Major / Minor Requirements

Major Requirements for Students Entering IN FALL 2009 or After

• 30 credits are required for the POL major
• At least 21 of these credits must be taken in residence.
• All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or above

All majors must take the department’s three introductory courses POL 201 (or POL199), POL202, and POL203 (9 credits). The remaining courses must include classes taken at the 300 level or above from at least three of five sub-fields of political science: Political Theory and Methods, American Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Public Policy, Administration and Law. All majors must also complete two 500-level seminars (6 credits). Note that 500-level seminars may fulfill the sub-field requirements.

Note: POL 213 does not count toward the major or minor. “Credit only” classes cannot be counted toward the major.

Major Requirements for Students Entering In Fall 2008

• 30 credits are required for the POL major
• At least 21 of these credits must be taken in residence.
• All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or above

All majors must take two of the department’s introductory courses POL 201 (formerly POL211) and either POL212, POL202 or POL203 (6 credits). The remaining courses must include classes taken at the 300 level or above from at least three of five sub-fields of political science: Political Theory and Methods, American Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Public Policy, Administration and Law. All majors must also complete two 500-level seminars (6 credits). Note that 500-level seminars may fulfill the sub-field requirements.

Note: POL 213 does not count toward the major or minor. Credit only” classes cannot be counted toward the major.

Major Requirements for Students Entering Before Fall 2008

• 30 credits are required by the College of Arts and Sciences.
• 30 credits are required for double majors in the schools of Communication and Education.
• 27 credits are required by the School of Business.
  • At least 21 of these credits must be taken in residence.
  • All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or above

All majors must take two of the department’s introductory courses POL 201 (formerly POL211) and either POL212, POL202 or POL203 (6 credits). The remaining courses must include classes at the 300-level or above from at least three of four sub-fields of political science: American Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Public Policy, Administration and Law. All majors must also complete two 500-level seminars (6 credits). Note that 500-level seminars may fulfill the sub-field requirements.

Note: POL 213 does not count toward the major or minor. Credit only” classes cannot be counted toward the major.

What does a political science minor (BA) entail?

15 credits are required, at least 9 of which must be taken in residence. At least one course must be taken from among the department’s introductory sequence (POL199, POL201, POL202, POL203 or the previously-offered POL211 or POL212). All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or above.

Note: POL 213 does not count toward the major or minor. Credit only” classes cannot be counted toward the minor.