Political Science (BA)

Program Requirements

Major requires 36-40 credit hours.

Recommended Courses

ECON 100Principles of Microeconomics

4

ECON 101Principles of Macroeconomics

4

Plus one/or both
STAT 118Introductory Statistics

STAT 227Intermediate Statistics: Design & Analysis

4

A student who has received a 4 or 5 on AP exams in American Government and/or Comparative Politics has fulfilled the introductory course requirement for POLS 101 and/or POLS 104, respectively. Transferred AP credits on either, or both, exam(s) may be counted toward a Political Science major.

All majors are required to take introductory courses in each of the four subfields of Political Science:

 
POLS 101Introduction to American Politics

4

POLS 102Introduction to International Politics

4

POLS 103The Nature of Politics

4

POLS 104Introduction to Comparative Politics

4

Students must also take four POLS electives.

Capstone

Capstone is required in the Political Science major, even if double-majoring. It is typically taken in the junior or senior year. Capstones do not count as an elective. The major is eight courses, plus Capstone.

There are three options to fulfill the Capstone Requirement:

  • One POLS 300-level course in a subfield of Political Science (junior or senior year)
  • Complete a Senior Honors Thesis
  • Complete the Barbara Lee Internship. No other internship or fieldwork fulfills capstone requirement.