Courses Taught to Date
University of Colorado courses:
PSC 1010 Introduction to Global Politics
PSC 2500 Introduction to Political Inquiry
PSC 4210 International Politics
PSC 4280 International Political Economy (cross-listed with ECON 4280)
PSC 4290 International Environmental Politics (cross-listed with PSC 5290 & PAD 6600)
PSC 4420 Political Ideas
PSC 4500 Senior Research Seminar
PSC 4530 Model United Nations
PSC 4980 European Politics
PSC 4980 Film and Politics (cross-listed with FILM 3900)
PSC 4981 Gender in International Politics (cross-listed with WMST 5981)
HUM 3990 Art and the State
ID 1010 Freshman Seminar
University of Oregon courses:
PS 101 Modern World Governments
PS 250 Political Ideologies
PS 240 Public Policy and Administration
PS 297 Environmental Politics and Policy
PS 301 Art and the State
Teaching Style and Philosophy
I am committed to facilitating and nurturing my students' varied ways of learning, discussing and writing while also emphasizing the skills required for traditional analytic work in the discipline of Political Science. I strive to create a democratic environment in the classroom and to provide the necessary space for the free and open exchange of ideas. Course readings, lectures, assignments and activities aim to expose students to the broad range of ideas and perspectives on political issues. Role playing, simulations and devil's advocacy exercises enable students to step into the shoes of various actors and stakeholders, and to argue the positions of their critics. We grapple with theories and ideas from across the political spectrum, from left to right, e.g., from complete command and control to no governmental involvement, and gradations of regulating in between. We situate political issues and events within various levels of analysis, endeavor to separate fact from opinion, and seek to uncover factors influencing decisions and outcomes. In every course, relevant current events are discussed, analyzed and debated. In lower-division courses I move away from the standard multiple choice exams to also requiring my students to write, present, discuss and debate through a variety of course assignments and activities. At the advanced level I require students to engage in original research and to write sophisticated academic papers, and I take time to walk students through the research process. Formal research paper presentations are also required in my upper division courses. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to submit final papers for publication in journals highlighting relevant research. I use a variety of teaching methods including lectures, class debates, active learning exercises, simulation games and innovative technologies to deliver content and to engage students in the process. Course objectives, readings, assignments, deadlines and learning outcomes are articulated in detail in my course syllabi, which serve as a contract between me and my students and hold us both equally accountable. Students are given ample opportunities to learn, succeed and excel to the highest levels of academic and scholarly achievement.
Learning Outcomes for Political Science Majors
Students will demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of the content materials relative to their studies in Political Science. More specifically, students will use course content to: identify, describe, analyze, and evaluate major events, trends, peoples, groups, cultures, ideas, and institutions.
Students will conduct scholarly research in Political Science. More specifically, students will be able to: (1) demonstrate the ability to locate and utilize scholarly materials through library research and archival research, e.g. data sets, scholarly journal articles, academic publications; (2) identify primary sources, theories, opinion polls, policy trends, and determine their perspectives; (3) discover sources that demonstrate valuable historical and current trends.
Students will apply knowledge of political processes and political methodology. In particular, students will be able to: demonstrate the ability to analyze scholarly work, separate fact from opinion, recognize events, issues, or concepts being presented, acknowledge the historical development of issues, evaluate proposed arguments and supporting evidence; (2) associate political developments across different levels of analysis; (3) recognize political patterns and apply this knowledge to logically anticipate political outcomes.
Students will communicate an understanding of political outcomes, processes, and methodology. More specifically, students will be able to: (1) communicate an understanding of the program’s content both orally and in written work in their own words, (2) construct arguments and analysis of political events and outcomes.
Highlighted Program: UCCS Model United Nations
In Model United Nations (Model UN), students step into the shoes of ambassadors from United Nations' (UN) member states to debate current issues on the organization's vast agenda. Student "delegates" in Model UN prepare draft resolutions, plot strategies, negotiate with supporters and adversaries, resolve conflicts, and navigate the UN's rules of procedures - all in the interest of mobilizing international cooperation to resolve problems that affect almost every country in the world. Before playing out their ambassadorial roles in a Model UN conference, students research global problems to be addressed, drawn from today's headlines. Model UN participants learn how the international community acts on its concerns about a broad range of topics including peace, security, human rights, the environment, food and hunger, economic development, and globalization. Model UN delegates also look closely at the needs, aspirations, and foreign policy of the countries they represent at the event. The insights they gain from their exploration of history, geography, culture, economics and science contribute to the authenticity of the simulation once the actual role playing gets under way at the Model UN conference. The advanced research skills, critical thinking development, policy writing practices, public speaking and debate training ensures a lively and memorable experience at the conference simulations.
PSC 4530 Model United Nations prepares students for participation in the Model United Nations simulation. This advanced Political Science course is open to Juniors and Seniors only. PSC 1010 Introduction to Global Politics and PSC 2500 Introduction to Political Inquiry are prerequisite courses. The course is offered once a year and enrollment requires instructor's consent. This high-paced, intensive seminar provides a comprehensive background into the United Nations' system and the formal (and informal) rules of procedure for diplomatic engagement. The course immerses students into important current events and requires active, in-depth research and the use of critical thinking skills and sophisticated analytical tools. Students are evaluated based upon their ability to accurately and persuasively represent the interests of the assigned country through the development of a country portfolio, written policy briefs, informal caucusing, use of diplomatic rules of procedure, content and outcome of negotiated resolutions, and the effective delivery of speeches on the mock UN floor.
UCCS Model United Nations Club is an extension of the course and provides students with leadership, organizational and professional development opportunities. The club is a forum for: collaborative research, writing, peer editing, debate and public speaking feedback; creating activities that inform and engage the campus and broader community on topics of relevance to global understanding; creating fundraising events and writing grants to raise money to participate in regional and international conference simulations; collaborating on events with other campus clubs and community groups on issues of common interest; and recruiting new members into the exciting arena of international diplomacy and the Model UN active learning program.
Combined, the course, club and conference simulations enable students to gain valuable knowledge, practical skills and active learning experiences that are useful and applicable to many future professional endeavors. Professor Keilbach leads a team of Model UN students to one or more conferences each year, most frequently also attending the prestigious Canadian International Model United Nations Conference. UCCS students have an outstanding reputation for their top-rate research, writing and public speaking skills, and for their outstanding diplomatic performances. To be certain, UCCS students have won some of the most coveted awards at every conference the UCCS Model UN Team has ever attended. Course, club and conference participants frequently remark that this experience was one of the highlights of their university degree program.
