Undergraduate Studies Director: Professor Douglas Kriner
Undergraduate Academic Advisor: Megan Winderbaum

Political Science explores the concerns and issues that animate public life. Using both humanistic and scientific approaches, it studies how political communities attempt to reconcile the claims of justice, power, liberty, and authority. Drawing on history, law, economics, psychology, sociology, and philosophy, political science is a broadly based social science that shares the traditional aims of liberal arts education while attempting to come to grips with the major public issues of our time.

Upon graduation, Political Science majors qualify for careers in both the public and private sectors, in local, state, and federal government, in business, education, journalism, international organizations, and practical politics. They also pursue post-graduate study in law and public administration, as well as graduate study in political science.

Political Science Major
Requirements for Political Science majors are flexible enough to allow students to tailor programs of study to meet their particular interests. Political Science majors must complete a total of 11 courses: Three core courses at the 200-level , and eight principal courses (or seminars numbered 300-699) with a grade of C or higher.

1. Core Courses: These courses serve as introductions to the five subfields of political science: American Politics, Public Policy, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory.

Since the core courses are the foundation on which subsequent courses draw, students should try to complete their sequence of core courses by the end of the sophomore year.Majors must complete three core courses from the following list:
PO 211 Introduction to American Politics
PO 241 Introduction to Public Policy
PO 251 Introduction to Comparative Politics
PO 271 Introduction to International Relations
PO 291 Introduction to Political Theory

After the student has taken their three required core courses, they are asked to choose from among those courses one area of specialty, which they declare as their subfield (see below.)

2. Subfields: Each student must choose a subfield from among the 5 core courses offered by the Department.  The student must then complete three courses from the chosen subfield as follows:  one core 200-level course, one 300-level course, and one 500 or 600-level course. For example, if a student decided upon American politics as a subfield and took PO 211 (the core American politics course), it would be necessary to take a 300-level American politics course and a 500 or 600-level American politics course to complete the subfield.

3. Elective Courses: Students may choose their six elective courses from any of the Political Science courses or seminars numbered 300-699 that are offered by the department.

No more than 8 credits toward the concentration shall be derived from directed study (CAS PO 491 or 492).

Political Science Minor
A total of 6 courses with a grade of C or higher. Courses required are: two 200-level core courses, one 300-level and one 500 or 600-level in the same subfield as one of the 200-levels, and two other PO 300- level or above elective of the student's choice.

Work for Distinction in Political Science
Any student expected to complete the Political Science major or minor concentration that meets the academic requirements is eligible to undertake a program of Independent Work for Distinction.  The academic qualifications are:  3.7 GPA in the major (or minor) and 3.5 overall GPA.  This project provides the opportunity to develop a special competence in the field.  To graduate with distinction, seniors must undertake a two-semester independent investigation culminating in a thesis and an oral examination based on the thesis.  Students who successfully complete their work for distinction with a grade of B+ or better in each semester may be recommended to graduate with distinction in the concentration. 

Juniors who plan to undertake independent work during the senior year must, in consultation with a faculty supervisor in the concentration, select a suitable project written by the student.  Together with a copy of his or her unofficial academic transcript through the middle of the junior year and a reference report written by the proposed faculty supervisor, the package must be approved by the departmental Honors Committee and submitted to the Work for Distinction advisor in CAS Room 105 by May 15 for work to begin in the fall and by November 15 for work to begin in th spring.  Distinction projects may not be combined with study abroad programs. 

If approved, independent work will constitute two of the eight courses comprised by a normal course of study during the senior year.  A student engaged in an independent work project is expected to report regularly to his or her faculty supervisor.  It is exptected that the independent work will culminate in a thesis, which the student will defend before a committee of the faculty.  Bound copies of theses may be reviewed in CAS Room 105.

Combined BA/MA Program
Students who are looking ahead toward careers or post-baccalaureate education may wish to consider the combined bacherlor's degree-master's degree program in Political Science offered jointly by the College and the Graduate School or Arts and Sciences. In this joint program, students complete all requirements for the Bacherlor of Arts and Master of Arts. The last two years of undergraduate study are integrated with the first year of graduate work, eliminating duplication of courses and reducing the time required to earn the two degrees. Successful completion of the BA/MA Program may lead to enhanced career employment opportunities, professional training, or doctoral studies. However, the BA/MA Program is not open to students outside of the CAS or Boston Collaborative Degree Program (BUCOP) students.

Application Procedure: Application forms are available in the GRS Admissions Office Room 112 of 705 Commonwealth Avenue. Applications must be received by March 1 of the junior year. Seniors may not apply to the BA/MA program. A Request to File Late Application must be completed and signed by the department chairperson and submitted with an application that does not meet the deadline. This form is available in Room 112. Applicants must return the reply card sent by the Graduate School with the offer of admission to Room 112 of the Graduate School Arts and Sciences Admissions Office to finalize their enrollment in the program. BA/MA students are governed by the rules and regulations of the Graduate School Arts and Sciences upon completion of 32 courses in CAS. It is the student's responsibility to refer to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Bulletin for details on these rules and regulations.

Application Requirements: Applicants must have completed four political science courses, including a 500 level course or above, by the time of application. They must have received a GPA of 3.7 or above in these courses and any other political science courses taken. Applicants must also have an overall GPA of 3.5 to be considered for the program.

Departmental Requirements: Applicants must meet a GPA requirement of at least 3.5 through the junior year. Eight courses at the 500-level or above must be passed with a grade of B- or better. Two of the five graduate core courses (PO 711, PO 741, PO 751, PO 771 and PO 791) must be taken to fulfill departmental requirements. Any 500-level or above course that has been taken prior to admission into the BA/MA program may be used to fulfill MA requirements if it is not being counted towards the BA degree. The MA language requirement is satisfied through the BA language requirement.

Continuing Student Registration Status: All graduate students are required to be registered during any regular semester or Summer Term semester in which a degree requirement is met.

Comprehensive Examinations: Comprehensive exams consist of written examinations in three fields: a major field, a minor field, and a subfield of the major field.  These exams are taken upon completion of all coursework.  They cannot be taken without the approval of the Graduate Director or Chair. Students should contact the Graduate Director to inform her of the comprehensive exam field choices at least two months prior to the exams.  They are also responsible for contacting the faculty that will serve as their examiners to discuss preparations for the exam.  We highly recommend that you plan ahead in taking courses with the faculty member you want to write and grade your exams.  Faculty members you have not taken courses with are less likely to agree to write and grade an exam for you.  BA/MA students may take these exams during the last week of May to avoid incurring any continuing student fees.  The next opportunity to take the exams is in October.  Students taking the exams in October will have to pay continuing student fees for the Fall semester.  There are no exceptions to the rule of taking exams in May or October.  Students taking the BA/MA exam in May will officially receive their degrees in September but will be permitted to “walk through” commencement exercises in May.  Students taking their exams in October will receive their degrees in January. In either case, we can provide a “letter of completion” stating that all degree requirements have been met if you need one to apply for another program of graduate study or other purpose.

Diploma Applications and Degree Conferment: BA/MA students must file two diploma applications - one with CAS for the BA degree and one with GRS for the MA degree. Both degrees are conferred simultaneously upon completion of both degree requirements.