Political Science (BA)
Political Science serves students whose primary interest is in some phase of public affairs (law, politics, government service) or international relations (foreign service), in gaining a better understanding of the entire field of governmental organization and functions.
Location
- Stamford Campus
- Storrs Campus
Modality
- In Person
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
There are two ways to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. One is by following the Standard Major Requirements, and the other is by following the requirements for the concentration in Campaigning and Governing in American Politics.
Standard Major Requirements
Standard Major Requirement A
A minimum of 11 credits in POLS 1000-level courses. It is recommended these courses be taken during the first two years.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Requirement A1 | ||
| Select a minimum of nine credits from the following four subdivisions: | 9 | |
Theory | ||
| Introduction to Political Theory | ||
Comparative Politics | ||
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | ||
or POLS 1207 | Introduction to Nonwestern Politics | |
International Relations | ||
| Introduction to International Relations | ||
American Politics | ||
| Introduction to American Politics | ||
| Requirement A2 | ||
| Students must complete the following two courses | 2 | |
| Career Development for Political Science Majors | ||
| Introduction to Research in Political Science | ||
| Total Credits | 11 | |
Standard Major Requirement B
All students must complete a minimum of 24 credits in POLS at the 2000-level or above from the following areas:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Requirement B1 | ||
| At least one course in four of the seven Subdivisions (see the Subdivisions section of this page). | 12 | |
| Requirement B2 | ||
| A minimum of 12 credits of additional 2000-level or above POLS courses. | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Standard Major Notes and Restrictions
- In order to fulfill requirements, all courses must be taken as graded (not P/F).
- A W or Q may be substituted for the same numbered course.
- POLS courses that are listed under multiple subdivisions may only be used to fulfill one subdivision.
- All POLS 2100W Issues in Political Science, POLS 2995 Special Topics in Political Issues, POLS 2998 Variable Topics in Contemporary Political Issues, and POLS 3995 Special Topics courses apply to the major and may count towards Requirement B1. The subdivisions assigned to these courses can be found on the Department of Political Science website.
No more than six credits of the following courses may be counted toward the 24 credits of Requirement B:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 2996 | Directed Research I | 1-4 |
| POLS 3991 | Supervised Field Work 1 | 1-12 |
| POLS 3996 | Directed Research II | 1-4 |
| POLS 3999 | Independent Study | 1-6 |
| POLS 4894 | Political Science Colloquium | 1 |
- 1
Only three credits of POLS 3991 Supervised Field Work may be counted toward Requirement B.
The following courses may not be counted towards Requirement B1:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 3991 | Supervised Field Work | 1-12 |
| POLS 3993 | Foreign Study | 1-15 |
| POLS 3999 | Independent Study | 1-6 |
| POLS 4994 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| POLS 4997W | Senior Thesis | 3 |
Campaigning and Governing in American Politics Concentration Requirements
The Campaigning and Governing in American Politics Concentration provides students the opportunity to combine knowledge of political institutions, processes, and behavior with practical skills that will help them to successfully obtain professional employment, an internship, or some other position in U.S. politics.
