Political Science Minor
The minor in political science offers students the opportunity to acquire a foundation in the discipline as well as significant exposure to advanced courses.
Students may want to choose courses that complement and deepen their major area of study. For example, economics majors may want to focus on political economy courses, history majors may study contemporary politics in their area of focus, and philosophy majors may study political theory. Alternatively, students can choose to broaden their knowledge of political science in areas unrelated to their majors. Students should consult with a department advisor to develop an individual program of study.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Minor Requirements (6 units) | |
| At least two 200-level courses chosen from: | |
| Introduction to Political Theory | |
| American Government and Politics | |
| Introduction to Law in the Political Arena | |
| Introduction to International Relations | |
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | |
| Four additional political science courses, including at least three at the 300 level 1 | |
- 1
At most one unit of Chicago Field Studies (chosen from CFS 391-0, CFS 394-0, or CFS 397-0) may substitute for one course.
Notes about substitutions and restrictions:
- At most one course from study abroad may count toward the minor.
- There is no limit to the number of units of Special Topics in Political Science (POLI_SCI 390-0) that may be applied to the minor.
- At most two units of POLI_SCI 399-0 Independent Study may count towards the minor.
- Courses taken P/N cannot be counted toward the minor (this is a Weinberg College rule; for details see Grade Requirements).
- Receiving a 5 on an AP exam (either American Government or Comparative Politics) can place students out of the equivalent 200-level course, but test credit awarded cannot be substituted for the 6 courses required to complete the minor. Thus, instead of taking POLI_SCI 220-0 or POLI_SCI 250-0 , the student must take an additional 300-level course. Students receiving 5’s on the AP exams in both American Government and Comparative Politics can place out of both equivalent 200-level courses and thus need to take two additional 300-level courses. Students wishing to use their AP credit in this fashion must contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies to place the request.
Courses
American Politics Courses
These courses examine political behavior, power, and politics in American society and in the institutions of US government at the national, state, and local levels.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| POLI_SCI 220-0 | American Government and Politics |
| POLI_SCI 230-0 | Introduction to Law in the Political Arena |
| POLI_SCI 320-0 | The American Presidency |
| POLI_SCI 321-0 | Urban Politics |
| POLI_SCI 323-0 | Public Opinion and Voting Behavior |
| POLI_SCI 324-0 | Political Parties and Elections |
| POLI_SCI 325-0 | Congress and the Legislative Process |
| POLI_SCI 326-0 | Race and Public Policy |
| POLI_SCI 327-0 | African American Politics |
| POLI_SCI 328-0 | Public Policy |
| POLI_SCI 329-0 | U.S. Environmental Politics |
| POLI_SCI 331-0 | Politics of the Supreme Court |
| POLI_SCI 332-0 | Constitutional Law I |
| POLI_SCI 333-0 | Constitutional Law II: Civil and Political Rights |
| POLI_SCI 334-0 | Latino Politics |
| POLI_SCI 335-0 | Political Psychology |
| POLI_SCI 336-0 | Immigration Politics and Policy |
Comparative Politics Courses
Some of these courses concentrate on understanding the politics of specific national systems, while others focus on certain types of political phenomena and make cross-national comparisons.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| POLI_SCI 250-0 | Introduction to Comparative Politics |
| POLI_SCI 350-0 | Social Movements |
| POLI_SCI 351-0 | Politics of the Middle East |
| POLI_SCI 352-0 | Global Development |
| POLI_SCI 353-0 | Politics of Latin America |
| POLI_SCI 354-0 | Politics of Southeast Asia |
| POLI_SCI 355-0 | Politics of China |
