Apr 19, 2024

2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog

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2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science, B.A.

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Requirements for the liberal arts major in political science, B.A. program

The major requires a minimum of 40 credits in political science as outlined below. Credit toward the major will only be allowed for courses completed with a grade of 2.0 or higher.

A. Core – 16 credits

PS 100 - Introduction to American Politics (4) Credits
PS 114 - Issues in World Politics (4) Credits or
PS 131 - Comparative Politics (4) Credits
PS 303 - Research Methods and Statistics (4) Credits (should be taken in sophomore year)

One capstone course selected from

PS 470 - Seminar in American Politics (4) Credits
PS 472 - Seminar in International Relations (4) Credits
PS 476 - Seminar in the Comparative Study of Political Systems (4) Credits
PS 459 - Political Science/International Relations Internship (4) Credits (requires departmental approval)

B. At least one 4-credit course selected from each of the three fields of political science – 12 credits

1. American politics

PS 300 - American Political Culture (4) Credits
PS 301 - American Presidency and the Executive Process (4) Credits
PS 302 - Congress and the Legislative Process (4) Credits
PS 305 - Local Government and Politics (4) Credits
PS 306 - Special Topics in American Politics (4) Credits
PS 307 - State Politics (4) Credits
PS 309 - Politics Through Film (4) Credits
PS 311 - Women and Politics (4) Credits
PS 322 - Political Parties and Interest Groups (4) Credits
PS 324 - Elections and Voting Behavior (4) Credits
PS 325 - Public Opinion (4) Credits
PS 326 - Political Campaigns (4) Credits
PS 327 - Media and Politics (4) Credits
PS 340 - U.S. Constitutional Law (4) Credits
PS 341 - Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (4) Credits
PS 342 - The Judicial Process (4) Credits
PS 350 - Public Administration (4) Credits
PS 353 - American Public Policy (4) Credits
PS 478 - Seminar in Public Law (4) Credits
PS 484 - Seminar in Public Policy (4) Credits

2. Comparative and international politics

PS 308 - Special Topics in Comparative Politics and International Relations (4) Credits
PS 314 - International Politics: Theory and Practice (4) Credits
PS 315 - United States Foreign Policy (4) Credits
PS 317 - International Politics of Human Rights (4) Credits
PS 328 - Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy (4) Credits
PS 329 - European Political Systems (4) Credits
PS 330 - Politics of Development (4) Credits
PS 331 - Politics in Canada and the Commonwealth (4) Credits
PS 332 - Politics of the Middle East and North Africa (4) Credits
PS 333 - African Politics (4) Credits
PS 334 - Political Systems of Asia (4) Credits
PS 335 - Politics of Latin America (4) Credits
PS 337 - The Russian Political System (4) Credits
PS 338 - International Political Economy (4) Credits
PS 339 - Revolution, Intervention, and Democratization (4) Credits
PS 354 - Global Environmental Governance (4) Credits
PS 360 - International Terrorism: Causes, Consequences, Responses (4) Credits
PS 361 - International Organizations (4) Credits
PS 363 - Global Democratization (4) Credits
PS 364 - Gender and International Relations (4) Credits
PS 413 - International Law (4) Credits

3. Political theory and political thought

PS 320 - Conducting Political Surveys (4) Credits
PS 321 - Systematic Political Analysis (4) Credits
PS 371 - American Political Thought (4) Credits
PS 372 - Western Political Thought I (4) Credits
PS 373 - Western Political Thought II (4) Credits
PS 374 - Politics Through Literature (4) Credits
PS 377 - Communism (4) Credits
PS 480 - Seminar in Political Theory (4) Credits

C. The remaining 12 credits are elective courses with the following restrictions

Only 4 credits of

PS 110 - Contemporary Political Issues (2 or 4) Credits or
PS 362 - Model United Nations (2) Credits

And no more than a total of 12 credits from below will be accepted in the major

PS 390 - Independent Study (2 or 4) Credits
PS 459 - Political Science/International Relations Internship (4) Credits
PS 490 - Special Topics or Directed Research (2, 4 or 8) Credits

Requirements for a major in political science with other concentrations

Students in political science may pursue a regular major in political science with a number of interdepartmental concentrations. These include, among others, American studies, applied statistics, human and industrial relations, and criminal justice.

Recommended courses for pre-law students

It is recommended that political science majors interested in law school elect the law related courses given by the department: PS 241 - Law and Politics , PS 340 - U.S. Constitutional Law , PS 341 - Civil Rights and Civil Liberties , PS 342 - The Judicial Process . For advice in planning for law school, contact the department’s pre-law adviser, Julie Walters. The student should also read the Pre-law Studies section of this catalog.

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