Political Science, B.A.
Coordinator: Scott Hammond
Location: Miller Hall, Room 2127
Email: hammonsj@jmu.edu
Phone: (540) 568-6313
Program Description
For a major in political science, the student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 39 credit hours, including:
- A 17-hour core introducing students to the conduct of political inquiry in the major areas of the discipline, an awareness of global issues and cultural diversity, and the techniques of original research.
- An 18-hour depth requirement in which students take at least one course from four of the major areas of political inquiry and acquire additional experience in the application of research techniques.
- A four-hour capstone experience designed to bring together knowledge gained in different courses into a coherent whole, to foster a capacity for lifelong learning, to connect the major to experiences outside the university and to provide the opportunity to work individually with a faculty member.
Degree Requirements
| Degree Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| General Education 1 | 41 |
| Foreign Language classes (intermediate level required) 2 | 0-12 |
| Philosophy course (in addition to General Education courses) | 3 |
| Major requirements | 38-39 |
| University electives | 25-38 |
| Total | 120 |
- 1
The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some requirements may be fulfilled by courses within the major.
- 2
The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student's chosen language (typically 232) or by placing out of that language through the Department of World Languages and Cultures' placement test.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| POSC 225 | U.S. Government [C4AE] | 4 |
| POSC 201 | Introduction to Western Political Theory | 3 |
| POSC 230 | International Relations | 3 |
| POSC 240 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POSC 295 | Research Methods in Political Science 1 | 4 |
| Subtotal | 17 | |
| Electives | ||
| In addition to the core requirements, political science majors must elect 18 hours of approved courses as shown, including at least one upper-level course from each of the four major areas of political inquiry. Students are encouraged to complete the core requirements before taking elective courses. A political science major may seek permission to count a completed Senior Honors Project as a three-credit elective within the major. Students must consult with the political science program coordinator prior to conducting an honors project to clarify the specific nature of its potential applicability to the major’s elective options. | ||
| Comparative Politics Requirement | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Politics of Development | ||
| Social Movements in the U.S. and Abroad | ||
| Politics of the European Union | ||
| Politics of Western Europe | ||
| Politics of Central and Eastern Europe | ||
| Comparative Public Policy | ||
| The Politics of Cultural Pluralism | ||
| Latin American Politics | ||
| African Politics | ||
| Politics of the Middle East | ||
| East Asian Politics | ||
| Politics of China | ||
| Topics in Comparative Politics | ||
| Global Black Feminist Politics: On Power, Resistance and Transformation | ||
| Women and Politics in Comparative Perspective | ||
| Post-Conflict Societies | ||
| Fates of Empires | ||
| International Relations Requirement | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Human Rights in Theory and Practice | ||
| Topics in International Relations | ||
| U.S. Foreign Policy | ||
| Ethics and International Politics | ||
| International Laws of War | ||
| Peace Studies | ||
| Human Security | ||
| International Conflict | ||
| International Law | ||
| International Organizations | ||
| The Politics of International Economic Relations | ||
| International Security and Conflict Management | ||
| International Terrorism | ||
| International Political Analysis | ||
| Political Theory Requirement | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Ancient Political Theory: Classical Greek Political Philosophy to Roman Stoicism | ||
| The Ideas and Legacies of Medieval and Renaissance Political Theory | ||
| Political Theory: Early Modern to the 19th Century | ||
| Contemporary Political Theory | ||
| Political Theory and Ideology | ||
| American Political Thought | ||
| Black Political Thought | ||
| American Political Thought II: Civil War to the Present | ||
| Political Thought of James Madison | ||
| Topics in Political Theory | ||
| American Government Requirement | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| State and Local Government | ||
| Civic Engagement | ||
| Cities and Placemaking | ||
| Politics of Human Rights in the United States | ||
| Constitutional Law | ||
| Civil Rights | ||
| Race and Capitalism in the United States | ||
| Fair and Affordable Housing Law and Policy | ||
| Civil Rights and Criminal Procedures | ||
| Topics in American Politics | ||
| The Politics of Mental Health | ||
| Political Behavior | ||
| Political Parties in America | ||
| American Political Campaigning | ||
| Introduction to the Politics of Race and Ethnicity | ||
| U.S. Immigration and Refugee Law | ||
| Interest Groups, Lobbying and Public Policy | ||
| Elections and Voting Behavior | ||
| Latina/o/x Politics: Origins and Futures | ||
| Introduction to Black Politics | ||
| Borderlands Policy: Latina/o/x Politics in Context | ||
| The U.S. Presidency | ||
| The Role of Religion in American Politics | ||
| Minority Group Politics | ||
| The U.S. Congress | ||
| The U.S. Judiciary | ||
| The Appellate Process and Practice | ||
| Media and Politics | ||
| Subtotal | 12 | |
| Additional Electives | ||
| Choose two additional electives chosen from the 300 or 400 level. For three of these six credit hours, students may also take one of the following courses: | 6 | |
| Global Politics [C4GE] | ||
| Politics and Film | ||
| The Washington Semester Experience | ||
| Topics in Public Policy | ||
| Simulations | ||
| Topics in Political Science | ||
| Washington Semester Internship Readiness | ||
| Political Communication Internship | ||
| Internship in Political Science | ||
| Introduction to Public Policy | ||
| Public Administration | ||
| Subtotal | 6 | |
| Senior Capstone | ||
| Students should fulfill the senior capstone requirement for each major and minor separately. This means that senior experiences completed for one major or minor cannot normally be counted for another. Students who have questions about a particular situation should see the academic unit head or appropriate academic unit coordinator for clarification. | ||
| POSC 492 | Senior Seminar in Political Science | 3-4 |
| Subtotal | 3-4 | |
| Total Credits | 38-39 | |
Recommended Schedule for Majors
Students entering the major having already completed their General Education requirements should contact their advisor for guidance.
The following is an example of a four-year course of study for a student seeking a degree in political science:
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| POSC 201 | Introduction to Western Political Theory | 3 |
| POSC 225 | U.S. Government [C4AE] | 4 |
| World language | 6 | |
| Madison Foundations | 9 | |
| General Education requirement including Quantitative Reasoning requirement | 9 | |
| Credits | 31 | |
| Second Year | ||
| POSC 230 | International Relations | 3 |
| POSC 240 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
| World language | 6 | |
| B.A. Philosophy requirement | 3 | |
| General Education requirements | 15 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Third Year | ||
| POSC 295 | Research Methods in Political Science | 4 |
| Elective requirements in the four areas of the POSC major | 12 | |
| Coursework for university electives, second major or minor | 13 | |
| Credits | 29 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| POSC 492 | Senior Seminar in Political Science | 3 |
| Remaining POSC electives | 6 | |
| Coursework for university electives, second major or minor | 21 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |