Course Descriptions

PHYS 9620 - Condensed Matter Seminar

Condensed Matter seminar given by invited speakers from outside and within UVA. Restricted to Arts and Sciences Physics graduate students only



Credits: 3

PHYS 9710 - Nuclear Physics Seminar

Nuclear Physics seminar given by invited speakers from outside and within UVA. Restricted to Arts and Sciences Physics graduate students only.



Credits: 3

PHYS 9720 - Nuclear Physics Seminar

Nuclear Physics seminar given by invited speakers from outside and within UVA. Restricted to Arts and Sciences Physics graduate students only.



Credits: 3

PHYS 9810 - High Energy Physics Seminar

High Energy Physics seminars given by invited speakers from outside and within UVA. Restricted to Arts and Sciences Physics graduate students only.



Credits: 3

PHYS 9820 - High Energy Physics Seminar

High Energy Physics seminars given by invited speakers from outside and within UVA. Restricted to Arts and Sciences Physics graduate students only.



Credits: 3

PHYS 9998 - Pre-Qual Preparation for Doctoral Research

For students who have not passed the Qualifying exam for doctoral research, taken before a dissertation director has been selected.



Credits: 1 to 12

PHYS 9999 - PhD Thesis Non-Topical Research

PHY 8011 - Seminar in Physiology

PHY 8012 - Seminar in Physiology

PHY 8040 - Physiology A

The course will integrate background cellular and molecular knowledge into organ systems and whole animal, function. It is intended to provide the ability to integrate knowledge at the molecular level into function—the foundation of translational-based research. The physiology to be covered will include the nervous system, metabolism and endocrine systems.



Credits: 2

PHY 8041 - Physiology B

The course will integrate background cellular and molecular knowledge into organ systems and whole animal, function. It is intended to provide the ability to integrate knowledge at the molecular level into function—the foundation of translational-based research. Specifically, the physiology to be covered will include the heart, vasculature, kidney, GI, and muscle.
Prerequisites: PHY 8040 or permission of instructor



Credits: 2

PHY 8052 - Vascular Biology

The class covers the broad range of vascular biology from the basic science to clinical implications. The class integrates new methods in the field and relationships to heart function.
Prerequisite: PHY 8040



Credits: 2

PHY 8053 - Vascular Biology B

The class covers the broad range of vascular biology from the basic sciences to the clinical implications. In addition, the class integrates new methods in the field and relationships to heart function.
Prerequisite: PHY 8040 and PHY 8052



Credits: 2

PHY 8092 - Directed Readings in Physiology

PHY 8093 - Directed Readings in Physiology

PHY 8160 - Neurophysiology

Selected topics in neurophysiology, emphasizing synaptic organization of the brain: how neurons convert physical stimuli into the sensations they evoke and how movement is controlled through integrative neuronal action. Explores the mechanisms of learning and memory at the neuronal and molecular levels.



Credits: 4

PHY 9995 - Research

PHY 9998 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Doctoral Research

PHY 9999 - Non-Topical Research

PLAP 5430 - Intergovernmental Relations

Analyzes the contemporary relations of national, state, and local governments. Examines urban and metropolitan growth problems and their implications for public policy and administration in relation to the federal system.
Prerequisite: Six credits of PLAP or fourth-year standing.



Credits: 3

PLAP 5460 - The Politics of the Budgetary Process

This course examines the politics and processes of federal budgeting, and the role the budget plays in national economic policy making. Topics covered include the historical development of the budget and fiscal policy; the creation of the executive budget; the politics of the budgetary process through appropriations, entitlements, and tax policy; and the relationship between fiscal and monetary policy.
Crosslisted with PPOL 5460



Credits: 3

PLAP 5500 - Special Topics in American Politics

PLAP 5526 - Special Topics in Public Policy or Public Administration

PLAP 5993 - Selected Problems in American Politics

Independent study under faculty supervision, for students who are preparing for intensive research on a specific topic.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.



