanisms with neighborhood-level access equity consequences. Combining U.S. local government survey data over two decades with census tract-level CDBG expenditures, we find that in neighborhood where 51 percent or more of the families are low-to-moderate income (LMI), its likelihood of receiving funds increases with its share of LMI population relative to the city's, but at a diminished rate compared to non-LMI tracts. Further, city-level factors moderate this relationship (e.g., including community development corporations in planning processes).Item The Divided House of Democratic Politics(I Hate Politics Podcasts, 2023-12-08) Dasgupta, Sunil; Kurtz, JoshIn deep blue Maryland, pro-Palestinian tweets from immigrant rights group CASA led to widespread condemnation from elected leaders and exposed divisions within the state and local Democratic Party. Sunil Dasgupta talks with Josh Kurtz, editor of Maryland Matters, to find out about the progressive-centrist division in Maryland Democrats and what it means state and local politics. Music from Rockville singer-songwriter Andrew Glor and his band Drew Pictures: drewpicturesmusic.com. Local area nonprofits tell their stories and pitch for your support: Community FarmShare The Civic Circle Friendship Place MoCo Pride Prom Montgomery County Special OlympicsItem Community-Engaged Scholarship w/ Dr. Felipe Filomeno(UMBC Center for Social Science Research, 2023-12-04) Anson, Ian; Filomeno, FelipeOn this special 50th episode, we hear from Dr. Felipe Filomeno, Associate Professor of Political Science and Associate Director of the Center for Social Science Scholarship (CS3) at UMBC. We discuss Dr. Filomeno’s approach to research through a discussion of community-engaged scholarship and his forthcoming book.Item UMBC Social Science Alumni in Government, Business, and Non-Profit Careers(UMBC Center for Social Science Research, 2023-11-13) Anson, Ian; Merner, Delta; Gibbons, Brent; Gay, Brittany; Filomeno, Felipe; Kim, JeanOn this episode we hear a rebroadcast of a special 5th anniversary event hosted by the UMBC Center for Social Science (CS3). The roundtable, which took place in October of 2023, brought together three fabulous UMBC alumni from across the social sciences: Dr. Delta Merner, (GES ’14), Lead Scientist, Science Hub for Climate Litigation at the Union of Concerned Scientists; Dr. Brent Gibbons, (PUBL ’13), Health Policy Researcher in the Health Economics Program at RTI International; and Dr. Brittany Gay, (PSYC ’21), Associate Director of Implementation Science at the Research-to-Policy Collaboration (RPC). The roundtable was moderated by CS3’s Associate Director, Dr. Felipe Filomeno. Click here for a full recording of the event.Item ”Kinlessness” and Aging w/ Dr. Christine Mair(UMBC Center for Social Science Research, 2023-10-30) Anson, Ian; Mair, Christine Armstrong; Yamashita, TakashiOn this episode I speak with Dr. Christine Armstrong Mair, Associate Professor of Sociology and Gerontology and Director of the Center for Health, Equity, and Aging (CHEA) in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health (SAPH) at UMBC. We discuss Dr. Mair’s ongoing research into aging and older adult lifestyles across the world. Dr. Mair mentioned the following resources in our discussion: Gateway to Global Aging Data SMaRT Scholars Program National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), Seminar on Kinlessness and Living Alone at Older Ages (Drs. Margolis, Carr, Taylor, and Mair)Item Constitution Day 2023 w/ Delegate Mark S. Chang (UMBC ’99)(UMBC Center for Social Science Research, 2023-10-13) Anson, Ian; Chang, Mark S.; Kim, JeanOn this episode we hear a rebroadcast of the 2023 UMBC Constitution Day Lecture, organized by the Department of Political Science and cosponsored by UMBC’s Center for Social Science Scholarship. The lecture, which took place in September of 2023, was given by keynote speaker Delegate Mark S. Chang. Delegate Chang has represented the 32nd District in the Maryland House of Delegates (Anne Arundel County) since 2015, and also serves as the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, among a variety of other vital committee positions in our state legislature. Delegate Chang received a B.A. in Psychology from UMBC in 1999, making him a proud UMBC social science alumnus! Stay tuned for a special Campus Connection featuring our new Production Assistant, Jean Kim, who details her experience interning in the Maryland General Assembly through the UMBC MGA Internship Program!Item Board Games Revisited w/ Dr. Kerri Evans, Dr. Keisha Allen, Netty Lichtman, Brittany Murillo, & Kaylee Reyes(UMBC Center for Social Science Research, 2023-10-04) Anson, Ian; Evans, Kerri; Allen, Keisha; Murillo, Brittany; Evans, Kaylee; Lichtman, NettyOn this episode we return to our discussion of pedagogical simulations and the immigrant experience in educational settings from Dr. Kerri Evans, Assistant Professor of Social Work at UMBC; Dr. Keisha Allen, formerly of UMBC, who is now Assistant Professor in the School of Education at the University of Maryland, College Park; recent UMBC graduates Brittany Murillo and Kaylee Evans; and current UMBC senior, Netty Lichtman.Item COVID-19 in the Courts w/ Dr. Susan Sterett(UMBC Center for Social Science Research, 2023-09-18) Anson, Ian; Sterett, SusanOn this episode, Dr. Ian Anson speaks with Dr. Susan Sterett, Professor in the School of Public Policy at UMBC, about