This is an archived copy of the 2019-20 guide. To access the most recent version of the guide, please visit http://guide.berkeley.edu.
Courses
Terms offered: Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019
The Freshman Seminar Program has been designed to provide new students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small seminar setting. Freshman seminars are offered in all campus departments, and topics vary from department to department and semester to semester. Enrollment is limited to 15 freshmen.
Freshman Seminar: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of seminar per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrial Societies 24
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Sophomore seminars are small interactive courses offered by faculty members in departments all across the campus. Sophomore seminars offer opportunity for close, regular intellectual contact between faculty members and students in the crucial second year. The topics vary from department to department and semester to semester. Enrollment limited to 15 sophomores.
Sophomore Seminar: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: At discretion of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring:
5 weeks - 3-6 hours of seminar per week
10 weeks - 1.5-3 hours of seminar per week
15 weeks - 1-2 hours of seminar per week
Summer:
6 weeks - 2.5-5 hours of seminar per week
8 weeks - 1.5-3.5 hours of seminar and 2-4 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrial Societies 84
Terms offered: Spring 2014, Spring 2013
Student-directed course under the supervision of a faculty member. Subject matter to change from semester to semester.
Directed Group Study: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of directed group study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrial Societies 98
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019
One-semester lecture course offered each semester. In-depth analysis of the classical political economy literature, including such authors as Locke, Smith, Marx, Mills, and Weber to Veblen and Polanyi. Strong emphasis is placed on providing appropriate background for understanding the evolution of the literature that has emanated from the various social science disciplines which forms the basis of modern political economy.
Classical Theories of Political Economy: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit under special circumstances: Passing POLECON 100 may replace a deficient grade in POLECON N100.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 1.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2020 8 Week Session, Summer 2019 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2018 First 6 Week Session
In-depth analysis of the classical political economy literature, including such authors as Locke, Smith, Marx, Mills, and Weber to Veblen and Polanyi. Strong emphasis is placed on providing appropriate background for understanding the evolution of the literature that has emanated from the various social science disciplines which forms the basis of modern political economy.
Classical Theories of Political Economy: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit under special circumstances: Passing POLECON N100 may replace a deficient grade in POLECON 100.
Hours & Format
Summer:
6 weeks - 10.5 hours of lecture per week
8 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019
This course is designed to introduce students to modern theoretical works of central intellectual debates on 20th century international political economy. The course explores alternative explanations for inequality in economic development among nations and economic declines of of the dominate powers. It will also examine tensions between the increasing "globalization" of that economy and continued fragmentation of the international political system in nation-states.
Contemporary Theories of Political Economy: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 100, Political Economy of Industrial Societies 100 or consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit under special circumstances: Passing POLECON 101 may replace a deficient grade in POLECON N101.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer:
6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2020 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2019 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2018 First 6 Week Session
This course is designed to introduce students to modern theoretical works of central intellectual debates on 20th century international political economy. The course explores alternative explanations for inequality in economic development among nations and economic declines of of the dominate powers. It will also examine tensions between the increasing "globalization" of that economy and continued fragmentation of the international political system in nation-states.
Contemporary Theories of Political Economy: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Political Economy 100, N100 or consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit under special circumstances: Passing POLECON N101 may replace a deficient grade in POLECON 101.
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2020
This course is designed as a comprehensive overview of intermediate microeconomic theory. It covers the basic supply and demand model. Topics include consumer choice, choice under uncertainty and information, demand theory, firm, production and cost theory, competitive market theory, imperfect competition, and market failure. The course is structured for majors in Political Economy and other non-economic social science majors.
Intermediate Microeconomic Theory: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Economics 1 or equivalent
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for POLECON 106 after completing ECON 100A, ECON 101A, UGBA 101A, or IAS 106. A deficient grade in POLECON 106 may be removed by taking ECON 100A, ECON 101A, UGBA 101A, or IAS 106.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer:
6 weeks - 10 hours of lecture and 3 hours of discussion per week
8 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2019
This course is designed as a comprehensive overview of intermediate macroeconomic theory focusing on economic growth and international economics. It covers a number of topics including history of economic growth, industrial revolution, post-industrial revolution divergence, flexible-price and sticky-price macroeconomics, and macroeconomic policy. Course is structured for majors in Political Economy and other non-economic social science majors.
Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Economics 1 or equivalent
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for POLECON 107 after completing IAS 107, ECON 100B, ECON 101B, or UGBA 101B. A deficient grade in POLECON 107 may be removed by taking IAS 107, ECON 100B, ECON 101B, or UGBA 101B.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2020 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2019 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2018
This course investigates the nature, extent, and persistence of poverty and inequality, and examines the effects of program and policy responses. Throughout the course we will look at proposed explanations for the causes of poverty and will observe how underlying values and assumptions have influenced the development of policies aimed at poverty alleviation. While emphasizing poverty and policy responses in the United States, we will examine poverty and related policies in other countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as points of comparison.
