Bachelor of Arts
Thomas Shevory, Professor and Chair
The curriculum is designed to give students an understanding of political organization and political forces in modern society, to provide knowledge and a basis for insight and judgment on the problems involved in the relationship of the individual to government, the economy to government, and governments to one another. Students are prepared for intelligent performance of the functions of citizenship, for careers in public service and foreign relations, the study of law, and study at the graduate level.
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Three courses at level 1, one each in the subfields of U.S. politics, political theory, and comparative/international studies. POLT 10100 U.S. Politics is required. |
9 |
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Six courses are required at level 3 or above, with a minimum of one course in each of the four subfields that comprise the major program -- U.S. politics, political theory, public policy, and comparative/international -- and a minimum of two additional courses in comparative/international studies. |
18 |
|
Two courses at level 4 -- seminars, tutorials, internships, or directed studies -- with at least one course in this series to be a seminar. |
6 |
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One additional course at any level. Majors with senior standing may not fulfill this requirement with a level-1 course. All majors must take at least four courses in comparative/international studies. |
3 |
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Total, credits in the major |
36 |
A grade of C is the minimum required in major field courses.
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Foreign language competence up to and including the intermediate level |
0-12 |
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Credits in the major |
36 |
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Credits outside the major |
0-12 |
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Free electives |
72-84 |
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Total, B.A. in politics |
120 |
Politics courses are divided into three levels: introductory, intermediate, and advanced.
Introductory courses are divided into three subfields -- U.S. politics, political theory, and comparative/international studies -- and students in the major must take at least one course in each area. Courses in this area range from POLT 10100 to POLT 29900.
Intermediate courses include four subfields -- U.S. politics, political theory, public policy, and comparative/international studies. Students in the major must take at least one course in each of the subfields and at least two in comparative/international studies. Courses in this area range from POLT 30100 to POLT 37000.
Advanced courses are seminars, tutorials, internships, or directed studies. Students in the major must take two advanced-level courses, at least one of which must be a seminar. Courses in this area range from POLT 40100 to POLT 49900.
Emphasis in this field is placed on the organizations, institutions, and processes of U.S. political life at both the national and subnational level, including the study of U.S. leadership patterns, legislative politics, legal systems and their social implications, partisan competition, and fundamental social and economic forces that structure U.S. politics.
Introductory-level courses in U.S. politics:
Intermediate-level courses in U.S. politics:
This field encompasses the comparative study of political institutions, processes, and sociocultural bases of political systems, along with patterns of international conflict and cooperation. It is intended to expose students to careful examination of a broad range of political phenomena, such as revolution, war, imperialism, styles of leadership, processes of political change, and systems maintenance.
Introductory-level courses in comparative and international studies:
Intermediate-level courses in comparative and international studies:
POLT 32100, Contemporary British Politics
POLT 32200, British Foreign Policy
POLT 32400, Communist and Post-Communist Societies
POLT 32500, Chinese Politics
POLT 32600, Russian Politics
POLT 32700, The Politics of Development
POLT 32800, International Conflict
POLT 32900, Third World Politics
POLT 33000, European Politics
POLT 33100, Latin American Politics
POLT 33200, Africa through Film
POLT 33400, Politics of Rights and Culture
POLT 33500, Crossing Borders/Global Migration
POLT 33600, Whiteness and Multiculturalism
POLT 33700, Politics of Memory
POLT 33900, Political Economy of the Middle East
POLT 34000, Selected Topics in Comparative-International Studies
Courses in this field concentrate on philosophical and conceptual concerns that appear throughout the discipline and merit emphasis in specific courses. Theories are explored through the study of the basic interconnections between facts and values in politics. Included are general courses in empirical and normative political thought, more specific courses that center on particular theorists or theoretical constructions, and courses on the scope and methods of political analysis.
Introductory-level courses in political theory:
Intermediate-level courses in political theory:
Courses in this field provide students with analytical approaches to the study of public policy making and application. Particular emphasis is given to understanding the complexities of modern problems and the limitations and potential of public policy to intervene effectively in the interest of the common good. This field in particular is recommended for students interested in careers in the management of public affairs.
Intermediate-level courses in public policy:
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Two courses at level 1, one of which must be POLT 10100 U.S. Politics |
6 |
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Four courses at level 3 or above |
12 |
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One course at level 4, either a seminar or tutorial or internship |
3 |
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Total, minor in politics |
21 |
A minimum grade of C is required in the above courses.
