Political Science Program Requirements

Faculty

• Giancarlo Panagia
• Marie Paxton
• Michael Zarkin (Chair)

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Program Goals

• To develop effective verbal and written communication skills
• To develop the ability to critique and conduct research
• To demonstrate collaborative problem-solving skills
• To develop critical thinking skills
• To develop practices of global responsibility
• To prepare for further study in law or graduate school

Objectives

Political Science offers an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts academic major. With political science as its core focus, the major includes relevant courses from a number of disciplines. The curriculum stresses student mastery of a variety of allied subjects to enhance understanding of the global and domestic contexts of politics. The major prepares students for further study in law or graduate school; to enter public service careers in government or international organizations; to work in nongovernmental organizations; to work in the private sector, the policy arena, the political/legislative process; to work in domestic, transnational, or international/global civil society organizations, movements, or activism; or to conduct research.

The Political Science minor offers non-majors a flexible academic program for exploring politics in both the domestic and global contexts.  The curriculum can be designed to fit the needs of students pursuing a variety of careers including public service,  civil society organizations,  law, global affairs, business, education and mass communication. Students should work with their minor advisor to choose appropriate coursework.

Program Requirements

Students must maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA in courses required to complete the major. Additional recommended coursework may be taken in a number of disciplines, depending upon approved student interests. Students choosing a double major or minor in any of the fields included within the political science major may not apply a course to more than one major or minor. It is strongly recommended that students take DATA 220 (Introduction to Statistics). Moreover, while the Political Science major requires only 8 credit hours of a world language, students are strongly advised to take up to 16 hours (two full years, four semesters, or equivalent preparation) of a world language.

Students must meet the college-wide graduation requirements in addition to the Political Science major:

• 124 total hours
• 30 upper division hours
• WCore or Honors College requirements

Political Science Major

Recommended Plan of Study for Political Science Major

Political Science Minor

Students must maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA in courses required for the political science minor. Students choosing a double major or minor may not apply a class to more than one major or minor except in the case of core requirements.For course prerequisites, please refer to the course description.

Recommended Plan of Study for Political Science Minor