Teaching Experience
I have taught a wide range of undergraduate courses, including American politics, public policy, state and local politics, and research design and methods.
Current Courses
My courseload at Cal Poly includes:
- Critical Issues in U.S. Politics
- California Politics
- Regulatory and Economic Policy (MPP)
- Research Design
Past Courses
My courseload at UNF (2-2) included:
- Introduction to American Government — A survey course on American Politics. The first half focuses on the institutional design of the US federal government, and the second half dives into political participation and behavior, ending with challenges to democratic integrity. (16-week syllabus, 6-week syllabus)
- Congress and the Legislative Process — A deep-dive into the Article I branch of the US Constitution. We begin with the logic of bicameralism and legislative procedure. From there, we explore candidate recruitment, campaigns, and elections. Finally, we wrap up with challenges to our current system of shared powers but separate branches. (Syllabus/Reading List)
- Issues in State and Local Governance — Examines the benefits and drawbacks of a sprawling federal system, starting with a bird’s-eye view of institutional differences across the American states (e.g., term limits, direct democracy, tax regimes) before narrowing in on key public policy issues in state and local governance (e.g., homelessness, election security, climate resilience). (Syllabus)
My courseload at UCCS (2-2-2) included:
- Public Policy in California — This course sits at the intersection of public policy and public law in California, analyzing how institutional design and legal frameworks influence policy formulation and implementation. (Syllabus)
- Research Design in Public Policy — This class provides statistical training in undergraduate research methods, equipping students with the skills to design, conduct, and analyze original policy research.
- Governing California — This course provides an in-depth examination of state and local politics literature, analyzing the legal mechanics of state governance and comparing California’s government with those of other states.
- Readings in American Politics — This is a seminar on foundational texts in U.S. political science, alongside modern revisions and critiques, offering students a comprehensive understanding of the field’s key debates and developments.
An overview of my evaluations may be found here. Additional syllabi available upon request.
Teaching Objectives
I have three core objectives as a professor:
(1) Encourage an appreciation of the consequences of institutional design,
(2) Enhance students’ sense of political efficacy, and, relatedly,
(3) Get students out of the classroom and into the community.
Paige Pellaton, PhD 