Category: Courses

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Enroll in a Winter 2026 Political Science Course!

WINTER 2026 POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSES
OPEN TO ENROLLMENT!
Dear UW Students,
If you have wanted to try a political science course, many Winter 2026 courses are still open to enrollment! All are 5 credits and count toward the SSc requirement.
This is the list of courses with the most space. Scroll down for information about each course, including course descriptions and links to MyPlan.
  • POL S 201, INTRO POL THEORY – Writing Credit!
  • POL S 203, INTRO INTERNATL REL
  • POL S 204, INTRO COMPAR POL – More seats added!
  • POL S 249, INTRO LABOR STUDIES – Counts for Labor Studies Minors and Human Rights Minors
  • POL S 299, SPECIAL TOPICS: Can Democracy Be Saved?
  • POL S 328, INTL ORGANIZATIONS – Counts for Human Rights Minor
  • POL S 331, MID EAST N AFRICA
  • POL S 364, SUPREME CT & POL DVP – Counts for LSJ Major and Minor
  • POL S 407, INTERNATL CONFLICT
Limited seats are also available in other courses. If they are full, use Notify for notification if space opens up.
  Instructor: Prof. Jack Turner
  Lecture: TTh 11:30am-12:50pm. Quiz on Fridays.
  Credits: 5
  Area of Inquiry: SSc
  Writing Credit 
  Description: One of the most enduring controversies in Western political thought is how to conceptualize the relationship between freedom, economics, and citizenship. Aristotle sharply distinguished the economic and political realms, and held that humans experienced freedom—which consisted in civic activity—only in the latter. The English philosopher, John Locke, however, saw freedom, economics, and citizenship as integrally interrelated: government exists to protect not only persons but also property, and freedom largely consists in the ability to accumulate and enjoy property without the threat of either anarchy or tyranny. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels agreed with Locke that freedom, economics, and citizenship were integrally interrelated, but Marx and Engels thought private property was antithetical to freedom, and reconceived citizenship as revolution against capitalism. The twentieth-century political theorist Hannah Arendt sought to transcend the legacies of Locke, on the one hand, and Marx and Engels, on the other, and to reformulate the Aristotelian conception of freedom as primarily political, existing entirely beyond the economic realm—that is, beyond the realm of material necessity. Click here for full description.
  Instructor: Prof. Gabriella Levy
  Lecture: TTh 9:00-10:20am. Quiz on Fridays.
  Credits: 5
  Area of Inquiry: SSc
  Description: Why do countries go to war? Why is it so hard for them to cooperate over the protection of the environment? Why do some nations remain poor despite increasing standards of living in many parts of the world? International relations (IR) can help us answer these questions. This introductory course is designed to acquaint students with the theoretical and empirical study of world politics. By the end of the course, students should be able to:
  • Compare, contrast, and appraise key theories in IR
  • Explain both historical cases and current events by drawing on IR theories
  • Assess the feasibility and effectiveness of possible policy solutions to modern international problems
  • Express their views on the course material and world politics more broadly while respectfully engaging with the views of others
  Instructor: Prof. Susan Whiting
  Lecture: TTh 1:00-2:20pm. Quiz on Fridays.
  Credits: 5
  Area of Inquiry: SSc
  Description: This course introduces students to Comparative Politics by focusing on three of the most important issues in the field: economic growth, democratization, and ethnic & nationalist conflict. The course is organized into three main parts, in which we will address each of these issues in turn. Click here for full description.
 
