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Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Adviser Name:_______________________ Catalog: 2013-2014 Catalog Program: Political Science, BA Minimum Credits Required:__________________

Political Science, BA

Department of Political Science, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

60 credits

Introduction/What is the Study of Political Science?

Political Science is one of the oldest fields of academic inquiry. Social ideals and their realization through law were systematically studied in ancient Greece. In an increasingly interdependent world, the study of politics and government has flourished as the relations between persons, groups and nations have become more complex, and questions of freedom and authority have challenged every citizen. Modern Political Science is equally concerned with questions of political philosophy and with the pursuit of social scientific research. These concerns are reflected in a broad and diverse curriculum.

The Political Science faculty is committed to the belief that understanding politics and government is essential to a well-educated person, vital to democratic citizenship, indispensable to effective public service, and critical to the maintenance and ethical progress of a free society.

Why Consider a Political Science Major? 

The Political Science curriculum prepares students for careers in public service-related occupations in both government and business. Many students majoring in Political Science go on to law school, graduate school and into related professions.

 Contact Information

Political Science Department Chair
Sara Weir
Arntzen Hall 415
360-650-2912
Sara.Weir@wwu.edu

Department Manager
Joan Blackwell
Arntzen Hall 415
360-650-3469
Joan.Blackwell@wwu.edu

Program Coordinator
Peggy Warner
Arntzen Hall 415
360-650-3469
Peggy.Warner@wwu.edu
 Sample Careers

Campaign Manager | Politician | Lobbyist | Attorney | Public Relations Specialist | FBI/CIA Agent | Consumer Advocate | Journalist | Labor Relations Specialist | City Manager | Author | Urban Planner
 Major/Career Resources

http://www.wwu.edu/careers/students_choosingamajor.shtml

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Declaration of Major

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors. For more information go to the

Requirements

PLSC 101, 435, 443, 444, 447, 448, and 491 credits apply toward the major but do not count in any field. No more than 10 credits of internship or independent study may be counted toward the major.

  • Students select a first, second and third field of study from the three fields listed below
    • American Politics and Public Policy
    • Political Theory
    • International and Comparative Politics
  • Core courses in each of the three fields are required. They are:
    • PLSC 250 for American Politics and Public Policy
    • PLSC 261 for Political Theory
    • PLSC 271 or PLSC 291 for International and Comparative Politics
  • In the three fields, the students must complete:
    • 15 credits in the first field plus required core course
    • 10 credits in the second field plus required core course
    • 4 credits in the third field plus required core course
    • One course from: 
      PLSC 431, PLSC 432, PLSC 433, PLSC 434 

Courses in the three fields are organized as follows:

Course NameTerm TakenGradeGen Ed

❑ American Politics and Public Policy:

    PLSC 250 - The American Political System
    PLSC 311 - Introduction to Law and Judicial Process
    PLSC 313 - Law and Society
    PLSC 314 - U.S. Supreme Court
    PLSC 345 - Women and Politics
    PLSC 346 - Politics of Inequality
    PLSC 347 - Race, Politics and Public Policy
    PLSC 353 - State and Local Politics
    PLSC 366 - Research in Politics
    PLSC 414 - Constitutional Law I: National Powers
    PLSC 415 - Constitutional Law II: Individual Rights
    PLSC 420 - Environmental Politics
    PLSC 421 - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered Politics
    PLSC 423 - The American Presidency
    PLSC 427 - Policy-Making and Policy Analysis
    PLSC 431 - Senior Seminar in American Politics and Public Policy
    PLSC 449 - Politics and Social Change
    PLSC 450 - Parties, Campaigns and Elections
    PLSC 467 - Philosophical and Ethical Issues in Law
    PLSC 489 - Managing An International Ecosystem Wi

❑ Political Theory:

    PLSC 261 - Introduction to Political Theory
    PLSC 361 - Classical Political Thought
    PLSC 362 - Political Theory: Renaissance and Modern
    PLSC 432 - Senior Seminar - Political Theory
    PLSC 462 - The Rise of Modern Political Economy
    PLSC 463 - American Political Thought
    PLSC 464 - Contemporary Political Theory
    PLSC 469 - Feminist Political Theory
    PLSC 480 - Politics, Government and Religion
    PLSC 493 - Issues in Political Theory

❑ International and Comparative Politics:

    PLSC 271 - Introduction to International Relations
    PLSC 291 - Introduction to Comparative Politics
    PLSC 301 - The British Parliamentary System
    PLSC 302 - Western Europe
    PLSC 307 - East Asia
    PLSC 308 - African Political Systems
    PLSC 310 - The International Relations of East Asia
    PLSC 312 - International Relations of South Asia

    PLSC 366 - Research in Politics

    PLSC 370 - Global Issues in International Politics
    PLSC 372 - International Political Economy
    PLSC 376 - American Foreign Policy
    PLSC 390 - The Politics of Development
    PLSC 399 - The Politics of Democratization
    PLSC 402 - Regional European Society and Politics
    PLSC 403 - The European Union and the Process of European Integration
    PLSC 406 - Canadian Government and Politics
    PLSC 430 - Modern Chinese Politics
    PLSC 433 - Senior Seminar in Comparative Politics
    PLSC 434 - Senior Seminar in International Politics
    PLSC 436 - Managing Environmental Commons
    PLSC 453 - Comparative Electoral Systems

Departmental Honors

Entrance requirements

Students must satisfy the following eligibility requirements prior to registration for PLSC 496 Honors Tutorial. The student must:

  • Be a declared political science major with senior standing
  • Have a 3.50 GPA in all upper-division political science courses
  • Have completed both of the following:
  • Core requirements for the major (PLSC 250, PLSC 261, and PLSC 271 or 291)
  • Credit requirements in the area most closely related to the thesis topic
  • Have completed one of the following:
  • Two years of foreign language with a B (3.0) or better GPA; the Honors advisor, at his or her discretion, may choose to waive this requirement for students who demonstrate a satisfactory reading knowledge of the language
  • PLSC 366 Research in Politics, or an equivalent class in social statistics under advisement, and earn a grade of B (3.0) or better
  • Submit the completed Honors Contract to the political science department office with proper faculty signatures

Completion Requirements

To graduate with honors in political science the student must:

  • Maintain a 3.50 grade point average in all upper-division political science courses
  • Complete 4-10 credits of PLSC 496 Honors Tutorial over two quarters under the supervision of a faculty thesis advisor
  • Give an oral presentation of the thesis in arrangement with the faculty thesis advisor
  • Submit a copy of the honors thesis to the political science department office before the final grade is assigned 

University Graduation Requirements

General University Requirements (GURS) 
Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
180 Minimum Total Credits
60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
Residency Requirement
Minimum Grade Requirements
Final Quarter Requirement

Notes:





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