Major requirements: A minimum of ten courses in political science.  The courses are categorized in four general subfields of the discipline: American Government, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. 

Introductory Courses: majors are required to take three of the four introductory courses. The options are: Political Science 101, 102, 103, or 104. These courses are designed to introduce students to the discipline and to the types of issues that are important to political scientists. The 100-level courses may be taken in any order, and should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. Occasionally, certain First Year Seminars offered by members of the department may be used to satisfy one of the introductory courses. Students should consult their First Year Seminar instructors to see if their seminar is applicable.

Political Science Methods: all students must take Political Science 215 (Political Science Research Methods) as sophomores or first-semester juniors.

Among the five courses needed to complete the major, students must take:

• two courses in two different subfields at the 200 level.
• two courses within those subfields at the 300 level.
• one course at the 200 or 300 level consistent with the three introductory courses taken.
• one Capstone Seminar at the 400 level

Students are encouraged to take internships for academic course credit, but they are graded S/U and do not count toward the major requirements. Political science courses taken off campus will satisfy 200-level requirements only.  Although most 300-level courses list only the introductory course as a prerequisite, students should take some of the 200-level courses in the subfield before enrolling in the more advanced courses.  In the junior and senior years, majors are urged to participate in departmental seminars, individualized study, and internships.

Minor requirements: Successful completion of two 100-level courses in two of the four subfields and four upper-level courses that normally count toward the major, provided that they do not all fall into the same subfield.