NOTE: This course is best suited for students with already well-developed critical reading, writing, and study skills. Students should be prepared to do 75 minutes of reading and note-taking homework per class period, depending on their reading speed.

This challenging, introductory college-level political science course employs a case-study method to compare the governments of six important nations: China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia. You will learn to apply political concepts, compare political systems, and analyze and interpret quantitative data using a variety of sources: film, literature, peer-reviewed academic journals, and foreign news sources. By the end of the year, we’ll have investigated a rich variety of political systems at work in the world today, along with key issues each of those nations faces. The class provides a strong foundation for global, cosmopolitan political awareness. You will be well prepared to take the AP exam in May.