Campaigning and Governing in American Politics Requirement A
A minimum of 11 credits in POLS 1000-level courses. It is recommended these courses be taken during the first two years.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Requirement A1 | ||
| POLS 1602/1602W | Introduction to American Politics | 3 |
| Select a minimum of six credits from two of the following three subdivisions (American Politics course is required): | 6 | |
Theory | ||
| Introduction to Political Theory | ||
Comparative Politics | ||
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | ||
or POLS 1207 | Introduction to Nonwestern Politics | |
International Relations | ||
| Introduction to International Relations | ||
| Requirement A2 | ||
| Students must complete the following two courses: | 2 | |
| Career Development for Political Science Majors | ||
| Introduction to Research in Political Science | ||
| Total Credits | 11 | |
Campaigning and Governing in American Politics Requirement B
All students must complete a minimum of 24 credits in POLS at the 2000-level or above from the following areas:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Requirement B1 | ||
| Students must complete at least one course in two of the following five Subdivisions (for a total of 6 credits): | 6 | |
| Requirement B2 | ||
| Students must complete the following two courses: | 6 | |
| Quantitative Analysis in Political Science | ||
| Supervised Field Work | ||
| Requirement B3 | ||
| Students must complete four courses from at least three of the following five groups (for a total of 12 credits): | 12 | |
Group 1: State and Local Politics | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Connecticut State and Municipal Politics | ||
| Connecticut General Assembly | ||
| Urban Politics | ||
Group 2: National Political Institutions | ||
| Making the Modern American Presidency | ||
| Modern American Presidency | ||
| American Political Parties | ||
| The Presidency and Congress | ||
| Congress in Theory and Practice | ||
| Judiciary in the Political Process | ||
Group 3: Campaigning and Elections | ||
| Congressional Apportionment and Redistricting | ||
| How to Fix an Election: The Politics of Election Administration in the United States | ||
| The Art, Science, and Business of Political Campaigns | ||
| Electoral Behavior | ||
| Congressional Elections | ||
| Practicum in Campaigns and Elections in the United States | ||
Group 4: Mass Politics | ||
| Religion and Politics in America | ||
| American Jewish Political Behavior | ||
| Politics, Propaganda, and Cinema | ||
| Public Opinion | ||
| African-American Politics | ||
| Black Feminist Politics | ||
| Latino Political Behavior | ||
| LGBTQ+ Politics in the United States | ||
Group 5: Public Policy | ||
| Politics of Inequality | ||
| Criminal Justice in Practice | ||
| American Political Economy | ||
| American Political Leadership | ||
| Race and Policy | ||
| Women and Politics | ||
| Politics of Crime and Justice | ||
| Politics, Society, and Education Policy | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Campaigning and Governing in American Politics Notes and Restrictions
- In order to fulfill requirements, all courses must be taken as graded (not P/F).
- A W or Q may be substituted for the same numbered course.
- POLS courses that are listed under multiple subdivisions may only be used to fulfill one subdivision. POLS courses that are listed under multiple concentration groups may only be used to fulfill one concentration group.
- All POLS 2100W Issues in Political Science, POLS 2995 Special Topics in Political Issues, POLS 2998 Variable Topics in Contemporary Political Issues, and POLS 3995 Special Topics courses apply to the major and may count towards Requirement B1. The subdivisions assigned to these courses can be found on the Department of Political Science website.
No more than six credits of the following courses may be counted toward the 24 credits of Requirement B:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 2996 | Directed Research I | 1-4 |
| POLS 3991 | Supervised Field Work 1 | 1-12 |
| POLS 3996 | Directed Research II | 1-4 |
| POLS 3999 | Independent Study | 1-6 |
| POLS 4894 | Political Science Colloquium | 1 |
- 1
Only three credits of POLS 3991 Supervised Field Work may be counted toward Requirement B.
The following courses may not be counted toward Requirement B1:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 3991 | Supervised Field Work | 1-12 |
| POLS 3993 | Foreign Study | 1-15 |
| POLS 3999 | Independent Study | 1-6 |
| POLS 4994 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| POLS 4997W | Senior Thesis | 3 |
Subdivisions
1. Theory
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 2002 | Classical and Medieval Political Theory | 3 |
