BA in Political Science Curriculum
The BA in Political Science requires the completion of courses in the University Curriculum, the CAS curriculum and the political science core curriculum, with a minimum grade of C in all courses. No more than 6 credits of internship (PO 295, PO 395) may count toward the completion of the major. Students majoring in political science must meet the following requirements for graduation:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Curriculum 1 | 46 | |
| College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum 2 | 21-24 | |
| Political Science Core Courses | ||
| PO 131 | Introduction to American Government and Politics | 3 |
| PO 211 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| PO 215 | Political Theory | 3 |
| PO 225 | American Political Movements | 3 |
| PO 303 | Political Inquiry | 3 |
| PO 408 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| PO 395 or PO 365 or a Service Learning course or QU in DC course or Study Abroad course in politics or other course approved by the department. | 3-6 | |
| Political Science Track electives or cognate courses (choose a track from the list below) | 15 | |
| Free Electives | 17 | |
| Total Credits | 120-126 | |
Experiential Requirement
At Quinnipiac, political science majors are required to have a for-credit experiential learning course or internship. Students may choose between an advanced internship, a course in the QU in DC program, a political science course taken as part of a Study Abroad semester, or a course where academic learning is integrated with a community service learning project. Students should plan with their academic advisers early to complete this requirement before the start of their senior year. With department approval, this requirement may be completed with one of the following:
- A political science advanced internship PO 395 of 3 or more credits;
- A political science course taken in a study abroad program;
- A political science course taken in the QU in DC program or PO 365;
- A service learning course in any discipline (must have “SL” designation).
Electives: Tracks in Political Science
Students choosing to focus their studies in the politics track, the public policy and leadership track, or the global affairs track may choose from among the following electives beyond the core required courses:
Politics Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 15 credits of the following political science or cognate courses | 15 | |
| Political Science courses: | ||
| Issues in Politics | ||
| Public Policy and Administration | ||
| Ethics and Public Policy | ||
| Environmental Politics and Policy | ||
| American Political Thought | ||
| Women and Political Thought (WS 219) | ||
| Introduction to Latin America | ||
| The Politics of Intimacy | ||
| Elections and Political Parties (SL: Service Learning) | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| Actors and Processes in U.S. Foreign Policy | ||
| Congress and the President | ||
| Topics in International Relations | ||
| Philosophy of War and Peace (PL 312) | ||
| Democratic Theory and Practice | ||
| International Law (LE 317) | ||
| International Interventions | ||
| Comparative Government | ||
| Political Psychology and Public Opinion | ||
| Topics in Comparative Government | ||
| Middle Eastern History and Politics | ||
| Topics in African Politics | ||
| Politics of Race and Ethnicity | ||
| Human Rights: Theory and Practice (PL 337) | ||
| Comparative Constitutional Law (LE 342) | ||
| Political Communication (MSS 349) | ||
| American Constitutional Law (LE340) | ||
| Civil Rights and Civil Liberties | ||
| Topics in American Politics | ||
| Presidential Election Campaigns (SL: Service Learning) | ||
| Inside Washington, D.C. | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Women and Public Policy (WS 387) | ||
| Independent Study in Political Science | ||
| Cognate courses: 3 | ||
| Globalization and International Business | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Power and Social Institutions | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Public Policy and Leadership Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 15 credits of the following: | 15 | |
| Public Policy and Administration | ||
| Ethics and Public Policy | ||
| Environmental Politics and Policy | ||
| American Political Thought | ||
| The Politics of Intimacy | ||
| Elections and Political Parties (SL: Service Learning) | ||
| Actors and Processes in U.S. Foreign Policy | ||
| Congress and the President | ||
| Democratic Theory and Practice | ||
| Political Psychology and Public Opinion | ||
| Politics of Race and Ethnicity | ||
| Political Communication (MSS 349) | ||
| American Constitutional Law (LE340) | ||
| Civil Rights and Civil Liberties | ||
| Topics in American Politics | ||
| Presidential Election Campaigns (SL: Service Learning) | ||
| Inside Washington, D.C. | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Women and Public Policy (WS 387) | ||
| Cognate courses: 3 | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Power and Social Institutions | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Global Affairs Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 15 credits of the following political science or cognate courses: | 15 | |
| Issues in Politics | ||
| Environmental Politics and Policy | ||
| Introduction to Latin America | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| Actors and Processes in U.S. Foreign Policy | ||
| Topics in International Relations | ||
| Philosophy of War and Peace (PL 312) | ||
| International Law (LE 317) | ||
| International Interventions | ||
| Comparative Government | ||
| Middle Eastern History and Politics | ||
| Topics in African Politics | ||
| Politics of Race and Ethnicity | ||
| Human Rights: Theory and Practice (PL 337) | ||
| Comparative Constitutional Law (LE 342) | ||
| Cognate courses 3 | ||
| Globalization and International Business | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| 1 | All students must complete the University Curriculum requirements. |
| 2 | Students must complete the College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum requirements specific to their major. See details below. |
| 3 | In addition to political science courses, a student may count up to two of the cognate courses toward completion of the political science major. |
College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum
The College of Arts and Sciences offers bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees. Students earning either degree must complete one foreign language through the 102-level, and all students are encouraged to pursue a balanced program of study.
In addition, students earning a bachelor of arts degree must fulfill separate requirements for breadth and depth of study.
For the breadth requirement, students must complete at least 3 credits in each of the four CAS disciplinary areas other than the area of the student’s major. These areas are fine arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. A course taken to fulfill the CAS breadth requirement may not also be used to fulfill a UC requirement.
For the depth requirement, students must complete at least 9 credits within a single subject area other than that of the major. (A “subject area” is identified with a catalog subject code, such as PL, CJ, WS, MA, etc.)
A student enrolled in the Accelerated Dual-Degree BA/JD or BS/JD (3+3) program is exempt from these College of Arts and Sciences requirements, with the exception of the foreign language requirement. A student pursuing a double major is likewise exempt from these College of Arts and Sciences requirements, with the exception of the foreign language requirement.