Political Science Major Requirements

Degree: Bachelor of Arts

Credit Hours: 36+

"PR" indicates a pre-requisite. "CO" indicates a co-requisite.

Courses within this major may also satisfy general education requirements. Please consult http://advising.cofc.edu/general-edu for more information.

Required Courses

POLI 101	American Government (3) PR: None

POLI 103	World Politics (3) PR: None
OR
POLI 104	World Regional Geography (3) PR: None

POLI 150	Introduction to Political Thought (3) PR: None
POLI 205	Doing Research in Politics (3) PR: None
POLI 405	Capstone Seminar (3) PR: POLI 205; Take in the last 9 credit hours of POLI courses.

Note: At least 15 credit hours at the 300-level or above is required of this major.

Select a minimum of 3 credit hours in each of the three subfields of political science.

American Politics and Process

POLI 210	Introduction to Public Administration (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 211	Introduction to Public Policy (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 213	State and Local Politics (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 214	LGBT Politics (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 301	Bureaucratic Politics and Policy (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 304	American Foreign Policy Process (3) PR: None
POLI 305	Urbanization and Urban Geography (3) PR: None
POLI 306	Urban Policy (3) PR: None
POLI 307	Environmental Policy (3) PR: None
POLI 308	Education Policy (3) PR: None
POLI 309	Health Policy (3) PR: None
POLI 310	Urban Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (3) PR: None
POLI 311	Policymaking in State Legislatures (3) PR: None
POLI 319	Special Topics in Public Policy (3) PR: None
POLI 320	Constitutional Law (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 321	Civil Liberties (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 322	Urban Government and Politics (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 323	The Congress (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 324	The Judiciary (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 325	The Presidency (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 326	American Politics and Mass Media (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 327	Political Parties (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 328	Campaigns and Elections (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 329	Public Opinion in American Politics (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 330	Southern Politics (3) PR: None
POLI 331	Geography of Native Lands/Indian Law (3) PR: None
POLI 332	Women and Politics (3) PR: None
POLI 333	Suburbia: People, Places, and Politics (3) PR: None
POLI 334	Political Campaign Communications (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 335	Religion in American Politics (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 339	Special Topics in American Politics (3) PR: None

Global Politics and Spaces

POLI 240	Introduction to Comparative Politics (3) PR: None
POLI 245	Cuban Revolution (3) PR: None
POLI 260	International Relations Theory (3) PR: None
POLI 265	International Political Economy (3) PR: None
POLI 266	International Diplomacy Studies (3) PR: None
POLI 340	Politics of Latin America (3) PR: None
POLI 342	Politics of Africa (3) PR: None
POLI 343	Politics of East Asia (3) PR: None
POLI 344	Politics of the Middle East (3) PR: None
POLI 345	Politics of China (3) PR: None
POLI 346	Politics of Southeast Asia (3) PR: None
POLI 347	International Development: Theories and Practices (3) PR: None
POLI 348	Politics of Protest and Revolution (3) PR: None
POLI 350	Comparative Gender Politics (3) PR: None
POLI 351	Politics of Contemporary Brazil (3) PR: None
POLI 352	Geographies and Politics of the European Union (3) PR: None
POLI 353	Geographies and Politics of Food (3) PR: None
POLI 359	Special Topics in Comparative Politics (3) PR: None
POLI 360	International Human Rights Law (3) PR: None
POLI 363	International Law and Organization (3) PR: None
POLI 364	International Environmental Politics (3) PR: None
POLI 365	International Relations of the Middle East (3) PR: None
POLI 367	Geography of International Conflict (3) PR: None
POLI 368	Political Geography (3) PR: None
POLI 369	Politics of Globalization (3) PR: None
POLI 379	Special Topics in International Relations (3) PR: None

Politics of Ideas

POLI 292	Topics in Gender, Theory and Law (3) PR: None
POLI 293	Ethics and Politics (3) PR: None
POLI 294	Sustainability (3) PR: None
POLI 295	Law and Society (3) PR: None
POLI 380	Jurisprudence (3) PR: None
POLI 387	American Political Thought (3) PR: None
POLI 390	Contemporary Liberalism (3) PR: None
POLI 391	Utopia/ Dystopia (3) PR: None
POLI 395	Global Political Theory (3) PR: None
POLI 397	Environmental Geography (3) PR: None
POLI 399	Special Topics in Politics of Ideas (3) PR: None

Select 12 additional credit hours to complete the major. Choose from any of the above subfield courses or the following:

POLI 119	Special Topics in Politics (3) PR: None
POLI 203	Criminal Justice (3) PR: None
POLI 400	Tutorial (3) PR: Junior standing; tutor and department chair permission
POLI 401	Reading and Independent Study in Political Science (3) PR: Instructor permission
POLI 402	Field Internship (3) PR: POLI 205; junior or senior standing; department permission, completion of 18 credit hours in POLI; Normally, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 and a POLI major GPA of 2.80.
POLI 499	Bachelor's Essay (3) PR: A project proposal must be submitted in writing and approved by the department prior to registration for the course.

Optional: Students may add a concentration in Politics, Philosophy and Law (18 credit hours)

A concentration in Politics, Philosophy, and Law allows focused attention on theoretical issues related to the law. The concentration is jointly administered by the departments of philosophy and political science.

Required Courses

PHIL 209	Political Philosophy (3) PR: None
OR
POLI 150	Introduction to Political Thought (formerly POLS 250) (3) PR: None

POLI 320	Constitutional Law (formerly POLS 341) (3) PR: POLI 101

PHIL 270	Philosophy of Law (3) PR: None
OR
POLI 380	Jurisprudence (formerly POLS 344) (3) PR: None

PPLW 400*	Seminar in Politics, Philosophy and Law (3) PR: Senior standing

Note: *This course will substitute for PHIL 450 or POLI 405 as major requirement.

Select an additional two courses from the following:

PHIL 206	Topics in Law and Morality (3) PR: None
PHIL 210	Philosophy, Law, and the Arts (3) PR: None
PHIL 315	Topics in Political and Social Philosophy (3) PR: 6 credit hours in PHIL
POLI 292	Topics in Gender, Theory, and Law (3) PR: None
POLI 295	Law and Society (3) PR: None
POLI 321	Civil Liberties (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 324	The Judiciary (3) PR: None
POLI 331	Geography of Native Lands/Indian Law (3) PR: POLI 101
POLI 360	International Human Rights Law (3) PR: None
POLI 363	International Law and Organization (3) PR: None
POLI 390	Contemporary Liberalism (3) PR: None

Note: Additional courses on suitable topics may be approved for credit by the director. Since POLI 320 is required, PHIL majors will take at least one course in POLI. POLI majors must also take at least one course in PHIL.

Political Science Teacher Education Program (Grades 9-12)

Students interested in teacher certification in social studies must complete the political science major, the additional coursework required for social studies certification and the secondary education cognate major requirements. See the School of Education, Health and Human Performance section of this catalog for a listing of the requirements for the additional certification coursework and the secondary education cognate major. Students should apply for acceptance to this program no later than the second semester of their sophomore year. Requirements for this include admission to and successful completion of the approved teacher education program. Students must successfully complete all requirements for certification in secondary education.

When declaring teacher certification in social studies through the Program of Study Management System (POSM), students must first select "Declare or Add a Major" and then "Secondary Education Cognate" from the major list. Once this selection is made, a second menu box will appear with a list of the associated majors. Select the political science major and follow the on-screen instructions.