| POLI_SCI 356-0 | Constitutional Challenges in Comparative Perspective |
| POLI_SCI 358-SA | Contemporary South Africa: A Political Economy/Policy Perspective |
| POLI_SCI 359-0 | Politics of Africa |
| POLI_SCI 361-0 | Democracy and Autocracy |
| POLI_SCI 362-0 | Politics of Europe |
| POLI_SCI 363-SA | The Political Economy of the European Union |
| POLI_SCI 364-SA | France: Politics, Culture, & Society |
| POLI_SCI 365-SA | Decision Making in the European Union |
| POLI_SCI 366-SA | The Dynamics of Law Making in the European Union |
| POLI_SCI 368-0 | Political Economy of Development |
| POLI_SCI 369-0 | Politics of Post-Soviet Russia |
| POLI_SCI 373-0 | Chinese Foreign Policy |
| POLI_SCI 374-0 | Politics of Capitalism |
| POLI_SCI 379-SA | China in Transition: Ideology, Political Economy, Law, and Relations with the US |
| POLI_SCI 381-SA | Political Economy of Contemporary China |
| POLI_SCI 388-0 | Institutions and Society |
| POLI_SCI 389-0 | Understanding Genocide |
International Relations Courses
This field includes the study of major actors and arenas in the world scene, global processes through which cooperation and conflict are managed in the international system, and ways in which change occurs and resources become allocated in the global system.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| POLI_SCI 240-0 | Introduction to International Relations |
| POLI_SCI 340-0 | International Relations Theory |
| POLI_SCI 341-0 | International Political Economy |
| POLI_SCI 342-0 | International Organizations |
| POLI_SCI 343-0 | Politics of International Law |
| POLI_SCI 344-0 | U.S. Foreign Policy |
| POLI_SCI 345-0 | National Security |
| POLI_SCI 346-0 | European Union in International Affairs |
| POLI_SCI 347-0 | Ethics in International Relations |
| POLI_SCI 348-0 | Globalization |
| POLI_SCI 349-0 | International Environmental Politics |
| POLI_SCI 376-0 | Civil Wars |
| POLI_SCI 377-0 | Drugs and Politics |
| POLI_SCI 378-0 | America and the World |
| POLI_SCI 382-0 | Religion, Law, & Politics: Politics of Religious Diversity |
| POLI_SCI 383-0 | War and Change in International Politics |
| POLI_SCI 384-0 | International Responses to Mass Atrocities |
Political Theory Courses
These courses examine the ideas that inform the thinking of today’s citizens, representatives, and political scientists. They are organized by historical periods and conceptual similarity.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| POLI_SCI 201-0 | Introduction to Political Theory |
| POLI_SCI 301-0 | Classical Political Theory |
| POLI_SCI 302-0 | Subjects, Citizens, Revolutionaries: Early Modern Political Thought |
| POLI_SCI 303-0 | Modernity and Its Discontents |
| POLI_SCI 304-0 | Human Rights Between East and West |
| POLI_SCI 306-0 | American Political Thought |
| POLI_SCI 307-0 | Deportation Law and Politics |
| POLI_SCI 308-0 | Critical Theory and the Study of Politics |
| POLI_SCI 308-SA | Critical Theory and the Study of Politics |
| POLI_SCI 309-0 | Political Theories of the Rule of Law |
Research Methodology Courses
Courses in this field help students engage in the research they may encounter in their 300 level courses and help prepare students to conduct original research on the causes and consequences of political phenomena. The methodological techniques are often transferable to research problems in government and business.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| POLI_SCI 210-0 | Introduction to Empirical Methods in Political Science |
| POLI_SCI 211-0 | Introduction to Interpretive Methods in Political Science |
| POLI_SCI 212-0 | Evaluating Evidence |
| POLI_SCI 310-0 | Methods of Political Inference |
| POLI_SCI 312-0 | Statistical Research Methods |
Seminars and Independent Study
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| POLI_SCI 390-0 | Special Topics in Political Science |
| POLI_SCI 394-LK | Professional Linkage Seminar |
| POLI_SCI 395-0 | Political Research Seminar |
| POLI_SCI 398-1 & POLI_SCI 398-2 | Senior Thesis Seminar and Senior Thesis Seminar |
| POLI_SCI 399-0 | Independent Study |