| POLS 2012 | Modern Political Theory | 3 |
| POLS 2017 | Transatlantic Contemporary Political Theory | 3 |
| POLS 2019W | Black Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Political Theory in Film | 3 |
| POLS 2025 | Theory and Politics of the University | 3 |
| POLS 2027W | 3 | |
| POLS 2035 | Native American and Indigenous Theory, Governance, and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 2062/2062W | Privacy in the Information Age | 3 |
| POLS 3022W | Western Marxist Tradition | 3 |
| POLS 3025 | Political Theory and Popular Music | 3 |
| POLS 3032 | American Political Thought and Ideology | 3 |
| POLS 3040 | Power, Politics and Art | 3 |
| POLS 3042 | Theories of Human Rights | 3 |
| POLS 3062 | Democratic Theory | 3 |
| POLS 3072 | Political Protest and Ideology | 3 |
| POLS 3082 | Critical Race Theory as Political Theory | 3 |
2. Comparative Politics
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 2208WE | Politics of Oil | 3 |
| POLS 2210/2210W | 3 | |
| POLS 2214 | Comparative Social Policy | 3 |
| POLS 2221/2221W | Introduction to Government and Politics in the Middle East and North Africa | 3 |
| POLS 2222 | Political Institutions and Behavior in Western Europe | 3 |
| POLS 2235 | Latin American Politics | 3 |
| POLS 2245 | Chinese Politics and Economy | 3 |
| POLS 2250/2250W | Political Economy of East Asia | 3 |
| POLS 2252 | Politics In Africa | 3 |
| POLS 2470W | 3 | |
| POLS 3202/3202W | Comparative Political Parties and Electoral Systems | 3 |
| POLS 3203 | Environmental Policy and Institutions | 3 |
| POLS 3205 | Voting Behavior and Public Opinion Around the World | 3 |
| POLS 3206 | Comparative Political Economy | 3 |
| POLS 3209E | Sustainable Energy in the 21st Century | 3 |
| POLS 3212 | Comparative Perspectives on Human Rights | 3 |
| POLS 3216 | Women in Political Development | 3 |
| POLS 3228 | Politics of Russia and the Former Soviet Union | 3 |
| POLS 3249 | Gender Politics and Islam | 3 |
| POLS 3256W | Politics and Human Rights in Global Supply Chains | 3 |
3. International Relations
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 2412 | 3 | |
| POLS 2429 | Political Violence | 3 |
| POLS 2430/2430W | Civil Wars and World Politics | 3 |
| POLS 2431 | Ending War and Building Peace | 3 |
| POLS 2450 | Nuclear Security | 3 |
| POLS 2460E | Maritime Politics | 3 |
| POLS 2470W | 3 | |
| POLS 3402 | Contemporary International Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3406/3406W | Globalization and Political Change | 3 |
| POLS 3408 | Political Science Fiction | 3 |
| POLS 3410 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| POLS 3413/3413W | International Security | 3 |
| POLS 3414 | National and International Security | 3 |
| POLS 3418/3418W | International Organizations and Law | 3 |
| POLS 3426 | Politics, Propaganda, and Cinema | 3 |
| POLS 3428 | The Politics of Torture | 3 |
| POLS 3430 | Evaluating Human Rights Practices of Countries | 3 |
| POLS 3434W | Honors Core: Excavating the International in Everyday Practices | 3 |
| POLS 3437 | Recent American Diplomacy | 3 |
| POLS 3440 | Gender and War | 3 |
| POLS 3442 | The Politics of American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| POLS 3450 | War and Technological Change | 3 |
| POLS 3460 | Human Rights and Armed Conflict | 3 |
| POLS 3462 | International Relations of the Middle East | 3 |
| POLS 3464/3464W | Arab-Israeli Conflict | 3 |
4. American Politics
Students in the Campaigning and Governing in American Politics concentration must complete the American Politics course requirements detailed in the concentration section of this page.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 2600 | Making the Modern American Presidency | 3 |
| POLS 2601 | Modern American Presidency | 3 |
| POLS 2602W | Religion and Politics in America | 3 |
| POLS 2607/2607W | American Political Parties | 3 |
| POLS 2610 | American Jewish Political Behavior | 3 |
| POLS 2618 | Politics of Inequality | 3 |
| POLS 2622 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| POLS 3602 | The Presidency and Congress | 3 |
| POLS 3603WQ | Congressional Apportionment and Redistricting | 3 |
| POLS 3604 | Congress in Theory and Practice | 3 |
| POLS 3606 | How to Fix an Election: The Politics of Election Administration in the United States | 3 |
| POLS 3608 | The Art, Science, and Business of Political Campaigns | 3 |
| POLS 3610W | American Politics in Film | 3 |
| POLS 3612 | Electoral Behavior | 3 |
| POLS 3613 | Congressional Elections | 3 |
| POLS 3617 | American Political Economy | 3 |
| POLS 3622 | American Political Leadership | 3 |
| POLS 3625/3625W | Public Opinion | 3 |