Credits: 3

PLAP 7000 - American Political Development

PLAP 7010 - American Political Institutions

Provides a general introduction to the field of American political institutions. It is structured as a ‘survey’ course, providing both an overview of classic works and coverage of important new research in this subfield.



Credits: 3

PLAP 7110 - American Political Behavior

Introduces the fields of public opinion, mass media, political psychology, voting behavior, and other forms of political participation. Focuses primarily but not exclusively on research conducted in the United States.



Credits: 3

PLAP 7261 - American Political Development in Action

This course is built around readings drawn from the leading works in this field that spans history, political science, and sociology. Students will also attend colloquia where works in progress will be presented by leading APD scholars.



Credits: 3

PLAP 7410 - Survey of State and Local Government

Readings and research on the institutions, processes, and interrelationships of state, local, and governmental units smaller than national in scope.



Credits: 3

PLAP 7440 - Social Policy and the Politics of Inequality in the United States

Investigates the political development of the American welfare state and offers competing perspectives on the causes and consequences of inequality in the United States. Examines how and why our social safety net is unique from other nations, public beliefs about income inequality and support for antipoverty measures, the implications of inequality for participation and influence, as well as consider several specific policies.



Credits: 3

PLAP 7500 - Special Topics in American Politics

PLAP 7600 - Public Administration

General introduction to public administration at the graduate level, emphasizing the political and ecological influences upon it, the problems of internal organization and management, and the problems and methods of innovation and change.



Credits: 3

PLAP 7660 - Policy Analysis

PLAP 7700 - Racial Politics

PLAP 7770 - Groups in the Political Processes

PLAP 8210 - The American Presidency

Readings and research on special problems of the American political and administrative system that come to a focus in the presidency or arise out of the manifold responsibilities of the president.



Credits: 3

PLAP 8220 - The Party System and the Conduct of Government

Readings and research, emphasizing the functions of parties in the conduct of government, and the evolution of the party system in response to changes in the broader economic, social, and political environment.



Credits: 3

PLAP 8250 - The American Congress

Studies the legislative process in the U.S. Congress. Topics include the internal distribution of power, influences on legislative behavior, congressional relationships with other political institutions, the place of Congress in the American polity, and the problems associated with it.



Credits: 3

PLAP 8410 - Development of the American Party System

Focuses on the development of the political party system in the United States, from the late 18th Century through the present day. Examines why political parties emerged in the U.S., both in Congress and at the mass level; why particular parties like the Federalists and Whigs collapsed; and how different “party systems” have developed historically.



Credits: 3

PLAP 8440 - Urban Politics

Studies patterns of power and influence in urban decision-making. Topics include social, economic, and other factors influencing urban political institutions; patterns of leadership and political behavior in central cities and suburbs; issues of the exploding metropolis, including urban renewal, finances, transportation, education, reform, and state and federal intervention; and methodological problems.



Credits: 3

PLAP 8500 - Special Topics in American Politics

PLAP 8583 - Topics in Public Law

PLAP 8610 - Seminar in Public Administration

PLAP 8740 - Personnel Administration

PLAP 8840 - Seminar in Civil Rights and Liberties

Explores the vexatious lines between the rights of individuals and those of the state in democratic society, focusing on such major issues as freedom of expression and worship; separation of church and state; criminal justice; the suffrage; privacy; and racial and gender discrimination. Focuses on the judicial process.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.



Credits: 3

PLAP 8850 - American Constitutional Law and Theory Seminar

Examines the nature and parameters of the judicial function, focusing on law courts and jurists, with an emphasis on the political role of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.



Credits: 3

PLAP 8998 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research

PLAP 8999 - Non-Topical Research

PLAP 9998 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Doctoral Research

PLAP 9999 - Non-Topical Research

PLCP 5230 - Politics of Eastern Europe

Introduction to the politics of Eastern and Central European countries. Considers political, social, and economic developments in these countries during the post-Versailles period. Subjects include the communist takeover at the end of World War II, uprising during the de-Stalinization era, and the collapse of communism at the end of the 1980s. Also deals with contemporary issues, including the process of democratization.



