Political Science
Richard M.J. Thurston, Chairperson
Requirements for Political Science
Major Degree of Bachelor of Arts
In addition to fulfilling the core curriculum requirements (60 credits). Political Science majors must complete the following courses:
Po100
Po200
Po201
Po |
Perspectives on Politics
Political Science Research Methods
American Government (see note 2 below)
Political Science Electives
Electives |
( 3 crs)
( 3 crs)
( 3 crs)
(24 crs)
(27 crs)
60 crs
|
Special Notes on Major Requirements
- Majors must earn a total of 33 credits in political science, including Po100 Perspectives on Politics and Po200 Political Science Research Methods. Po100 is required for all seminar and internship courses.
- Students who have taken at least three American Politics courses may, with the approval of the department chairperson, be exempted from taking Po201 American Government.
- Majors must distribute their major courses as follows: one course (3 credits) from each of the four subfields into which the Department is divided (American Politics, Political Theory, Comparative Politics, International Politics). The remaining five courses (15 credits) may be filled by any other Political Science electives according to the student’s interests. Additionally, all students must take at least one seminar course.
- Majors are encouraged to obtain valuable internship experience in government or in public advocacy organizations available through either the Department, the Cooperative Education Office, or the Washington Center as well as to participate in the Politics and Debate Society and/or the Law Club.
- The Department sponsors a chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society. Membership in the Theta Chi chapter is open to any student who has completed at least fifteen credits in political science, maintained at least a 3.3 average in those courses, and demonstrates promise of future achievement in political science. Applications are available in the Department office.
Sequence of Courses
| Freshman |
|
Sophomore |
|
Junior-Senior |
|
Nat. Science
Cm120 or equiv.
El123
Mod. Lang.
Ma105-106
Hs121-122
Ar127 or 128
|
(( 6)
( 3)
( 3)
( 6)
( 6)
( 6)
( 3) |
Philosophy
El134
Ec100
So121
Po100
Po201
Nat, Science
Th110-120
Electives |
( 6)
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
( 3)
( 6)
( 3)
|
Values Course
Po200
Po Electives
Electives |
( 3)
( 3)
(24)
(24) |
| Total |
(335) |
Total |
(33) |
Total |
(54) |
Minor Program Requirements
Students wishing to minor in political science should contact the department chairperson. Minors include but are not limited to Political Studies, American Government, and Political Philosophy. A minimum of 18 credits, including Po100, is needed.
Harvard Model United Nations
A unique and exciting part of the political science curriculum, the Harvard Model U.N. is a component of one of the International Politics courses offered during the Fall semester. Together with delegations of students from colleges and universities in the U.S.A. and Canada, each representing a different U.N. member nation, a delegation of students from Saint Peter’s College participates in a four-day mock United Nations session, debating various topics and defending the positions of the nation it is assigned.
The Model U.N. permits the student to gain first-hand experience at the processes of conference diplomacy and negotiation that characterize international politics. Because the course selected to include the Model U.N. changes every year, interested students are able to participate more than once in this unique educational experience.
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