Data and Modeling

Rochester political science has long been renowned for using theoretical and statistical models to answer questions about all aspects of political life. Training in the fundamentals of data analysis prepares students for applied courses on topics such as public polling and campaign finance. Courses in positive (or formal) theory use logical and mathematical reasoning to study obstacles to political cooperation, compromise, and efficiency.

Required Courses:

  • PSCI 205 Data Analysis II (Prerequisite: PSCI 200 or other statistics course)

Additional Courses:

  • PSCI 107 Introduction to Positive Political Theory
  • PSCI 200 Data Analysis I (Open only to students without previous statistics course)
  • PSCI 227 Designing American Democracy
  • PSCI 248 Discrimination
  • PSCI/INTR 264 Comparative Political Institutions
  • PSCI/INTR 270 Mechanisms of International Relations
  • PSCI/INTR 272 Theories of International Relations
  • PSCI/INTR 278 Foundations of Modern International Politics
  • PSCI 280 Intermediate Positive Political Theory
  • PSCI 281 Formal Models in Political Science
  • PSCI 282 Making Public Policy
  • PSCI 288 Game Theory
  • ECON 207 Intermediate Microeconomics
  • ECON 231W Econometrics
  • CSC 161 Introduction to Programming*
  • CSC 171 Introduction to Computer Science*
  • EESC 251 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
  • MATH 217 Mathematical Modeling in Political Science
  • STAT 218 Categorical Data Analysis
  • STAT 223 Bayesian Inference

* Students may use either CSC 161 or CSC 171 toward the Political Science major, but not both courses. If either course is used for the major, the other may not be used, whether toward this track or toward the major as a whole. (Note, however, that students pursuing the B.S. major are allowed to use either CSC 161 or CSC 171 as a prerequisite and then use the other course to fulfill a major requirement.)

Students who take PSCI 287 (Theories of Political Economy) in or before the Spring 2019 semester may use this course for the track in Data and Modeling, but the course may not be used toward this track if it is taken after the Spring 2019 semester. It may be still be used toward the track in Philosophy, Law, and Public Policy and the track in Political Economy and Development.