  Instructor: Josh Sturman
  Lecture: MW 1:00-2:20pm. Quiz on Fridays.
  Credits: 5
  Area of Inquiry: SSc
  Joint with HSTCMP 249 and SOC 266
  Labor Studies Minor Foundations Course. 
  Human Rights Minor Broader Context Course. 
  Description: Labor studies is an interdisciplinary and intersectional field that explores the history, ideas, and politics of working people, broadly conceived. This class introduces participants to Labor Studies by asking questions including “why do we work?”, “what are the conditions we work in?”, and “how has work changed over time?” Click here for full description.
  Instructors: Prof. Megan Francis and Prof. George Lovell
  Lecture: MW 2:30-3:50pm. Quiz on Fridays.
  Credits: 5
  Area of Inquiry: SSc
  Description: Democracy is under threat in the United States and elsewhere, leading to widespread concern about human rights, election legitimacy, delivery of essential government services, and increasing violence.  Nearly every metric used to measure the strength of democracy concludes that democratic backsliding has occurred in the 21st century. How we understand the source of democratic unraveling and the possible solutions will shape what type of world we live in moving forwards.  In this class, we will focus in particular on the urgent question of can democracy be saved and how different institutional arrangements, financial resources, and collective movements shape the field of what is possible. Click here for full description.
  Instructor: Prof. Geoffrey Wallace
  Lecture: MW 11:30am-12:50pm. Quiz on Fridays.
  Credits: 5
  Area of Inquiry: SSc
  Human Rights Minor Broader Context Course
  Description: International organizations (IOs), such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the International Criminal Court, and the World Health Organization, have become increasingly prominent across a wide range of domains in world affairs. Though states are sovereign actors in the international system, they often choose to surrender some of their authority to these international institutions. Why do IOs exist in the first place? Why do states create and join IOs? What are the ways in which IOs can influence interests and outcomes in the international and domestic arenas? Click here for full description.
  Instructor: Prof. Asli Cansunar
  Lecture: MW 10:00am-11:20am. Quiz on Fridays.
  Credits: 5
  Area of Inquiry: SSc
  Description: For decades, the Middle East was widely perceived as a bastion of authoritarianism and a hotbed of ethnic and religious politics and political violence. What explains the persistence of these perspectives, and why have citizens across the region risen up to try to overthrow dictators and authoritarian regimes? Why have Islamists gained prominence in many MENA countries, and why has sectarian violence appeared to spike in recent decades?  By learning about key questions and debates in the field of Middle East politics, this course aims to give students a critical understanding of politics in the region. The course combines systematic analytical approaches to big questions with concrete knowledge of events and developments in specific countries. Topics include “persistent authoritarianism” in the Middle East, Political Islam, women’s rights in MENA, economic development and underdevelopment, social mobilization, and the foundations of the Arab Spring.
  Instructor: Prof. Scott Lemieux
  Lecture: MW 2:30-3:50pm. Quiz on Fridays.
  Credits: 5
  Area of Inquiry: SSc
  Counts for LSJ Major and Minor 
  Description: This class will examine the development of the Supreme Court and its role as a political institution through a careful examination of several critical historical junctures. With one exception, we will not be reading Supreme Court case law. Rather, we will be reading an analyzing political science and legal scholarship about the Court, the source of its power, and its impact on American politics. The central paradox the course seeks to asses is how an inherently fragile institution, lacking the powers of coercion or taxation, has come to become so powerful. Click here for full description.
  Instructor: Prof. Gabriella Levy
   Lecture: TTh 11:30-12:50pm. Quiz on Fridays.
  Credits: 5
  Area of Inquiry: SSc
  Description: Why do countries go to war? Is it inevitable because of the structure of the international system, or are some countries and some leaders more likely to initiate conflicts? What tactics can help countries win these wars, and which tactics are counterproductive? This course will focus on conflicts between two states as well as conflicts in which states fight armed actors based outside of their borders. There will be two midterms, each consisting of a series of IDs and long-answer questions, and a final research paper which considers which theory we’ve read about best explains the outbreak or ending of a conflict of your choice. It is recommended that you take POL S 203 Introduction to International Relations prior to enrolling in this class.
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New Course for Winter: BIOL 210 – Climate, Race, and the Environment (1 cr – meets NSc and DIV)

BIOL 210 Climate Change, Race, and the Environment (1/2, max. 2) NSc, DIV
Explores the interaction between climate change, race, and the environment through the lens of different disciplines. Emphasizes primary literature addressing how the environment, people of color, and the interaction of the two are affected by climate change. Features seminars from scientists and networking opportunities between students and invited speakers. May only be taken for credit once. Prerequisite: BIOL 180.
Please direct any course questions to the instructor, Maria Garcia,  mariagrc@uw.edu
DEADLINE TO APPLY IS 11/26
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School of Marine & Environmental Affairs Speaker Series WIN26 – SMEA 550A, 1 cr.

Speaker Series Flyer

THEME:  BUILDING A PORT FOR THE FUTURE

The SMEA Speaker Series welcomes campus- and community-wide participation in person and via a secure Zoom link.  The Series is available as a one credit course to University of Washington students. 

Course Coordinator/ Instructors are Stephan P. Metruck*, Professor of Practice at SMEA and CEO Port of Seattle; David Fluharty**, Associate Professor Emeritus

SMEA’s Winter Speaker series will explore the role of ports and marine transportation in contributing to the vibrant marine economy of the Pacific Northwest. The Winter Quarter  Speaker Series consists of seven sessions on topics spanning key elements of the main theme – maritime infrastructure and global trade, the port as civic engine, safety and security in the maritime transportation system, marine energy and decarbonization of marine transport, environmental stewardship, economic impact and community equity, and the future of ports.  Each topic is presented by a regional expert followed by a lively question and answer session.

