Government (GOVT)Arts and Sciences

Showing 12 results.

Course descriptions provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

Last Updated

  • Schedule of Classes - January 30, 2026 3:06PM EST

GOVT 1616
Introduction to Political Philosophy

This course offers a survey of Western political Philosophy. We will be reading and discussing the spectrum of great canonical theorists that include Plato, Aristotle, Christ, St. Augustine, St. Thomas ... view course details

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Syllabi: none

  •   Three Week - Second.  Choose one lecture and one discussion.

  • 4 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  1560 GOVT 1616   LEC 001

  •  
    • MTWRF
    • Jun 22 - Jul 10, 2026

    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: Distance Learning-Synchronous

    This Summer Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/.
    Enrollment open to: Precollege Studies Online program students. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/precollege/program/online.

  •  1561 GOVT 1616   DIS 201

  •  
    • MTWRF
    • Jun 22 - Jul 10, 2026

    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: Distance Learning-Synchronous

  •  1562 GOVT 1616   DIS 202

  •  
    • MTWRF
    • Jun 22 - Jul 10, 2026

    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: Distance Learning-Synchronous

GOVT 1626
Black Political Thought

This course is a survey of some of the canonical and some of the most exciting contemporary works in the field of Black political thought. The first half covers foundational texts from Delany, Douglass, ... view course details

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Syllabi: none

  •   Three Week - Three. 

  • 4 Credits Graded

  •  1567 GOVT 1626   LEC 001

  •  
    • MTWRF
    • Jul 13 - Jul 31, 2026

    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: Distance Learning-Synchronous

    This Summer Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/.
    Enrollment open to: Precollege Studies Online program students. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/precollege/program/online.

GOVT 1817
Making Sense of World Politics

An introduction to the basic concepts and practice of international politics with an emphasis on learning critical thinking. The course is divided into two parts. In the first half, we will learn about ... view course details

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Syllabi: none

  •   Three Week - Second. 

  • 4 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  1550 GOVT 1817   LEC 001

  •  
    • MTWRF
    • Jun 22 - Jul 10, 2026

    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: In Person

    This Summer Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/.
    Enrollment open to: Precollege Studies Residential program students. See https://sce.cornell.edu/precollege/residential for more information.
    Enrollment open to: Precollege Studies Commuter program students. See https://sce.cornell.edu/precollege/program/on-campus for additional information.

Syllabi: none

  •   Three Week - Three. 

  • 4 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  1551 GOVT 1817   LEC 002

  •  
    • MTWRF
    • Jul 13 - Jul 31, 2026

    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: In Person

    This Summer Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/.
    Enrollment open to: Precollege Studies Residential program students. See https://sce.cornell.edu/precollege/residential for more information.
    Enrollment open to: Precollege Studies Commuter program students. See https://sce.cornell.edu/precollege/program/on-campus for additional information.

GOVT 2323
Global Democracy and Public Policy

This course explores trends in democracy around the world as both a product of public policy (which policies support and bolster democratic transitions and endurance), and as a factor that shapes ... view course details

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Syllabi: none

  •   Regular Academic Session.  Combined with: PUBPOL 2320

  • 3 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  1718 GOVT 2323   LEC 001

  •  
    • TR
    • Jun 9 - Jul 30, 2026

    • Garrett, T

      Vidaurri Mudd, M

  • Instruction Mode: In Person

GOVT 2847
Political History of Modern Afghanistan

Is Afghanistan part of Central Asia, South Asia, or the Middle East? Is it truly the 'graveyard of empires'? Why are great powers so interested in intervening in this country? Why did Britain, the Soviet ... view course details

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Syllabi: none

  •   Three Week - First.  Combined with: NES 2847

  • 3 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  1565 GOVT 2847   LEC 001

  •  
    • Jun 1 - Jun 18, 2026

    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: Distance Learning-Asynchronous

    This Summer Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/.
    Enrollment open to: Precollege Studies Online program students. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/precollege/program/online.

