Academic Planning: Political Science

The top 5 things to consider when planning a major in political science

  1. Students must complete two introductory level courses (POL 1101, POL 1201, POL 1202, POL 1401) during their first year or as a sophomore. Advanced Placement (AP) or Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) equivalent courses will count towards this requirement.
  2. Students are to take POL 2001, Political Science Research Methods, during the fall term of their sophomore year.
  3. Political Science juniors or seniors are required to take one of four 4000-level seminar courses offered by the discipline, each covering a subfield of the discipline (American Politics, Political Theory, or International Relations/Comparative Politics).
  4. Students are highly encouraged to take STATS 1601 for their math requirement if they are considering graduate school in any social science. For those pursuing legal careers, Symbolic Logic is an appropriate and useful course to take for the math requirement.
  5. Students who wish to pursue internships and especially study abroad should plan ahead. Internships are particularly valuable for careers in politics and government, while study abroad is 'essential' for those considering careers in international relations.