The SMEA Speaker Series 2026 convenes on Thursdays from 12:00 to 1:00 pm during Winter Quarter.  (Public sessions are January 15, 22, 29, February 12, 19, 26, and March 12).

*Stephen P. Metruck, SMEA Professor of Practice, Executive Director, Port of Seattle

Metruck is a maritime professional with over four decades of governmental and military and experience across adverse range of maritime and port operations, executive-level positions, and geographic locations. Currently he is the Executive Director of the Port of Seattle following a 34-year career in the U.S. Coast Guard, retiring as a Rear Admiral (Upper Half). His expertise is in port operations and marine transportation, maritime security and safety, maritime regulations and oversight, environmental and natural resource protection, and maritime sustainability. Metruck has extensive public policy expertise paired with talent for developing cooperation and solutions at all organizational levels from strategic to tactical. He is an effective values-based leader skilled at conveying a clear strategic vision and directing large organizations.  Education – MPA from The Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and BS of Ocean Engineering, US Coast Guard Academy.

**David Fluharty, Associate Professor Emeritus, SMEA

Fluharty studies marine resource management and policy. His research and teaching examine ways to take ecosystem-based approaches to the management of fisheries, marine protected areas and marine spatial planning. He studies the regional effects of climate change on society in the Pacific Northwest, and with respect to fisheries management in the Arctic and elsewhere. In addition, Fluharty has a distinguished record of public service on issues both national and global. He has either chaired or been a member of numerous boards and committees including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council and has consulted on projects from West Africa to the South China Sea. His service was recognized in 2013 with the College of the Environment’s Outstanding Public Service Award. Fluharty has a BA in Political Science and Swedish Language and a MA in Geography from the University of Washington. His PhD in Natural Resource Conservation and Planning is from the University of Michigan.

Open to all graduate students and undergraduate seniors and juniors in period 2.

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WIN ’26 Landscape Architecture Courses – Open to all students!

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
L ARCH 211 Design Justice

Julie Johnson
5 credits, BA EDS requirement

MW 12:30-2:20
 
Social, environmental, and climate injustices manifest in the landscapes we inhabit, impacting both human and more-than- human communities. Focusing on a series of case studies, we will explore equitable design processes and places that catalyze more just futures. With guest speakers, in-class exercises and discussions, projects, fieldwork, and readings, we will examine
meaningful design principles for change; how impacted communities give voice and action in collaborative design processes; what roles environmental designers and others may play; and what is needed to foster systemic change.
L ARCH 300 Introduction to Landscape Architecture Studio

Shaunta Butler
6 credits A&H, BLA prerequisite, BA EDS requirement
Period I registration limited to BA EDS majors, UED Minors, and BLA applicants*
MWF 1:30-5:20

*BLA applicants may reach out to jencyli@uw.edu for registration priority

LARCH300 is an overview of the broad spectrum of the landscape architecture profession. Students will be introduced to the creative design process via contemporary methods, applications, and practices of landscape design. They will develop the basic skills and fundamental concepts of landscape architectural design and explore site design through projects that require them to draw, research, build, analyze, collaborate, and present ideas that encompass various facets of the field. Students will have a portfolio by the end of the course, and be prepared to apply for the BLA program if desired.

L ARCH 353 Modern Landscape Architecture Histories
Elizabeth Umbanhowar
5 Credits A&H/SSc+Writing, BLA  and BA EDS requirement

TTh 11:30–2:20
 
This course explores landscape sites, systems, and symbols from the early 19th century until the present moment, stressing the intersections and entanglements of people and place in history with current politics, experiences, and ecologies. Through creative “lab” exercises, diverse media, and collaborative processes, we will critically examine the writing, production, and performance of landscape and its histories thematically through the diverse lenses of: power and ownership; memory and representation; knowledge and experience; labor and production; materiality and technological innovation; climate disruption and social change; identity and emotion; and race, class, and gender.
L ARCH 361 Experience of Place
Lynne Manzo
3 credits A&H/SSc+Div, BLA requirement, can apply towards BA EDS major
TTh 10:00-11:20
This course is designed to help us think deeply about place and our role and responsibilities in caring for the world around us. We shape our environments in increasing impactful ways, altering the trajectory of the globe with climate change and continued social injustices. We need to understand people-place relationships better if we are to alter that trajectory for the greater good. Using a multidisciplinary lens, this class will examine a range of place-based
issues and placemaking efforts including:
· Place meanings + attachments
· Relationships to nature
· Multispecies transitions and design
· Urban change + the right to the city
· The politics of public space
· Design activism
Through in-class activities, lectures, writing reflections, and simple field exercises, this course will help you think more critically about the physical world around you and your relationship to it.
GRADUATE COURSES
L ARCH 553 Modern Landscape Architecture Histories
Elizabeth Umbanhowar