Poverty and Social Policy: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This course is designed to accommodate cross-listed courses offered through other departments, the content of which is applicable to PE majors. Content and unit values vary from course to course.
Cross-Listed Topics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrial Societies 130
Terms offered: Spring 2015, Fall 2014, Spring 2014
These small research and writing seminars will focus on the research area of the faculty member teaching the course and will provide students the opportunity to engage in conversation, research, and writing in greater depth than is possible in a larger class.
Junior Seminar in Political Economy: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Junior Standing
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-3 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2018
The 21st century has seen powerful critiques of both growing economic inequality and the troubling persistence of domination based on gender, race and other categorical differences. Gender has a distinctive role here for many reasons: the centrality of gender to social reproduction; the historical coproduction of male domination and capitalism; and the way gender operates in the constitution of selves. Insofar as capitalism is organized and distributes power and profits through gendered structures, and gendered meanings and identities are shaped by their emergence within capitalist logics, it behooves us to think gender and capitalism in tandem. Figuring out how to do that, and sorting out the consequences, is our project in this class.
Gender and Capitalism: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Also listed as: GWS C138
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
A short course designed to provide a vehicle to take advantage of short-term visitors coming to campus who have considerable expertise in areas of interest to political economy of industrial societies. Topics will vary from semester to semester.
Special Topics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 8 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrial Societies 140
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Spring 2018
Advanced multidisciplinary research in current issues of political economy and industrialization. Seminars will focus on specific geographical areas or topics with appropriate comparative material included. A major research project is required as well as class presentations. Topics change each semester.
Advanced Study in Political Economy of Industrial Societies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and background in political economy or related social sciences
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Summer:
6 weeks - 7.5 hours of seminar per week
8 weeks - 5.5 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrial Societies 150
Advanced Study in Political Economy of Industrial Societies: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This course focuses on the relationship of politics and economics in modern societies. Special attention is given to problems and issues in social science or public policy best examined from an interdisciplinary perspective with an eye toward building students' knowledge of recently developed analytical tools in political economy.
Developments in Modern Political Economy: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 100 and 101 or consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit up to a total of 8 units.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrical Societies 155
Terms offered: Fall 2020
This course investigates the historical origins and institutional ecosystem of Silicon Valley by identifying key factors in the development of Silicon Valley, as well as political circumstances and cultural conditions that have sustained its important role in the global economy. Questions like these will be addressed: Will Silicon Valley and artificial intelligence render workers irrelevant? Have the region’s tech giants like Google, Apple and Facebook become the monopolists of the new Gilded Age, and should they be broken up? Has Silicon Valley peaked? Is the “Silicon Valley model” unique or can it be replicated elsewhere? Lectures are discussion-driven, interactive, and will be complemented by films, debate, and group work.
Silicon Valley and the Global Economy: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2020
This course will examine how government and industry interact to govern markets by surveying debates over specific substantive issues in the advanced industrial countries, especially the United States and Japan. Topics include labor regulation, antitrust policy, financial regulation, intellectual property rights, and the digital economy.
Market Governance and the Digital Economy: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Instructor: Vogel
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019
This course focuses specifically on the historical context and perspective of the relationship of politics and economics in modern societies. Students are guided through an interdisciplinary survey of the historical experience of peoples and places who have participated in the ongoing great transformation away from argricultural societies to the rise of the industrial state and onto post-industrialism. Each term provides a different perspective of this transformation.
Political Economy in Historical Context: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 100 and 101, or Political Economy of Industrial Societies 100 and 101, or consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit up to a total of 8 units.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrial Societies 160
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
The world today is more different-in its economies, in its forms of political organization, in its sociological dynamics, and perhaps most of all in the technologies we use and abuse every day-than the world of 1870 was from the world of 1820, or indeed than the world of 1870 was from the world of 500 BC. We who live on this globe now are who we are because the history of the past century and a half has taken the form that it has. And that history is predominantly economic and technological. This course is web-based.
Political Economy in Historical Context: The Twentieth Century: Economies, Societies, Polities, Technologies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Econ 1 or equivalent
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for W160A after taking 160A or Economics 115 or Political Economy of Industrial Societies 160A.
Hours & Format
Summer: 8 weeks - 4 hours of web-based lecture and 3 hours of web-based discussion per week
Online: This is an online course.