Credits: 4

PLCP 5310 - Politics of Latin America

Studies the constitutional, political, and administrative systems of the major countries of Latin America, the political implications of economic development and social reform, and nationalist theories of socio-political development.
Prerequisite: Some background in comparative politics and/or history of Latin America.



Credits: 3

PLCP 5330 - Political Parties and Movements in Latin America

Studies the origins, activities, and contemporary position of the major political parties and movements in Latin America and Spain, and their relationship to economic development, social reform, and the conduct of government in the principal Latin American states.



Credits: 3

PLCP 5350 - Democratic Theory and Democratization in Latin America

Investigates the various democratic theories and the democratization process in Latin America. Evaluates these theories and the democratization process in the contemporary global environment.



Credits: 3

PLCP 5360 - Role of the Military in Latin America

Studies the impact of the military on government and society, the conditions effecting military intervention against constitutional governments, and the circumstances in which military intervention occurs and is likely to occur in Latin America and Spain. Prerequisite: Some background in comparative politics and/or history of Latin America.



Credits: 3

PLCP 5410 - Islam and Democracy in the Middle East

PLCP 5550 - Causal Inference in Comparative Politics

PLCP 5610 - Politics of China

PLCP 5630 - Politics of Vietnam

PLCP 5993 - Selected Problems in Comparative Politics

PLCP 6735 - Politics and Policymaking in European Union

This graduate course offers an introduction to the history, institutions and politics of the European Union, with an emphasis on policymaking in the EU today. First, the class will review the process of European integration and enlargement since the Treaty of Paris in 1951, including a review of the major theories of European integration. Second, the structure and function of the EU institutions will be introduced.
Prerequisites: Graduate Student



Credits: 3

PLCP 7000 - Comparative Politics Core Seminar

PLCP 7070 - Identity and the State

What are identity politics, where do identity claims come from, and what is the relationship between identity and the state? To answer these questions this course investigates how identity categories are constructed and politicized, and then analyzes their relationship to social policy. Case studies include India, South Africa, Brazil, and the United States.



Credits: 3

PLCP 7200 - Comparative Political Parties

Examines political parties in a variety of institutional and socioeconomic settings, focusing on parties in the democratic political systems of Europe, the United States, and Japan.



Credits: 3

PLCP 7500 - Special Topics in Comparative Politics

PLCP 8060 - Formation of the Modern State in Europe

Intensive analysis of classic and contemporary statements, both theoretical and historical, of the rise of the modern state in Europe, from medieval period to French Revolution. Emphasis on role of economic transformation and war on political change.



Credits: 3

PLCP 8061 - Post-Colonial Political Development

Examination of major theoretical statements of causes of state-building in the post-colonial world, 1800 - 2000. Case material from Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.



Credits: 3

PLCP 8140 - Origins of Democracy and Dictatorship

Analyzes the major theories explaining transitions to democratic regimes and their consolidation or reversion to authoritarian regimes. Case material is drawn from the 19th and 20th centuries from all regions of the world.



Credits: 3

PLCP 8200 - Comparative Institutions

Examines political institutions in democratic and authoritarian regimes. Topics include approaches to studying institutions, the state, federalism, electoral systems, executives, legislative decision-making, delegation to bureaucracies, and judicial institutions. The course also assesses efforts to integrate formal and statistical analysis.
Prequisite: a graduate course in PLCP, research methods or permission of instructor.



Credits: 3

PLCP 8506 - Topics in Developmental Politics

Seminar in selected issues of political development, including political mobilization, institutionalization, and breakdowns of political development.



Credits: 3

PLCP 8511 - Topics in the Government and Politics of Western Europe

Studies the contemporary politics and society of a country or group of countries. 811A: Great Britain. 811B: France. 811C: Germany. 811D: Italy and Spain. 811E: Scandinavia. These courses are given on a rotating basis.