TTh 11:30–2:20
 
This course explores landscape sites, systems, and symbols from the early 19th century until the present moment, stressing the intersections and entanglements of people and place in history with current politics, experiences, and ecologies. Through creative “lab” exercises, diverse media, and collaborative processes, we will critically examine the writing, production, and performance of landscape and its histories thematically through the diverse lenses of: power and ownership; memory and representation; knowledge and experience; labor and production; materiality and technological innovation; climate disruption and social change; identity and emotion; and race, class, and gender.
L ARCH 561 Experience of Place
Lynne Manzo
TTh 10:00-11:20
Open to all students in Period II registration
This course is designed to help us think deeply about place and our role and responsibilities in caring for the world around us. We shape our environments in increasing impactful ways, altering the trajectory of the globe with climate change and continued social injustices. We need to understand people-place relationships better if we are to alter that trajectory for the greater good. Using a multidisciplinary lens, this class will examine a range of place-based
issues and placemaking efforts including:
· Place meanings + attachments
· Relationships to nature
· Multispecies transitions and design
· Urban change + the right to the city
· The politics of public space
· Design activism
Through in-class activities, lectures, writing reflections, and simple field exercises, this course will help you think more critically about the physical world around you and your relationship to it.
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Undergraduate Climate Courses and opportunities for all!

The Program on Climate Change recently updated its Self -Directed Undergraduate Climate Education page. This resource can guide students as they build an individual climate component to complement their major. All students can develop skills and climate context important for many careers in a climate-impacted future.
Use the Self-Directed Undergraduate Climate Education page to find courses in five different categories:
Basics of Climate Change and the Carbon Cycle: all students should take one of these classes!
Cycles, Systems, Modeling and Computation: Develop a deeper understanding of one or more of the earth and climate systems while gaining key analytical skills.
Impacts, Management, Mitigation and Adaptation: Gain an understanding of how warming is impacting ecosystems and human systems, imagine what more could be done to reduce atmospheric CO2, and how cities, states and countries are adapting to a warming planet.
Politics, Humanities, Communications, Social Science and Ethics: Go beyond the scientific understanding and technical solutions to explore the human elements of addressing climate change. From individual to global actions.
Energy and Solutions: Explore energy and engineering solutions and dream up the next big idea that will move society toward a stable climate.
Want to know what courses are being offered this quarter?  Check out the PCC-curated quarterly climate course page. We use the UW time schedule to make sure these are up to date.

Links:
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Autumn 2025 ATMOS Courses with the Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science

Dear advisors,
I’m resharing the list of Autumn 2025 ATMOS courses offered by the Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science, in case any of the students you work with are still looking for classes to add.
Please feel free to pass this along or reach out if you have any questions!
 
MTWTh 9:30 -10:20 plus quiz session (in person), or Asynchronous Online option
Students learn the essentials about weather, including basic concepts on how to read the sky, and how to interpret weather information and forecasts from a variety of sources. The course covers the origin and structure of the atmosphere, wind, rain, snowstorms, and other major weather features, as well as how weather forecasts are made and evaluated.
 
Asynchronous Online with in-person quiz session 
The course presents a broad overview of the science of global warming. It includes the causes, evidence, and societal and environmental impacts from the last century and recounts future climate projections and societal decisions that influence greenhouse gas emission scenarios and our ability to adapt to climate change. The course also presents ways to identify disinformation versus correct science.
 
MTWTh 10:30-11:20 plus quiz session, in person
The course explores the nature, stability, and sensitivity of the global climate system, examines factors influencing climate, including interactions among the atmosphere, oceans, solid earth, and biosphere, and investigates global warming, ozone depletion, and other human influences.
 
 
Th 12:30 – 1:20: In person
This is a credit/no-credit course that focuses on current research in atmospheric and climate science and the related implications for public health, business, and environmental policy.
Thank you in advance for your help!

Best regards,

Cathy Liao

Counseling Services Coordinator

Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science

422 Atmospheric Sciences-Geophysics(ATG) Building

Box 351640, Seattle, Washington 98195-1640

Office Phone: 206-543-4576

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30ish am to 4:00ish pm

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OPEN SEATS – 1 Credit Autumn 2025 ENVIR 386 Seminar – PoE and UW EarthLab Collaboration

EarthLab x POE Course Flyer Fall 2025 (1)

Looking for a 1-credit seminar that connects you directly with today’s frontline leaders in environmental and climate justice?

