Bachelor of Arts
Chip Gagnon, Associate Professor and Chair
The curriculum is designed to give students an understanding of political organization and political forces in modern society and to provide knowledge and a basis for insight and judgment on the problems involved in the relationships 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 |
|
Six courses at level 3 or above, with a minimum of one course in each of the four subfields that constitute the major program -- U.S. politics, political theory, public policy, and comparative/international -- and a minimum of one additional course 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 the field of U.S. politics 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:
The field of comparative and international studies 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:
Courses in the field of political theory 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 the field of public policy 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 for courses to count toward the minor.