COURSE DESCRIPTIONS: Christian Political Engagement Field Seminar (3 Credits)
Course Overview
This course blends theological studies and fieldwork activities to provide a Washington, D.C.-based study of how Christians engage in contemporary public life as citizens and professionals. The course begins with a “liturgical audit” of public life by investigating the institutional nature of power, the formative nature of institutions, and the challenges Christians face when trying to exercise power justly in morally pluralistic societies. The course next uses a Creation-Fall-Redemption-Consummation framework to explore how the biblical narrative shapes our understanding of Christian identity and responsibility as citizens and professionals when relating to earthly rulers and cultural powers. The course concludes with a comparative study of historic and contemporary Christian public engagement practices. We are honest about the potential for “malfunctions of the faith,” but also hopeful about the possibility of sustaining authentic Christian public witness and the faithful practice of power in public life. Course Materials
Course discussions are guided by a robust selection of readings from authors such as Robert Coles, James Davison Hunter, Yuval Levin, James K.A. Smith, Steven Garber, Jonathan Leeman, Clarke E. Cochran, Richard B. Hays, Hoang and Johnson, Miroslav Volf, Roger E. Olson, Stanley Hauerwas, and others.
The Politics of Public Policy Field Seminar (3 Credits)
Course Overview
This course blends theory and fieldwork activities to provide a Washington, D.C.-based study of the politics of public policy and the practice of policy analysis. Theory-based studies will teach you key concepts associated with the study of public policy, the different contexts in which public policy is made, different reasons given for governmental involvement, the challenges the separation of powers poses for policymaking, similarities and differences between domestic and foreign policymaking processes, and the various evaluative criteria stakeholders may use to judge the value of policy proposals. Fieldwork activities occur alongside our theory-based studies to bring the practice of policy analysis to life. Policy analysis projects create opportunities for you to directly engage Washington, DC-based policy experts and organizations—governmental and non-governmental, national and international—through meetings and interviews to deepen your understanding of the interests and influence of key political stakeholders in current public policy debates. Policy Topic
Please note that this course surveys one primary real-world policy issue over the course of the semester. Immigration and Energy & Environment are examples of recent semester policy topics. Policy topic may be determined by instructor expertise and interest. Course Materials
Kraft, Michael E. and Scott R. Furlong. Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives, 6th edition. Los Angeles, CA: CQ Press, 2018 |
