Political Science

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Curriculum

Political Science Curriculum
Program Faculty: Goren*, Harlowe (*department chair)

Program Description:
The political science major has three main aims: to provide students the opportunity to study the basic ideas of political thought, the structure and functioning of government and politics in the United States and abroad, and the main issues and policies in domestic and international politics; to provide students with the basics needed to be responsible citizens; and to support student career preparation for such fields as government, teaching, law, political journalism, social service and international affairs.

Political science majors can pursue either the B.A. or the B.S. degree.

POSC Course Listing

Major Requirements:
All students take the following core:
POSC171W Introduction to Political Science
POSC201 American Government and Politics
POSC220W Introduction to Comparative Government
POSC225W Introduction to World Politics
Five additional political science courses will be determined by the student and her advisor. Requirements for the major are the same whether the student opts for a B.A. or B.S.

Students are strongly encouraged to take either or both POSC373 Western Political Thought: Modern, or POSC374 Western Political Thought: Ancient & Medieval, as part of their additional elective courses.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of internships available at the local, state and national government levels (for which up to a maximum of eight credits may be granted).

Independent study also may be arranged. Students wishing to take independent study or an internship must have taken at least one related political science course prior to taking either.

Recommended supporting work:
Students interested in Political Science or International Relations as a major or minor are encouraged to take ECON220 Statistical Analysis for the Social Sciences to fulfill the mathematics/statistics core requirement.
Two history courses:
HIST130 Introduction to U.S. History or HIST150 Survey of U.S. Political History
HIST105 Birth of Europe and European States or HIST 106 Europe and Contemporary World Crises
One other economics course:
ECON 262 Principles of Macroeconomics

Note: Students desiring to teach political science in the secondary schools should consult the social studies major.

Minor Requirements:
Three courses selected from the following:
POSC171W Introduction to Political Science
POSC201 American Government and Politics
POSC220W Introduction to Comparative Government
POSC225W Introduction to World Politics
Two other POSC courses

Political science majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors by completing POSC171W, 220W and 225W. They complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with two other writing-intensive courses (CORE100W and 399W).