The major in political science requires a course in American politics in order to insure that all graduates have a working knowledge of the U.S. political system, and three courses that introduce various subfields within the discipline.
If are majoring in political science, you should take POL 241 first, if possible. Then you must take at least two (2) other courses at the 200-level.
This program of concentration is designed primarily for students interested in understanding more about comparative and international politics. It is a major appropriate for those interested in international careers. It is also the kind of broad, liberal arts program which many pre-law students will want to consider. Additionally, it provides a solid background for graduate study in comparative politics and international relations.
Majors in DGP should begin by taking POL 271 (World Politics), POL 221 (Comparative Politics), and POL 241 (American Political System). You may then begin taking some of your related hours as well as other political science courses required of DGP majors.
The Public Administration major is designed for undergraduates interested in studying and understanding the issues of governance and management of the public sector, and more specifically about the link between politics and public policy implementation. It is appropriate for those interested in public service careers in the federal government, state government, and/or local government including: city and county management, public finance administration, public personnel administration, and public policy analysis and program evaluation. This major prepares students for continuation of their education in professional and graduate schools of public administration, public policy analysis, and related fields. It also serves as a course of pre-legal study.
PA majors should begin by taking POL 241 and then POL 261, the introduction to public administration and a prerequisite for upper-level courses in this area. We also encourage PA majors to take ECO 201 (microeconomics) and 202 (macroeconomics) as early as possible in your major program.
If you are not majoring in political science, this minor offers you an opportunity to satisfy an interest, strengthen your degree, or enhance your preparation for a career or further education. This minor is not open to students with a major in the Department of Political Science. Your DARs may not automatically list the minor as satisfying the Thematic Sequence requirement, but it will meet the requirement at the time of graduation.
The M.A. in Political Science is for students intending to pursue careers in politics at all levels of government and in nongovernmental organizations. The M.A. program is designed to equip students with the analytical skills and substantive knowledge necessary for engaging in applied politics, public affairs, and public policy study.
You may, at some point in your undergraduate career, wish to pursue a narrowly defined subject in more depth than is possible within a single course in the curriculum, or an instructor may suggest that you pursue in more depth a topic which you have brought up in class. For those situations, members of the faculty may be willing to supervise you in an Independent Study in Political Science (POL 277, 377 or 477, depending on your class standing based on earned credit hours). NOTE: POL477N is used for the Inside Washington Program and is not repeatable.
When you want to engage in supervised independent study, you should prepare a proposed course of study and present it to a faculty member who specializes in the area of your proposed study. The faculty member, if he or she is able to undertake supervision of your independent study that semester, will suggest additions and modifications to your proposal and working with you will establish a schedule of meetings for discussing your ongoing independent study.