her recent book .Item The 2023 UMBC Africana Studies Conference(UMBC Center for Social Science Research, 2023-08-04) Anson, Ian; Chuku, Gloria; Tripp, Aili M.On this episode we hear a rebroadcast of a presentation that formed a part of the 2023 UMBC Africana Studies Conference, organized by Dr. Gloria Chuku, Professor and Chair of UMBC’s Africana Studies Department. The lecture, which took place in May of 2023, was given by keynote speaker Dr. Aili M. Tripp. Dr. Tripp is Vilas Research Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Tripp’s research has focused on gender/women and politics, women’s movements in Africa, transnational feminism, African politics (with particular reference to Uganda and Tanzania), autocracies in Africa, and on the informal economy in Africa. She is presently working on a project on women’s political leadership in African autocracies and a second project on women’s political citizenship and conflict globally.Item The Plot to Stop Junk Fees(I Hate Politics Podcast, 2023-12-01) Dasgupta, Sunil; Wolfe, LaurenResorts and hotels have long been accused of charging hidden fees, but since the pandemic restaurants have used them to meet rising operating and labor costs while seeming to keep menu prices down. Sunil Dasgupta talks to attorney Lauren Wolfe of the Washington DC public interest group Travelers United who has helped file price deception lawsuits against local restaurant group Clyde’s, and hotel chains Hyatt, Hilton, and Sonesta. Clyde’s case: https://t.ly/XbvHj; Hotels cases: https://t.ly/YL2cT. Music from Rockville singer-songwriter Andrew Glor and his band Drew Pictures: drewpicturesmusic.com. Local area nonprofits tell their stories and pitch for your support:Item MoCoShow Makes the News(I Hate Politics, 2023-11-24) Dasgupta, Sunil; Tsironis, AlexIn the general despair over the decline of local news, a homegrown, social media-driven, local news company, The MoCoShow, is not only commercially profitable but also turning on its head some central principles of journalism. Sunil Dasgupta talked to MoCoShowe founder Alex Tsironis about his vision and how he turned a snow reporting social media handle to over hundred thousand followers and millions of unique hits across his various platforms. Music from Oren Levine: https://ohljazz.com. Local area nonprofits tell their stories and pitch for your support: Community FarmShare, Friendship Place, MoCo Pride Prom, Montgomery County Special Olympics, MoCoPAANItem Life in the HOTTER Lane(I Hate Politics Podcasts, 2023-11-17) Dasgupta, Sunil; Decorla-Souza, PatrickAs the Moore Administration in Maryland wrestles with its plan to toll highways in the Washington DC suburbs, Sunil Dasgupta talks with transportation planner Patrick Decorla-Souza about the history of congestion pricing and his new idea, HOTTER Lanes, which gives carpoolers cash rewards from the revenue generated by tolls. Local news re dedicated bus lanes, security camera program, MCPS hires a former councilmember, counties want a hand in shaping school budgets. Music from Oren Levine: https://ohljazz.com. HOTTER Lanes: https://t.ly/hj7rv. Bus Lanes: https://t.ly/CgsjR Camera Rebate: https://t.ly/DUAt_Item “Our Constitution . . . Should Be Read by Intelligent and Patriotic Men”: A Statistical Analysis of Constitutional Rhetoric(Law Review, 2023) Blake, William D.Item The Doughnut Hole of Political Accountability(I Hate Politics Podcasts, 2023-11-10) Dasgupta, Sunil; Rogers, StevenHow we hold politicians accountable is an enduring challenge in democratic societies, but a new book, Accountability in State Legislatures, argues that voters are uniquely unable to punish state legislators. Sunil Dasgupta talks with author and political scientist Steven Rogers about the connections of his research to political polarization, one-party rule, gerrymandering, barriers to challenger entry, and the decline of local and state news coverage. Local news about Rockville and Gaithersburg city elections and the continuing local fallout of the War in Gaza: immigrant rights group CASA missteps and a rally in Rockville is met with nasty rhetoric. Music from Oren Levine: https://ohljazz.com Accountability in State Legislatures: https://a.co/d/87aZZM6Item Coping with Cross-Pressures: Electoral Choice and Political Perceptions among American Catholics(2014-08-21) Antkowiak, Laura; Layman, Geoffrey C.American Catholics are often described as a “cross-pressured” constituency, pulled toward Democrats on social welfare issues but toward Republicans on cultural issues like abortion. While research suggests that this image does not fit most Catholics, we know little about the characteristics and political behavior of Catholics that do share their bishops’ pro-life, pro-welfare views. This paper addresses that gap. Using the American National Election Studies pooled over 1992-2008, we first show that commitment to the Catholic faith increases the likelihood that Americans profess pro-life, pro-welfare policy preferences. We also describe the presidential voting of pro-life, pro-welfare Catholics and test hypotheses regarding how they cope with cross-pressures. We find that the relative salience of abortion and social welfare is an important predictor of the presidential votes of the most religiously committed among them. We also find that many appear to rationalize their votes by misperceiving their candidate’s policy position on the issue where they disagree.