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
| Synonym | Title | Times Taught | Terms Taught |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTS-100 | FTS:Politics of Homelessness | 30 | 2024/FA, 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-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 |
| POL-255 | Politics of Japan and China | 24 | 2024/SP, 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 | 23 | 2024/SP, 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 | 7 | 2024/FA, 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 |