(NEW RULES)
NOTE: These rules apply to students who declare a major in political science during or after the 2007-8 academic year.
36 Total Credit Hours Required
Required Courses (9 credits)
[Prospective majors should enroll in 101 & 102 during their first year]
- 101 Introduction to Political Science (3)
- 102 Introduction to International Relations (3)
- 201 American Government (3)
Required Subfield Courses (12 credits)
One course from each of the four subfields of political science (see below).
Elective Courses (15 credits)
To be chosen from departmental offerings, excluding required courses). Up to 3 credits of PSCI 499 (Internship) can count for major elective credit if student receives approval from the department chair.
Writing Intensive Requirement
At least one Writing Intensive course (officially designated as WI) must be among the 36 credits in the major program.
Honors Thesis Registration Requirements
Students interested in writing an honors thesis must fill out an independent study form with the registrar, and specify that the project is for honors (PSCI 491H). The form requires the signature of the professor chairing the thesis and the department chair. To be eligible to take 491H, students must have at least a 3.4 GPA in the major, and a 3.4 GPA overall.
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Political Science Subfields
1. American Government
202 American Public Policy
291 Research and Writing in Political Science
304 Contemporary American Politics
311 Congress & Political Process
312 American Presidency
332 Metropolitan Problems
334 Political Parties and Elections
363 Mass Media and Politics
370 Women and Politics
422 American Civil Liberties
2. Comparative Government
301 Comparative Government of Western Europe
302 Politics of Soviet Successor States
323 Latin American Politics
350 Politics of Developing Countries
354 Politics of South Asia
355 Politics of Middle East and North Africa
360 Theory and Practice of Revolution
362 Politics of Central and Eastern Europe
366 Government and Politics of China
444 Latin American Political Movements and Organizations
3. International Relations
321 Theories of International Relations
324 US-Latin American Relations
351 International Political Economy
356 American Foreign Policy
357 Russian Foreign Policy
361 Problems of Communism
367 East Asia in World Affairs
373 Statecraft
4. Political Theory
441 History of Political Thought I
442 History of Political Thought II
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NOTES:
The department chair may designate particular special topics courses (PSCI 471) to fulfill particular subfield requirements as appropriate. Notification of special topics courses that will fulfill a particular subfield requirement will be made at the time the course is offered.
Credits for on-line courses. The department chair may designate on-line courses as appropriate for general and subfield credit as appropriate.
Credits for study-abroad courses. The department chair may designate political science courses taken during study-abroad programs to fulfill particular subfield requirements as appropriate.
Special note about credits for on-line and study-abroad cases. The Department strongly encourages students to apply to the department chair for credit for on-line or study abroad courses before they take these courses. This will prevent students from taking such courses only to find out later that they did not count for subfield or general credit. Students may bring the syllabi of these courses to the department chair before taking the courses to determine if they are appropriate for political science credit.
IDIS 350D (European Capitals) will be counted as PSCI elective credit (6 credit hours) but will not count for any of the four subfield requirements.
Advanced Placement (AP) Exams will continue to count only as general elective credits, not as PSCI electives or as one of the four subfield requirements.