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Departmental Mission
The mission of the department is to empower students to understand key political concepts, theories, and methods and hone the writing, communication, analytical and methodological skills that are essential components of a liberal arts education and a successful career. Our goal is to foster critical reflection, constructive dialogue, and active engagement in and outside the classroom, so that our majors develop the skills to contribute to society as thoughtful, engaged citizens and leaders in their respective fields.
Learning Goals
1. How should we live together?
Students will probe the question “how should we live together”, exploring its differing interpretations and conceptions, and considering how its answers impact us as human beings and citizens.
2. Core Knowledge of Politics and International Relations
Students will explain and apply key political concepts, theories, and methods to analyze institutions, laws, norms, power, and political behavior across different contexts.
3. Critical Thinking and Research Skills
Students will evaluate arguments, assess sources and evidence, and use qualitative, quantitative, and humanistic methods to analyze big political questions in innovative ways.
4. Collaborative and Innovative Problem-Solving
Students will use active learning to engage in creative, innovative, and collaborative problem-solving and decision-making while considering normative, ethical, and democratic principles at local, national, and global levels.
5. Communication and Argumentation
Students will express ideas clearly and persuasively in writing and speech, adapting their communication for different audiences and viewpoints, and practice dialogue across different viewpoints.
6. Career and Professional Development
Students will explore career paths in public service, nonprofits, and the private sector, discovering how their skills apply to government, law, public policy, business, education, and more.
7. (For International Relations Majors) Global and Interdisciplinary Perspectives
International Relations majors will integrate interdisciplinary approaches from political science, economics, anthropology and history to global issues and demonstrate intermediate proficiency in a foreign language.
Politics
Requirements for Majors
A major in politics requires POL-200, 218, 237, either 242 or 252, one POL seminar at the 400 level, plus five additional POL courses, at least four of which must be at the 300 level or above. The capstone, oral presentation, and writing requirements within the major are fulfilled by taking one of the following seminar courses: POL-418W, 437W, 442W, 452W, 462W or IR-400W; or POL-491 and 492W.
Secondary School Teaching Certificate
In addition to the basic requirements of the major, students seeking a teaching certificate in social studies must be enrolled in the College’s teacher education program. Substantial further coursework outside of either major is required in order to prepare the student for actual subject matters taught in the secondary curriculum. Students who wish to obtain teaching certification should consult their departmental adviser and the chair of the department of education as early as possible, preferably at the end of their first year.
Requirements for Minors
A minor in politics requires two courses from among POL-218, 237, 242, and 252, plus three POL courses at the 300- or 400- Level.
International Relations
International Relations majors become capable of living and working in a worldwide setting by developing an understanding of how that setting came to be and how its various political, economic, and social systems function.
Requirements for Majors
The International Relations major is an interdisciplinary program for students interested in careers in international politics and diplomacy, intelligence work, higher education, international law, international trade, journalism, and other fields where expertise in international affairs is necessary. Courses required to complete the International Relations major include: ANTH-100, ECON-102, HIST-102, POL-200, 242, 252, and a capstone consisting of either POL-442W, 452W, 462W, IR-400W or another capstone approved by the International Relations coordinator. Eligible students may write a departmental or interdisciplinary honors paper for their capstone requirement, with the approval of the IR coordinator. (Note: Students planning to do graduate study in political science should take POL-218 and 237 as well.) Majors are additionally required to take five of the following courses, including courses in at least two different departments: ANTH-212, 221, 230, 235, 242; ANTH/HSOC-283 ECON-201, 202, 223, 263, 361, 362; HIST-101, 103, 125, 126, 151, 152, 202, 225, 252, 254, 255, 277, 303, 307, 308, 351, 352, 354, 377; LAS-200; IR-400W; POL-343, 344, 345, 346, 348, 349, 350A and 350B, 351, 352, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359. (Note: Both POL-350A and 350B must be taken to qualify as one elective.) Special topics courses such as ANTH-251, ECON-213, HIST-250 or 350, LAS-332, MGT-300 and POL-399 may count as electives with permission of the IR coordinator. Finally, all students in the International Relations major must take at least two courses at the 200 level or above in a foreign language. International Relations majors are strongly encouraged to pursue study-abroad options. The department regularly tries to accommodate students by accepting courses taken abroad in fulfillment of major requirements.
International Relations majors can fulfill the capstone, oral presentation, and writing requirements within the major by taking one of the following seminar courses: POL-442W, POL-452W, POL-462W, or IR-400W. HIST-450W may fulfill the major capstone requirement with permission of the IR coordinator.
Requirements for Minors
The international relations minor consists of POL-242, 252 and three courses from the following list: ANTH-212, 221, 230, 235, 242; ANTH/HSOC-283; ECON-201, 202, 223, 263, 361, 362; HIST-101, 102, 103, 125, 126, 151, 152, 202, 225, 252, 254, 255, 277, 303, 307, 308, 351, 352, 354, 377. LAS-200; IR-400W; POL-200, 343, 344, 345, 346, 348, 349, 350A and 350B, 351, 352, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 442W, 452W, 462W. Special topics courses such as ANTH-251, ECON-213, HIST-250, 350 or 450W, LAS-332, MGT-300 and POL-101 or 399 may count as electives with permission of the IR coordinator. Minors are required to take courses from at least two contributing departments.