GOVT 3071
Enduring Global and American Issues

The US and the global community face a number of complex, interconnected and enduring issues that pose challenges for our political and policy governance institutions and society at large. Exploring how ... view course details

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Syllabi: none

  •   Regular Academic Session.  Combined with: AMST 3071, PUBPOL 3071

  • 4 Credits Graded

  •  1648 GOVT 3071   LEC 001

    • MW
    • Jun 8 - Jul 29, 2026

    • Silbey, D

  • Instruction Mode: In Person

    Add/drop Deadline: TBD.
    This is part of the Cornell in Washington (CIW) program.

    Department Consent Required (Add)

GOVT 3141
Prisons

The United States stands alone among Western, industrialized countries with its persistent, high rates of incarceration, long sentences, and continued use of the death penalty. This American exceptionalism ... view course details

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Syllabi: none

  •   Three Week - First.  Combined with: AMST 3141

  • 4 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  1552 GOVT 3141   LEC 001

  •  
    • Jun 1 - Jun 18, 2026

    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: Distance Learning-Asynchronous

    This Summer Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/.

GOVT 3150
The American Legal System

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the American legal system, its roots in natural and common law, the purposes/values it serves (e.g., resolution of private grievances; punishment of offenses ... view course details

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Syllabi: none

  •   Three Week - Second.  Combined with: LAW 3150

  • 4 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  1936 GOVT 3150   LEC 001

  •  
    • MTWRF
    • Jun 22 - Jul 10, 2026

    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: In Person

    This Summer Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/.

GOVT 3313
Comparative Politics of the Middle East

What explains authoritarian resilience in the Middle East? What are the causes and consequences of Islamist political attitudes and behavior? What is the historical legacy of colonialism and empire in ... view course details

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Syllabi: none

  •   Three Week - First.  Combined with: JWST 3850, NES 3850

  • 3 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  1554 GOVT 3313   LEC 001

  •  
    • Jun 1 - Jun 18, 2026

    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: Distance Learning-Asynchronous

    This Summer Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/.
    Enrollment open to: Precollege Studies Online program students. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/precollege/program/online.

GOVT 3686
What Makes Us Human? An Existential Journey Amidst Crises

Climate change, pandemics, wars and warlike politics, polarization, tribalism, raging anxieties, AI advancement - these are just some of the many existential troubles and challenges we all, and our very ... view course details

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Syllabi: none

  •   Three Week - Second. 

  • 3 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  1563 GOVT 3686   LEC 001

  •  
    • Jun 22 - Jul 10, 2026

    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: Distance Learning-Asynchronous

    This Summer Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/.
    Enrollment open to: Precollege Studies Online program students. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/precollege/program/online.

Syllabi: none

  •   Three Week - Three. 

  • 3 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  1564 GOVT 3686   LEC 002

  •  
    • Jul 13 - Jul 31, 2026

    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: Distance Learning-Asynchronous

    This Summer Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/.
    Enrollment open to: Precollege Studies Online program students. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/precollege/program/online.

GOVT 3887
International Human Rights in Theory and Practice

This course will introduce students to the law, theory, and practice of international human rights. Students will think critically about the effectiveness of the international human rights system by examining ... view course details

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Syllabi: none

  •   Three Week - Second.  Combined with: LAW 3887

  • 4 Credits Graded

  •  1535 GOVT 3887   LEC 001

  •  
    • MTWRF
    • Jun 22 - Jul 10, 2026

    • Staff

    • MTWRF
    • Jun 22 - Jul 10, 2026

  • Instruction Mode: Online

    This Summer Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/.
    Enrollment open to: Precollege Studies Online program students. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/precollege/program/online.

GOVT 3967
What is China?

China is often thought of as being isolated from the outside world. It is imagined as existing in historic seclusion, and, following the establishment of the People's Republic, as pursuing a path of autarky. ... view course details

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Syllabi: none

  •   Three Week - First.  Combined with: ASIAN 3395, CAPS 3967

  • 3 Credits Graded

  •  1557 GOVT 3967   LEC 001

  •  
    • Jun 1 - Jun 18, 2026

    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: Distance Learning-Asynchronous

    This Summer Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/.
    Enrollment open to: Precollege Studies Online program students. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/precollege/program/online.