1 Credit | Open to All Majors | No Prerequisites

In-person (SLN #15134) or Online (SLN #15135)

Join us this fall for a dynamic weekly speaker series open to all UW majors. Together, we’ll explore how communities adapt and persevere amid systemic challenges, and how grassroots coalitions are shaping policy and driving lasting, equitable climate solutions.

Confirmed Speakers Include:

  • Aurora Martin – Executive Director, Front and Centered
  • Michael Chang – Director, Cascadia Consulting Group
  • Altinay Karasapan – WA Regulatory Policy Manager, Climate Solutions
  • Sara Cubillos – Interim Climate Justice Director, Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment
  • Phil Levin – Interim EarthLab Executive Director & Director, United by Nature
  • BJ Cummings – Community Engagement Manager, UW School of Public Health
  • Sarah Reyneveld – WA Attorney General’s Office & UW Alum

Why take this class?

  • Hear firsthand from practitioners shaping today’s environmental and climate justice movements.
  • Engage directly with guest speakers, faculty, and peers.
  • Learn how politics and justice intersect with climate issues—and what career paths look like in this space.

Don’t miss this chance to connect your learning with real-world environmental justice work!

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Recommend the Wellness and Resilience Class Series for Writing and SSc Credi

EDUC 317 Poster_Fall ’25

EDUC 216 Fall’25 Flyer 215

Fall ’25 Poster

Hello Advisers,

Do you have students who are struggling with their mental health, the stress of university life and expectations, or just need to boost their skills for navigating life as a Husky personally and academically? Have students who need SSc or writing credit or are looking for a non-competitive major?

As students come in to finalize their fall quarter registration, remember to recommend EDUC 215 Wellness and Resilience for College and Beyond, now approved for writing credits!

The class will be particularly helpful for first year and/or transfer students to get started out with tips and tools to make the most out of their time at UW! It is also great for seniors as they prepare to graduate and enter the workforce!

In EDUC 215, students learn skills to enhance their well being in college and in their life in general. Particular focus is paid to skills that help students withstand common difficulties in life, like a disagreement with a loved one, tolerating doing work you don’t want to do, and managing negative emotions in a healthy way. Skills will include but will not be limited to mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. Students will also learn about research underlying stress, resilience, and related skill areas.

For EDUC 215, there are two times and modalities to take this 5 credit class that also provides SSc AND writing credit. The first section will be fully in person meeting for lectures on Thursdays from 2:30-5:20pm PST with a one hour in person quiz section on Fridays for small group activities. The second section is a fully virtual section with virtual lectures on Tuesdays from 11:30am-2:20pm PST and then virtual synchronous quiz sections for one hour on Fridays. Asynchronous accomodations for lecture can be easily coordinated (synchronous participation in the one hour quiz section on Fridays is required). See the attached flyer and student email language for additional information and as a tool to share with students.

For students who have already taken EDUC 215, recommend our new course EDUC 216: Thriving on the Path to Happiness. This course will follow the same format as EDUC 215 and build on the skills learned in the first class to help students experience more joy, build stronger relationships, cultivate a growth mindset, and increase opportunities for success and development in personal and professional endeavors.

 

EDUC 216 will be offered on Wednesdays from 2:30-5:20pm PST with one hour quiz sections on Fridays. As with EDUC 215, EDUC 216 is a 5 credit course that provides SSc credits. EDUC 215 (or equivalent) is a prerequisite class for EDUC 216. See the attached flyer for additional details.

We now also offer two 5-credit seminars for students who have taken EDUC 215 and 216. In Fall ’25, we will also be offering a 5 credit seminar for students who have taken EDUC 215 and 216 called EDUC 317: Emotion Regulation: Dialectics and Application. In EDUC 317, we will take a deep dive into the biological and experience component of many different emotions and think about how to skillful manage them in the context of different professional settings  . EDUC 317 will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30am-1:50pm for SSc and writing credit. See the attached flyer for additional details.

All the classes are also a part of the new Education Studies open enrollment, minimum requirement major as of the fall 2024 quarter.

 

EDUC 215 Wellness and Resilience for College, Beyond and EDUC 216 Thriving on the Path to Happiness, and EDUC 317 Interpersonal Effectiveness and Coaching in Social Emotional Learning allow students to work towards their best lives while earning course credit! Remember to recommend these classes before they fill up!

With gratitude,

Dr. Lally

Co-Instructor for EDUC 215, EDUC 216, EDUC 381, and EDUC 317

Take care,

Jaclyn Lally, Ph.D.

University of Washington

Teaching Associate, College of Education

Education Studies, Wellness and Social Emotional Learning Concentration

pronouns: she, her, hers