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Instructor: DeLong
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrial Societies W160A
Terms offered: Spring 2018
This course is designed to provide a vehicle for undergraduate students interested in writing a major paper on a political economy topic. The paper should be approximately thirty pages in length; the topic should be agreed upon in advance by both the student and faculty sponsor.
Senior Thesis: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Upper division standing; consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrial Societies 192
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Interdisciplinary research seminar for Political Economy majors. Intensive writing on research questions in social science and public policy best approached from an interdisciplinary perspective. Course assumes intermediate to advanced knowledge of central focus or topic of course. Weekly discussions and critiques of readings and assignments. Final paper or project required. Topic must be approved by instructor. Topics vary from term to term.
Senior Seminar: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018
Honors students are required to research and write a thesis based on the prospectus developed in International and Area Studies 102. The thesis work is reviewed by the honors instructor and a second reader to be selected based on the thesis topic. Weekly progress reports required.
Senior Honors Thesis Seminar: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: International and Area Studies 102 and consent of instructor; senior standing
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrial Societies H195
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Students to work in selected internship programs approved in advance by the faculty coordinator and for which written contracts have been established between the sponsoring organization and the student. Students will be expected to produce two progress reports for their faculty coordinator during the course of the internship, as well as produce a final paper for the course consisting of no fewer than 35 pages. Other restrictions apply; see faculty adviser.
Special Field Research: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit up to a total of 12 units.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of fieldwork per week
Summer:
6 weeks - 1-6 hours of fieldwork per week
8 weeks - 1-6 hours of fieldwork per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrial Societies 196
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2014, Spring 2013, Fall 2012, Spring 2012
This course is the UCDC letter-graded core seminar for 4 units that complements the P/NP credited internship course UGIS C196B. Core seminars are designed to enhance the experience of and provide an intellectual framework for the student's internship. UCDC core seminars are taught in sections that cover various tracks such as the Congress, media, bureaucratic organizations and the Executive Branch, international relations, public policy and general un-themed original research.
UCDC Core Seminar: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: C196B (must be taken concurrently)
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 10 weeks - 4.5 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Also listed as: GWS C196A/HISTART C196A/HISTORY C196A/MEDIAST C196A/POL SCI C196A/SOCIOL C196A/UGIS C196A
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2014, Spring 2013, Fall 2012, Spring 2012
This course provides a credited internship for all students enrolled in the UCDC and Cal in the Capital Programs. It must be taken in conjunction with the required academic core course C196A. C196B requires that students work 3-4 days per week as interns in settings selected to provide them with exposure to and experienc in government, public policy, international affairs, media, the arts or other areas or relevance to their major fields of study.
UCDC Internship: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: C196A (must be taken concurrently)
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 20 hours of internship per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Also listed as: GWS C196B/HISTART C196B/HISTORY C196B/MEDIAST C196B/POL SCI C196B/SOCIOL C196B/UGIS C196B
Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015, Fall 2014, Spring 2014, Spring 2013
Students work in selected internship programs approved in advance by the faculty coordinator and for which written contracts have been established between the sponsoring organization and the student. Students will be expected to produce two progress reports for their faculty coordinator during the course of the internship, as well as a final paper for the course consisting of at least 35 pages. Other restrictions apply; see faculty adviser.
Special Field Research: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit up to a total of 12 units.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar and 25 hours of internship per week
Summer:
6 weeks - 7.5 hours of seminar and 60 hours of internship per week
8 weeks - 6 hours of seminar and 50 hours of internship per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Formerly known as: 196W
Also listed as: GWS C196W/HISTART C196W/HISTORY C196W/MEDIAST C196W/POL SCI C196W/SOCIOL C196W/UGIS C196W
Terms offered: Summer 2016 10 Week Session, Fall 2015, Spring 2012
Supervised experience relevant to specific aspects of Political Economy of Industrial Societies in off-campus organizations. Regular individual meetings with faculty sponsor and written reports required.
Field Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Upper division standing and consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of fieldwork per week
Summer:
6 weeks - 1-4 hours of fieldwork per week
8 weeks - 1-4 hours of fieldwork per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrial Societies 197
Terms offered: Spring 2014
Directed Group Study: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Upper division standing and consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of directed group study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrial Societies 198
Terms offered: Fall 2018
Enrollment restricted by regulations of the college.
Supervised Independent Study and Research for Undergraduates: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Written proposal must be approved by a faculty adviser
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of independent study per week
Summer:
3 weeks - 5-20 hours of independent study per week
6 weeks - 2.5-10 hours of independent study per week
8 weeks - 1.5-7.5 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Political Economy/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Formerly known as: Political Economy of Industrial Societies 199
Supervised Independent Study and Research for Undergraduates: Read Less [-]