Joseph Patten, Ph.D.
- Professor
- Advisor, Debate Team and Washington Semester
Department: Political Science and Sociology
Office: Samuel E. and Mollie Bey Hall 246
Office Hours: Fall 2026 and Spring 2027
Monday: 1–2:15 p.m.
Tuesday: 1–2:15 p.m.
Wednesday: 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. (First Year Advising)
Thursday: 10–11:15 a.m.
Friday: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Phone: 732-263-5742
Email: jpatten@monmouth.edu
Joseph N. Patten is a professor of political science at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Since joining the Monmouth faculty in 2002, he has taught courses in American politics and public policy. He currently serves as the faculty advisor to Monmouth University’s policy debate team and as the university liaison to the Washington Center Internship program. He received Monmouth’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2009. Prior to joining the faculty in 2002, he served as an associate professor of political science at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, from 1996–2002. He received his Ph.D. in political science from West Virginia University in 1996.
His co-authored book “Citizens Forgotten: Super PACs, Dark Money, and the Corporate Takeover of American Democracy” (Palgrave Macmillan, Springer Nature) was published in June of 2026. The fourth edition of his co-authored textbook “Why Politics Matters: An Introduction to Political Science” (Cengage Wadsworth Publishers) was published in April 2024. Another co-authored book “‘Bait and Switch: How Student Loan Debt Stifles Social Mobility,’” Palgrave Macmillan (Springer) Publishers, was published in 2023. He also authored a number of articles and book chapters on the American congress, super PACs, and policy debate. He and his wife, Veena, have two children named Nikhil and Jaya.
Education
Ph.D., Political Science, West Virginia University
M.A., Policy Analysis, West Virginia University
Research Interests
- American Congress
- Public Ethics
- American Politics
Books
- Citizens Forgotten: Super PACs, Dark Money, and the Corporate Takeover of American Democracy (with Scott Hofer). 2026. (Palgrave Macmillan, Springer Nature).
- Why Politics Matter: An Introduction to Political Science, 4th edition (with Kevin Dooley). 2024 (Wadsworth Cengage Publisher)
- Bait and Switch: How Student Loan Debt Stifles Social Mobility. 2023. (with Robert Scott and Ken Mithcell). (Palgrave Macmillan/Springer Publishers).
- Why Politics Matter: An Introduction to Political Science, 3rd edition. 2020 (with Kevin Dooley) (Wadsworth Cengage Publisher)
- Why Politics Matter: An Introduction to Political Science, 2nd edition. 2015 (with Kevin Dooley).
- Why Politics Matters: An Introduction to Political Science 2012. (with Kevin Dooley) (Wadsworth Cengage Publisher)
Recent Scholarly Articles and Book Chapters
“SpeechNow But Not With a Bullhorn: Political Misinformation in the Age of Super PAC”s in Inequality and Governance in an Uncertain World: Perspectives on Democratic and Autocratic Governments. Co-edited by Saliba Sarsar and Rekha Datta, Lexington Books Publishers. Chapter 9. 2023
“Super Legal Corruption: Political Money in the Era of Super PACs” in the book, Scandal and Corruption in Congress 2023, edited by Michael J. Pomante (Emerald Publishing). (Chapter 3 55-80). 2023
“Intergroup Disparity Among Student Loan Borrowers” in the Journal “The Review of Evolutionary Political Economy” (May, 2022) with Robert Scott and Ken Mitchell.
“The Challenges of American Democracy” in Democracy in Crisis Around the World co-edited by Saliba Sarsar and Rekha Datta, Lexington Books Publishers, Roman & Littlefield Publishing Group. (Chapter 10, Pages 207-232). 2021
“Passport to the Future: Boosting Academic Outcomes and Citizenship Through Urban Debate” in Citizenship, Social and Economic Education, (vol. 20, pages 17-36) 2021. (with Stephen Chapman)
“Gone on Debating: University-High School Debate Mentoring Partnerships in New Jersey and India” in The Chronicle of Mentoring & Coaching, (vol. 1, Dec 2020).
Grants
$19,000 U.S. Department of State grant in summer of 2019 (with Dr. Rekha Datta). The grant funded a trip to Mumbai, India, for Monmouth University debate students and faculty to teach debate to students in three Mumbai schools
TD Bank $7,000 Annual Grants (5 different grants) to fund debate mentoring program between Monmouth University and Asbury Park High School.
Course Schedule 2026-27
- Fall 2026
- PS 103 American Government (W, F, 10:05–11:25 a.m.)
- PS 104 Policy Debate (T, Th, 4:30–5:50 p.m.)
- PS 311 Constitutional Law (M, Th, 2:50–4:10 p.m.)
- Spring 2027
- PS 103 American Government (W, F, 10:05–11:25 a.m.)
- PS 105 Public Policy (T, Th, 4:30–5:50 p.m.)
- PS 306 American Presidency (M, Th, 2:50–4:10 p.m.)
Courses
Recently Taught Classes
2026 Summer D
- American National Government – PS 103
2026 Summer C
2026 Summer A
- Introduction to Public Policy – PS 105
2026 Spring
- American National Government – PS 103
- Introduction to Public Policy – PS 105
- Washington Center Course – PS 393
2025 Fall
- American National Government – PS 103
- Introduction to Constitutional Law – PS 311
- Introduction to Policy Debate – PS 104
- Washington Center Course – PS 393
2025 Summer C
2025 Summer B
- Introduction to Public Policy – PS 105
2025 Spring
- American National Government – PS 103
- Introduction to Constitutional Law – PS 311
- Introduction to Public Policy – PS 105
- Washington Center Course – PS 393
2024 Fall
- American National Government – PS 103
- Introduction to Policy Debate – PS 104
- The American Presidency – PS 306
- Washington Center Course – PS 393
2024 Summer D
- American National Government – PS 103
2024 Summer C
- Washington Center Course – PS 393
2024 Summer B
- Introduction to Public Policy – PS 105
2024 Spring
- Constitutional Law: Civil Rights – PS 312
- Introduction to Public Policy – PS 105
- Seminar in Political Science – PS 401
2023 Fall
- American National Government – PS 103
- Introduction to Constitutional Law – PS 311
- Introduction to Policy Debate – PS 104
- The American Congress – PS 305
2023 Summer C
- Washington Center Course – PS 393
2023 Summer B
- Introduction to Public Policy – PS 105
2023 Spring
Frequently Taught Classes
- American National Government (PS 103)
- Cooperative Education: Political Science (PS 388)
- Introduction to Constitutional Law (PS 311)
- Introduction to Policy Debate (PS 104)
- Introduction to Political Science (PS 101)
- Introduction to Political Science: Power and Globalization (PS 101)
- Introduction to Public Policy (PS 105)
- Seminar in Political Science (PS 401)
- State and Local Government (PS 202)
- The American Congress (PS 305)
- The American Presidency (PS 306)
- Washington Center Course (CO 393, PS 393, SO 393)
