Political science is grounded in four subfields: American politics, international relations, comparative political systems, and political thought. Beginning with American politics, the student is introduced to each of these subfields within his/her first two years of study. Advanced courses may be taken across a broad spectrum of offerings. During the fall semester of the student's senior year, the capstone course is completed. In this course, the student works closely with a faculty member researching and writing on a subject chosen by the student.
Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
The following table summarizes all requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in political science. For an overview of a particular course, click on its title. Our Course Descriptions page lists all political science courses. For one possible breakdown of the major by semester, see the Plan of Study.
* The School of Arts and Sciences requires all majors to complete a foreign language course at the 202 level or higher. Students not prepared to begin at this level will need to take additional courses in the language, which count as general electives.
Requirements for a Minor in Political Science
For non-majors, the following courses constitute a minor in political science. For an overview of a particular course, click on its title. Our Course Descriptions page lists all political science courses.
To declare a minor, a special form must be filled out and filed with the Records Office by the end of the student's junior year. The appropriate form is available from the student's advisor or from the Office of the Registar.