You can complete the political science major via one of two
routes.
Each requires nine courses (plus another two if you write an honors
thesis).
Four Traditional Subfields
American politics, international relations, political theory, and
comparative politics are the discipline’s main organizing
fields. In the major, each of these has its own introductory course,
and its own capstone senior seminar. Taking both is mandatory for
any concentration. For example, to concentrate in American politics,
the major would take both 201 and 410. In addition, each concentrator
takes at least two elective in that subfield, preferably one at
the 300 level in preparation for a senior seminar.
Every major has to take two classes outside of his or her chosen concentration, for breadth.
Four concentration classes plus two breadth classes equal six. The three classes that remain to complete the major can be anything: more concentration classes for the obsessive and especially keen, more breadth classes for the wide-ranging and/or ambivalent, or more of both for the moderates among us.
Individual Concentrations
Your choice does not have to be determined by the four main subfields.
Topics that cut across these areas, such as “law” or
“democracy” or “political violence” (see
the list of individual concentrations that we have sponsored via
the Concentrations link on the left) can serve as effective concentrations.)
Requirements for an individual concentration vary slightly from those for a traditional concentration. The student writes a paragraph explaining and justifying the proposed area, and takes a total of five, rather than four, classes on this theme. All other requirements are the same: we still ask for two breadth classes, and a thesis writer still has additional, rather than substitute, work.