Richard LeitchFaculty

Dr. Richard Leitch earned his BA in East Asian Studies from Colby College in 1985, and went on to earn an MA in Asian Studies from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign after a two year career on Wall Street. He earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from Illinois in 1995, where he was the recipient of the Harriet and Charles Luckman Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching, and the College of Liberal Arts Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Graduate Assistant. He has been a member of the Political Science Department at Gustavus since 1996, where he teaches courses in International Relations, Comparative Politics, Asian Politics, Environmental Politics, and the Politics of Poverty. In 2000 he received the Swenson-Bunn Award for Teaching Excellence at Gustavus, and in 2008 the Edgar M. Carlson Award for Distinguished Teaching.  In 2012 he was included in The Princeton Review's The Best 300 Professors.  His research interests include Japanese domestic politics and foreign policy, and he is the co-author of Japan's Role in the Post-Cold War World.

Education

B.A. Colby College (1985, East Asian Studies); M.A. University of Illinois (Asian Studies); Ph.D. University of Illinois (1995, Political Science)


Courses Taught

POL-130 (International Relations) and POL-255 (Politics of Japan and China)

Past
Synonym Title Times Taught Terms Taught
POL-150 Comparative Politics 28 2023/FA, 2022/FA, 2021/FA, 2020/FA, 2020/SP, 2018/FA, 2017/FA, 2016/FA, 2015/FA, 2014/FA, 2013/FA, 2012/FA, 2012/SP, 2011/FA, 2011/SP, 2010/FA, 2010/SP, 2009/FA, 2008/FA, 2007/FA, 2006/FA, 2005/FA, 2004/FA, 2003/FA, 2002/FA, 2001/FA, 2000/FA, and 1999/FA
FTS-100 FTS:Politics of Homelessness 28 2023/FA, 2022/FA, 2021/FA, 2020/FA, 2019/FA, 2018/FA, 2017/FA, 2016/FA, 2015/FA, 2014/FA, 2013/FA, 2012/FA, 2011/FA, 2010/FA, 2009/FA, 2008/FA, 2008/SP, 2007/FA, 2006/FA, 2005/FA, 2004/FA, 2003/FA, 2002/FA, and 2001/FA
POL-255 Politics of Japan and China 23 2023/SP, 2022/SP, 2021/SP, 2020/SP, 2019/SP, 2018/SP, 2017/SP, 2016/SP, 2015/SP, 2014/SP, 2013/SP, 2012/SP, 2011/SP, 2010/SP, 2009/SP, 2008/SP, 2007/SP, 2006/SP, 2005/SP, 2003/SP, 2002/SP, 2000/SP, and 1999/SP
POL-130 International Relations 22 2023/SP, 2022/SP, 2021/SP, 2020/SP, 2019/FA, 2018/SP, 2016/SP, 2014/SP, 2013/SP, 2009/SP, 2007/SP, 2006/FA, 2006/SP, 2004/FA, 2003/SP, 2002/FA, 2002/SP, 2000/FA, 2000/SP, 1999/FA, and 1999/SP
NDL-116 Analyzing Japan 19 2020/JN, 2019/JN, 2018/JN, 2017/JN, 2016/JN, 2015/JN, 2014/JN, 2013/JN, 2012/JN, 2011/JN, 2010/JN, 2009/JN, 2008/JN, 2007/JN, 2006/JN, 2005/JN, 2003/JN, 2002/JN, and 2000/JN
POL-399 Senior Seminar 16 2022/FA, 2020/FA, 2018/FA, 2016/FA, 2014/FA, 2005/FA, 2005/SP, 2003/FA, 2003/SP, 2002/SP, 2001/FA, 2001/SP, 2000/FA, 2000/SP, 1999/FA, and 1999/SP
POL-260 Environmental Politics 13 2023/FA, 2021/FA, 2019/FA, 2017/FA, 2015/FA, 2013/FA, 2011/FA, 2010/FA, 2009/FA, 2007/FA, 2005/FA, 2003/FA, and 2001/FA
JPN-399 Senior Thesis 13 2023/FA, 2023/SP, 2022/FA, 2022/SP, 2021/FA, 2021/SP, 2020/FA, 2020/SP, 2019/SP, 2018/SP, 2017/SP, 2016/SP, and 2015/FA
POL-268 Career Exploration 12 2008/JN, 2007/JN, 2006/JN, 2005/JN, 2004/JN, 2003/JN, 2002/JN, 2001/JN, and 2000/JN
POL-210 Politics of Poverty 6 2022/FA, 2020/FA, 2019/SP, 2017/SP, 2015/SP, and 2012/FA
POL-330 International Relations Theory 6 2009/SP, 2007/SP, 2005/SP, 2003/SP, 2001/SP, and 1999/SP
POL-350 Comparative Politics 5 2012/SP, 2008/SP, 2006/SP, 2002/SP, and 2000/SP
POL-099 Senior Thesis 5 2012/SP, 2009/SP, 2008/SP, 2007/SP, and 2005/SP
JPN-116 Analyzing Japan 4 2024/JN, 2023/JN, 2022/JN, and 2021/JN
JPN-099 Japanese Senior Thesis 3 2005/SP, 2004/SP, and 2000/SP
POL-250 The Politics of Developing Nations 2 2007/FA and 1999/FA
PCS-096 Peace Studies Senior Thesis 2 2002/SP and 2001/SP
POL-391 IS:Honors Thesis 1 2023/SP
PCS-095 Peace Studies Senior Seminar 1 2002/SP
Courses prior to Spring semester 1999 are not displayed.