Course # 31610 Section Number 1 Day(s) M- W Time(s) 10:30am-11:50am Term Winter 2026 Course Instructor Zhaosong Ruan Syllabus Syllabus 1/8/25 Must be a Harris masters student to enroll. No exceptions for non-Harris students, even by consent. This course is intended to introduce students to a set of analytical tools and concepts for understanding how political institutions and political agents generate public policy, and to apply these tools in examining the major institutions of democracy and non-democracy throughout the world. Lessons about political institutions and the policy making process will be understood from the perspective of a policy entrepreneur|that is, an individual or organization that develops strategy in order to advance policy change in legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. Notes Students must register separately for both a lecture (PPHA 31610) and a discussion (PPHA 31612). Attendance at discussions is optional but encouraged for this course, unless there is a scheduled assessment. Course Prerequisite Must be a Harris masters student to enroll. Course Sections Quarter Course # Title Instructor Day(s) Time(s) Syllabus Winter 2026 PPHA 31610/1 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions Zhaosong Ruan Monday, Wednesday 10:30am-11:50am Syllabus Winter 2026 PPHA 31610/2 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions Zhaosong Ruan Monday, Wednesday 1:30pm-2:50pm Syllabus Winter 2026 PPHA 31610/3 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions Zhaosong Ruan Monday, Wednesday 3:00pm-4:20pm Syllabus Winter 2026 PPHA 31610/4 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions Wioletta Dziuda Tuesday, Thursday 9:30am-10:50am Syllabus Winter 2026 PPHA 31610/5 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions Wioletta Dziuda Tuesday, Thursday 11:00am-12:20pm Syllabus Winter 2026 PPHA 31610/6 Analytical Politics II: Political Institutions Álvaro Delgado-Vega Tuesday, Thursday 2:00pm-3:20pm Syllabus Recent News More news UChicago Harris/AP-NORC Poll: More Than 3 in 4 Say Government Has a Responsibility to Address Poverty and Homelessness Tue., September 09, 2025 Alumni Profile: Joshua Charles, MPP’23 Fri., September 05, 2025 Eighteen Students Selected as 2025-26 University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars Thu., September 04, 2025 Upcoming Events More events Drop-in with a Director Mon., September 15, 2025 | 9:00 AM Harris Part-Time and Credential Programs Information Session Mon., September 15, 2025 | 12:00 PM Public Capital Markets Credential (PCMC) Information Session Tue., September 16, 2025 | 7:00 AM