Political Science is the study of the institutions, processes, philosophies, and histories that shape political events and outcomes.

Step #1: Learn itStep #2: Apply itStep #3: Stay up-to-date

Access the following free resources from across the web, most of which are focused on US contexts. Note that Bootstrap Ed does not own any of the resources featured on this page. 

US Government and Politics Overview

  • Harvard (edX) – US Political Institutions: Congress, Presidency, Courts, and Bureaucracy; Lecturer: Thomas Patterson
    • Approximately 8-16 hours of work
    • Course content is free only without a certificate
    • Register with edX to enroll
    • Course page
  • Harvard (edX) – Citizen Politics in America: Public Opinion, Elections, Interest Groups, and the Media; Lecturer: Thomas Patterson
    • Approximately 8-16 hours of work
    • Course content is free only without a certificate
    • Register with edX to enroll
    • Course page
  • UCLA – Politics and Strategy (PS 30), Lecturer: Kathleen Bawn
    • 19 lectures, approximately 70 minutes each
    • Playlist
  • University of Baltimore (edX) – The Supreme Court & American Politics, Lecturer: Lyle Denniston
    • Approximately 32-56 hours of work
    • Course content is free only without a certificate
    • Register with edX to enroll
    • Course page
  • Yale – Moral Foundations of Politics (PLSC 118), Lecturer: Ian Shapiro
    • 25 lectures, approximately 45 minutes each
    • Playlist

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Economics

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Probability and Statistics

  • MIT – Fundamentals of Statistics (18.650), Lecturer: Philippe Rigollet
    • 24 lecturers, approximately 75 minutes each
    • Playlist
  • Khan Academy – Statistics
    • 68 lectures, approximately 5-15 minutes each
    • Playlist
  • Harvard – Probability (STAT-E 110), Lecturer: Joe Blitzstein
    • 35 lectures, approximately 45 minutes each
    • Playlist

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Online Videos

  • CrashCourse – US Government and Politics, Lecturer: Craig Benzine
    • 50 lectures, approximately 10 minutes each
    • Playlist

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Other Tools

Complete the following exercises to apply your newly acquired knowledge.

Writing Assignments

  • WRITE: Public opinion (4-6 pages double spaced)
    • Analyze the public opinion of a current political issue. Summarize the issue and the most recent polling data. Discuss the events and other factors that have contributed to the public polling results you observe.
  • WRITE: Campaign strategy (8-10 pages double spaced)
    • Write winning campaign strategy for an incumbent US Senator of your choice. Specify how would you engage the party and relevant interest groups and leverage digital and traditional media channels.
  • WRITE: Supreme Court decision analysis (6-8 pages double spaced)
    • Pick a US Supreme Court decision from the last 50 years. Describe the issue at hand, the ultimate decision, its impact on US society, and whether or not you agree with the decision and why.
  • WRITE: State of the Party (8-10 pages double spaced)
    • Describe the state of a major political party in the United States and describe the reasons contributing to its current state. Address potential counterarguments to the ideas you raise. 

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Other Activities

  • REGISTER: Register to vote here if you are not already registered to vote.
  • ATTEND: Attend an event hosted by your US House representative or Senator (town hall, meet and greet, fundraiser, etc.)
  • ATTEND: Attend a rally, march, or other demonstration for a US political cause of interest to you.
  • CALL: Call the office of your US House representative or one of your US senators about an issue you care about that is being considered by the given chamber of Congress. State your name, state where you live, and politely express your point of view.

Engage with the field on an ongoing basis. Note that Bootstrap Ed does not own any of the resources featured on this page. 

Blogs, Newsletters, and News Outlets

Phone Apps

Podcasts

Related topics: Economics, US History

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