Credits: 3

PLCP 8521 - Topics in the Government and Politics of U.S.S.R. and Eastern Europe

PLCP 8531 - Topics in the Government and Politics of Latin America

PLCP 8542 - Topics in the Government and Politics of the Middle East

PLCP 8551 - Topics in the Government and Politics of China

PLCP 8553 - Topics in the Government and Politics of Japan

PLCP 8559 - New Course in Comparative Politics

PLCP 8561 - Topics in the Government and Politics of South Asia

PLCP 8880 - Rational Choice and Democracy

Provides a graduate-level survey of the contributions of rational choice analysis and game-theoretic modeling to topics of central concern in the subfield of comparative politics.



Credits: 3

PLCP 8998 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Research

PLCP 8999 - Non-Topical Research

PLCP 9998 - Non-Topical Research, Preparation for Doctoral Research

PLCP 9999 - Non-Topical Research

PLAD 5130 - Collective Action and Social Change

PLAD 5170 - Game Theory

PLAD 7045 - Game Theory: Applications and Experiments

Game theory is the analytic study of strategic interactions among individuals, firms, governments, or other groups of people. This course demonstrates the usefulness of this powerful analytic approach, through numerous real-world and scholarly applications and through an examination of lab experiments built upon game theoretic modeling techniques.
Cross-listed with PPOL 7045.



Credits: 3

PLAD 7090 - Research Methods and Design in Political Science

Studies the theoretical formulation of questions for political science research and examination of the design and execution of empirical research. Includes consideration of developing hypotheses for research, strategies for data collection (survey research, observational methods, content analysis), managing research projects, and ethical considerations related to the conduct of research.



Credits: 3

PLAD 7100 - Political Research with Quantitative Methods

Studies descriptive and inferential statistics in examining research questions in political science and public administration, including consideration of probability, hypothesis testing, correlation and regression analysis, statistical significance, and use of the SPSS computer package for quantitative analysis.



Credits: 3

PLAD 7500 - Special Topics in Politics

PLAD 7750 - Supervised Research I

PLAD 8120 - Qualitative Methods

Examines strategies for establishing correlation and causation when a small number of cases precludes use of statistical methods. Procedures for employing case studies to develop and test theories. Surveys the major procedures for analyzing small numbers of cases and explores how different research designs can be used to produce valid conclusions.



Credits: 3

PLAD 8220 - Graduate Development Seminar

This course has three main objectives: to help you imporve your written work; to teach you how to maximally benefit from discussing your written witk with your colleagues, and to enable you to become a more incisive reader and helpful critic of your colleagues’ work.



Credits: 3

PLAD 8310 - Advanced Quantitative Applications in Political Science

Considers the use of selected techniques of behavioral research in the study of government and foreign affairs. Emphasizes the assumptions, procedures, and applications of the techniques rather than substantive findings.
Prerequisite: PLAD 7090, 7100, or equivalents.



Credits: 3

PLAD 8320 - Advanced Topics in Multivariate Analysis

PLAD 8500 - Topics in Political Science

PLAD 8750 - Supervised Research II

PLAD 8900 - Departmental Pro-Seminar

For advanced graduate students who have completed core courses in the relevant departmental subfields. Allows students to read, criticize, and discuss with authors a variety of works-in-progress presented by visiting scholars, departmental faculty, and their peers.



Credits: 3

PLIR 5250 - Negotiating Arab - Israeli Peace

Provides a detailed assessment of efforts to acheive a negotiated peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Focus will be on negotiation theory, conflict resolution, and diplomacy. Cases cover major episodes between 1973 and today. Includes a simulation of a negotiation of current issues in the conflict.
Instructor Permission Required.



Credits: 3

PLIR 5390 - Economics, Retional Choice, and International Security

PLIR 5500 - Special Topics