Political Science

Program of Study

Program Requirements

Concentration 3 political science courses: one each in three of four subfields

4 additional political science courses

(may include up to three independent

study or reading courses, two of which

may be for the B.A. paper)

2 political science or approved extra-departmental courses

2 social sciences courses outside political science

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Introductory Cluster. The department offers concentrators an introductory cluster of courses designed to provide partial overviews of the subfields and to lay the basis for further choices. Students are encouraged to take one of these courses in each of three of the four subfields early in their concentration, but they are not prerequisites for taking other political science courses. The cluster is not a sequence; courses in it may be taken simultaneously or in any order. The department undertakes to offer at least one of the courses in each subfield each year. The list of cluster courses may be revised from year to year.

Empirical and Normative Political Theory (A):

214. Education for Liberty: Locke and Rousseau

273. Philosophy of Social Science

American Politics and Public Policy (B):

222. Feminism and U.S. Politics

288. Introduction to Constitutional Law

Comparative Politics (C):

250. Comparative Politics of Latin America

267. From Restructuring to Revolution: Why Did the Soviet Union Collapse?

International Relations (D):

266. Origins of Modern War

290. Introduction to International Relations

Papers. Concentrators are required to write both a third-year and a fourth-year paper. Third-year concentrators write a fifteen- to twenty-five-page paper in a political science course of their choice, whether or not such a paper is a normal requirement for that course. Fourth-year concentrators write a thirty- to fifty-page paper under the supervision of a faculty member. (The upper page limits are firm; papers that are too long are returned for revision.) While writing their fourth-year papers, students normally register for two units of the relevant workshop and/or paper supervision (Political Science 298). Students should register a preliminary topic and reader by May 10 of their third year. Students are required to submit proposals for their fourth-year papers, approved by their supervisors, by the end of the first quarter of their fourth year. Papers that are not submitted for honors are due at the end of the eighth week of the quarter in which students expect to graduate. NOTE: Merely writing the third- and fourth-year papers is not enough; concentrators must be sure to file with the departmental office approval forms signed by their supervisors.

Independent Study/Reading Courses. Permission of a supervising faculty member and of the concentration chairman is required to take Independent Study (Political Science 297). Students may use Political Science 297 for a variety of purposes, such as intensive work on a special topic, field research in or out of residence, or participation in some specially arranged overseas study program. Research projects done under these arrangements must be carefully designed, must be approved by a supervising faculty member, and must result in a substantial, high-quality, academic paper.

With prior consent of the concentration chairman, reading courses in political science (Political Science 299) can be arranged on an individual basis with members of the faculty.

NOTE: Concentrators are permitted to count toward the concentration a total of no more than three quarters of Independent Study (Political Science 297); Fourth-Year Paper (Political Science 298); and Reading Course (Political Science 299).

Grading. Two of the nine required courses in political science may, with the consent of the instructor, be graded P/N.

Honors. Students with a 3.25 grade point average or better in the concentration may graduate with special honors; there is no required overall grade point average. To be eligible, they must have been recommended for honors by both the supervisor of their fourth-year paper and one other faculty member appointed by the concentration chairman to evaluate the paper. They must therefore submit two copies of their fourth-year paper by the end of the fifth week of the quarter in which they expect to graduate.

Advising. After political science concentrators fill out an information form for the concentration chairman, they are assigned faculty advisers with whom to consult concerning their concentration program. Students should continue to consult their College advisers about their total College program.

Faculty