2017-2018 Undergraduate Academic Catalogue 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Academic Catalogue [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science, B.A.


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Requirements for the Major


Requirements for a major and an example of a typical program of courses are as follows:

Freshman Year


Spring Term


Sophomore Year


Fall Term


Spring Term


  • English Core
  • Fine Arts Core
  • Math/Science Core
  • Theology Core or
  • Nondepartmental Elective
  • Political Science Elective*

Junior Year


Fall Term


Spring Term


  • Theology Core or
  • Nondepartmental Elective
  • Political Science Elective*
  • Political Science Elective*
  • Nondepartmental Elective
  • Elective

Senior Year


Fall Term


  • Ethics Core
  • Political Science Elective*
  • Political Science Elective*
  • Elective
  • Elective

Spring Term


  • Political Science Elective*
  • Political Science Elective*
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective

Key:


* Required for major.

Notes:


  1. PS 101 , PS 102 , and any eleven PS 300- or 400-level courses are required for the major.
  2. Majors are advised, but not required, to take at least one upper-level course in each of the four main subfields of the discipline: political theory, American politics, comparative politics, and international relations.
  3. Majors are advised, but not required, to take CS 111  as one of the three course mathematics/science requirement.
  4. Students are encouraged to study abroad, and the department is flexible in its acceptance of courses from foreign schools.
  5. Students majoring in global studies may pursue a double major with political science; however, no more than two political science courses may be counted toward the requirements for both majors. Similarly, global studies majors may pursue a minor in political science, though no more than two political science courses may count toward both the major and the minor. Since political science is already a basic component of the global studies major, political science-global studies interdisciplinary majors are not permitted.
  6. Ordinarily, the Department of Political Science does not offer an interdisciplinary major unless there is a compelling reason why a particular interdisciplinary major would truly create a positive and meaningful academic package not available through a traditional major, or a major and a minor. In order for the department to consider a request for an interdisciplinary major incorporating political science, a student must submit a written proposal outlining the courses that the student intends to take in both halves of the major and explaining how they will lead to an integrated and cohesive academic outcome. The student must demonstrate that the proposed interdisciplinary major is superior to adding a political science minor to a major from another department. Approval is at the discretion of the department chair. For an approved interdisciplinary major, the political science component consists of PS 101 , PS 102 , and six relevant upper-level PS courses.
  7. Students must complete the diversity core requirement through a designated diversity core, major, or elective course (see Diversity Core Requirement  under Curriculum and Policies).

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