At Rice University’s School of Social Sciences, a variety of featured political science courses this semester offer students unique opportunities to explore careers in public service, experience life on the campaign trail, and research trends in the 2024 election. Masu.
Congresswoman Ann Johnson, who represents Rice in the Congressional District, speaks to students on POLI 224. Photo: Cyrus Hosseini
The three courses go far beyond a textbook, offering future politicians and public servants a glimpse into the ups, downs, and unpredictable developments in the world of American politics.
“At the School of Social Sciences, we believe that educating students about public service is a core way to contribute to a well-rounded education,” said Dean Rachel Kimbro. “And what better way to prepare students who are interested in or seeking a career in public service than by offering hands-on learning experiences like this.”
POLI 224: How to Run for Public Office is a new course taught by Political Science Department Instructor Libby Vann. This class is much like a political war room, with students spending the semester working with small campaign teams and visiting with election experts, campaign consultants, current and former candidates, and elected officials. Masu. Many of them are Rice alumni, hand-picked for their unique knowledge. They can tell their students.
This semester’s major projects will involve each team selecting an elected office, researching a district, creating candidate biographies and campaign materials, calculating voting goals, and identifying targeted voters. and plan to vote. Additionally, students write a personal essay reflecting their interest in running for public office.
Guest speakers include former White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest (’97), former Harris County Judge Ed Emmett (’71), former Houston Mayor Annise Parker (’78), and They include Anne Johnson, a Texas congresswoman who represents Rice in her congressional district.
The ultimate goal is to improve students’ knowledge and skills about voters, election campaigns, and electoral systems and processes.
“So many students come to Rice University wanting to take action and make positive change, but they don’t know how to do it,” Vann said. “I hope this teaches students about possible paths to becoming agents of change, whether it’s running for office or supporting a candidate they believe in. We hope that by finishing “we have a better understanding of the high stakes of political campaigns and elections” and how it can impact their lives. ”
Freshman Benjamin Kagan said the course was “amazing” and essential for anyone aspiring to go into politics.
Texas Congresswoman Ann Johnson and students enrolled in POLI 224. Photography: Cyrus Hosseini
“Dr. Van is a great teacher and has already helped me improve my skills in many areas,” Kagan said. “She taught me how to be a better researcher and encouraged me to get more involved in politics, about aspects of the electoral process that 99% of the population never realize are involved in candidates’ calculations. He told me.”
Junior Celeste Uribe said she took the course because she wanted to not only learn about the process of political campaigns, but also to actively participate in political movements through the class’s campaign projects.
“I feel like there’s a lot of confusion and misinformation surrounding campaigning, even though it’s an essential part of our democratic process,” Uribe said. “Unfortunately, not many people are given the opportunity to learn and understand the realities of campaigning. This course not only provides the tools needed to gain a deeper understanding of the campaign process, but also I feel strongly that I can also expand my knowledge” outside of the classroom walls. ”
SOSC 447: Public Service Practice is offered for the first time by public service giants Emmett and Parker. Mr. Emmett is currently a fellow in energy and transportation at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, and served as a Harris County judge from 2007-19 and as a Texas state representative from 1979-87. Parker currently serves as CEO and President of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and Leadership Institute and served three terms as Mayor of Houston from 2010 to 2016. She also served on the Houston City Council for six years and as city controller for six years.
Students enrolled in this course will engage in a unique public service internship in the government or private nonprofit sector. While they engage in public service, they also reflect on their personal learning experiences with their classmates each week. This course involves exploring public service concepts through assigned readings and presentations by experts from a variety of backgrounds in the field.
“Judge Emmett and I have decades of experience in government and nonprofit leadership and come from the ‘just get it done’ school of politics,” Parker said.
“In today’s world, it is important to understand the positive impact that public servants have in both the government and private sectors,” Emmett said.
SOSC 447: Public Service Practice is offered for the first time by two giants of public service: former Houston Mayor Annise Parker ’78 and former Harris County Judge Ed Emmett ’71. Photo by Trey Fields
Emmett and Parker also provide in-depth discussion and details about various public service cases in which they were directly involved. This course features guest speakers with extensive experience in various areas of public service.
Sophomore Daija Wilson said, “I really appreciated being exposed to the nonprofit environment and its inner workings and learning how it all works together.” “I learned from this class that nonprofits are like a public service or a hidden part of government that people don’t talk about, but many of the services that people are trying to access are the way nonprofits work. I learned that this is not possible without a nonprofit organization.”
POLI 238: Election 2024 is taught by political science professor John Alford. The current election cycle, a unique focus of this course, is a roadmap for instruction as students follow the weekly twists and turns of the 2024 US election cycle, focusing primarily on the US presidential, House, and Senate elections. functions as
This course provides an interesting look at key studies in history and political science, providing insight into the 2024 election and its broader significance. Mr. Alford and his students are actively participating in the ongoing election by staying abreast of developments in various media and information sources, which, along with the course material, deepens their understanding.
“This is a very unusual election, and it’s not an election you can live without,” Alford said. “This is an extraordinary reality version of the reality/melodrama/drama/cliffhanger/comedy extended-format streaming series that deserves careful viewing, discussion with fellow fans, and analysis of developments. In addition, this This will probably be the most important US election of our lifetime.”
Corey Stottlemeyer of Houston speaks to students in SOSC 447. Photography: Amy McCaig.
Junior Antonia Bonis said she took the course because she is passionate about politics.
“As an international student, I am particularly interested in American politics, and I find elections interesting and a lot of fun,” Bonis said. “This course is great because it allows you to be well-informed about all the happenings during an election, from the smallest details to the key moments. I love that they are encouraged to use their reading material to make educated predictions.”
Election day is November 5th, and early voting has already begun. For more information about the courses and degrees offered in the School of Social Sciences, please visit https://socialsciences.rice.edu.
