Majors and Minors

TO FOSTER BOTH foster both breadth and depth of knowledge, the department has designed a special core curriculum for politics and government majors. Working closely with a faculty advisor, the student selects in each area the courses best suited to his or her particular interests and career goals. The department offers a five-course minor as well.

In order to declare a politics and government major, a student must have either a) a 2.5 cumulative University grade point average, or b) a 2.0 cumulative University grade point average and have earned a B in one course in the department.

Major

The major must complete 10-13 courses in the department consisting of either 110 or 111 but not both, 279, 499 and one course in each of the following areas:

1. American Public Affairs (300.29, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, or 356);
2. Political Behavior (260, 261, 270, 280, 358);
3. International Affairs (300.5, 360, 361, 362);
4. Comparative Government and Politics (300.30, 344, 346, 348, 349);
5. Political Philosophy (300.31, 371, 372, 373).

Minor

The minor must complete five courses in the department consisting of either 110 or 111 but not both, and one course from four of the five areas above. One of these four must be in the area of Political Philosophy. Conduct of Political Inquiry, PG 279, can be taken to fulfill the Political Behavior area for the minor.

Courses in the major or the minor, should normally not be taken credit/no entry.

All upper-level courses are numbered in groups according to the area or topic. The numbers bear no relationship to the difficulty of the course work.

Teaching and Research Areas

• American Public Affairs
• Political Behavior
• International Affairs
• Comparative Government
• Political Theory