Teaching
Currently, I teach undergraduate and graduate classes in comparative politics and qualitative research methods at the University of Colorado - Boulder.
Previously, I’ve taught a wide range of classes in comparative politics, international relations, and research methods, covering topics ranging from research design for new PhD students and research methods for public policy to human rights and Latin American politics.
I have experience teaching at the undergraduate, MA, and PhD levels, and I consistently receive outstanding teaching evaluations. I make particular efforts to include students in my research, and I was previously honored as MIT’s undergraduate research mentor of the year. At CU-Boulder, I often work with undergraduate researchers through Studio Lab and the political science department’s honors thesis program.
I believe in holding students to high standards, while giving them the tools and support necessary to succeed. Rigor and caring are both central to my approach to teaching.
I provide detailed, substantive feedback to students, and my classes include group activities, debates, field trips, hands-on exercises, and conversations with authors, policy-makers, and diplomats.
Beyond the classroom, I currently serve as the Director of Undergraduate Studies & Associate Chair for the political science department at CU-Boulder. In this role, I work with our chair and our admin team to provide an outstanding education to our roughly 1400 (!!) political science majors.
“Professor Bateson was an excellent professor who truly cared for her students and their success. ... She was always willing to consult outside of office hours, and she took the time to help her students learn on their own terms.”
“The prof is very understanding of everyone’s individual situations, and this really made the course very enjoyable for me. I never felt like I couldn’t succeed.”
“You really have contributed to me falling in love with qualitative methods. Most students have a list of profs that they aspire to be if they were ever to continue in academia, and you have definitely made the list. I hope other students are as lucky as I was to have you as a professor this semester. Keep being you.”
“This professor is energetic, dynamic, highly critical in a good way, engaged, and very, very gifted in covering an extraordinarily wide ground in a very short time. She is also very giving of her time and intellect to students. This person helped me LEARN. And that is awesome.”
“The professor was super incredible. She understood the needs and differences of each student and worked with it. She is amazing. My best professor so far in GSPIA.”
Teaching Experience
University of Colorado - Boulder (2023-present)
Introduction to Comparative Politics (undergrad)
Qualitative Research Methods (PhD)
Violence and Politics (PhD)
Immigration, Asylum, and Human Rights (undergrad)
Qualitative Research Methods (undergrad)
University of Ottawa (2019-2023)
Research Methods for Public Policy (MA)
Violence and Citizen Security in Latin America (MA)
Human Rights: Policy and Politics (MA)
Qualitative Methods in Conflict Studies and Human Rights (undergrad)
Current Problems in International Human Rights (undergrad)
Human Rights in Latin America (undergrad)
MIT (2013-2019; on leave fall 2013, 2016-2018)
Qualitative Research: Design and Methods (PhD)
Political Science Scope and Methods (co-taught with Rich Nielsen) (PhD)
Introduction to Latin American Studies (undergrad)
“In reflecting on my studies, in undergrad and until now, the professor seems to have been the one who has cared most about their students. The professor truly is a phenomenal instructor who wants to see every student succeed. Her turn around time on assignments nears insanity (how does she sleep?), she provides helpful feedback, and she always tries to make herself available to her students. Make this woman the dean. She is excellent.”
“J’ai vraiment aimer la manière que le professeur presenter sa matière dans le “groupe discussion.” Elle est une professeur qui se soucis de la santé mentale de ses élèves et veut vraiment la réussite des ses élèves. Je trouve que la manière qu’elle présente ses cours et la manière qu’elle fait se evaluations sont juste et reflète la matière. Elle devrait sans aucun doute continuer ces strategies! C’EST EXCELLENT! ”