| POLS 3627 | Connecticut State and Municipal Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3628 | Connecticut General Assembly | 3 |
| POLS 3632/3632W | Urban Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3642 | African-American Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3647 | Black Leadership and Civil Rights | 3 |
| POLS 3650 | Politics and Ethics | 3 |
| POLS 3652 | Black Feminist Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3662 | Latino Political Behavior | 3 |
| POLS 3667 | Puerto Rican Politics and Culture | 3 |
| POLS 3670 | LGBTQ+ Politics in the United States | 3 |
| POLS 3672 | Women and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3675 | Practicum in Campaigns and Elections in the United States | 4 |
5. Public Administration, Policy and Law
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 2062/2062W | Privacy in the Information Age | 3 |
| POLS 2803W | Legal Reasoning and Writing | 3 |
| POLS 2807/2807W | Women and the Law | 3 |
| POLS 2827W | Criminal Justice in Practice | 3 |
| POLS 3627 | Connecticut State and Municipal Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3628 | Connecticut General Assembly | 3 |
| POLS 3802 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
| POLS 3807 | Constitutional Rights and Liberties | 3 |
| POLS 3812 | Judiciary in the Political Process | 3 |
| POLS 3815 | United States Constitutional Dictatorships | 3 |
| POLS 3817 | Law and Society | 3 |
| POLS 3822/3822W | Law and Popular Culture | 3 |
| POLS 3827 | Politics of Crime and Justice | 3 |
| POLS 3832 | Maritime Law | 3 |
| POLS 3834 | Immigration and Transborder Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3842 | Public Administration | 3 |
| POLS 3857 | Politics, Society, and Education Policy | 3 |
6. Intersectional Indigeneity, Race, Ethnicity, and Politics
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 2019W | Black Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 2025 | Theory and Politics of the University | 3 |
| POLS 2027W | 3 | |
| POLS 2035 | Native American and Indigenous Theory, Governance, and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 2252 | Politics In Africa | 3 |
| POLS 2602W | Religion and Politics in America | 3 |
| POLS 2610 | American Jewish Political Behavior | 3 |
| POLS 2807 | Women and the Law | 3 |
| POLS 3082 | Critical Race Theory as Political Theory | 3 |
| POLS 3216 | Women in Political Development | 3 |
| POLS 3249 | Gender Politics and Islam | 3 |
| POLS 3418/3418W | International Organizations and Law | 3 |
| POLS 3440 | Gender and War | 3 |
| POLS 3464/3464W | Arab-Israeli Conflict | 3 |
| POLS 3632/3632W | Urban Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3633 | Race and Policy | 3 |
| POLS 3642 | African-American Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3647 | Black Leadership and Civil Rights | 3 |
| POLS 3652 | Black Feminist Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3662 | Latino Political Behavior | 3 |
| POLS 3667 | Puerto Rican Politics and Culture | 3 |
| POLS 3670 | LGBTQ+ Politics in the United States | 3 |
| POLS 3672 | Women and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3834 | Immigration and Transborder Politics | 3 |
7. Methodology
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 2972Q | Quantitative Analysis in Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 2973Q | Advanced Quantitative Methods in Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 2974Q | 3 | |
| POLS 3603WQ | Congressional Apportionment and Redistricting | 3 |
Related Courses
At least 12 credits in courses related to Political Science taken from one or more other departments. These courses must be numbered 2000 or higher and cannot be taken on a pass-fail basis. All 2000-level (or higher) courses in Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Human Rights, Philosophy, Public Policy and Sociology will meet this requirement. Any course within these departments that is cross-listed with POLS will count towards the major and not as a related. Certain other courses have been approved and are listed on polisci.uconn.edu. Courses not in the departments listed above or included on the pre-approved list may be approved as related courses at the discretion of the advisor.
Writing in the Major
To satisfy the writing in the major requirement, students must select one W course within the 24 major credits.
University Common Curriculum Requirements
Every student must meet a set of core requirements to earn a baccalaureate degree, in addition to those required by the student's major course of study and other requirements set by the student's school or college. For more information about these requirements, please see Common Curriculum Requirements.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements
Students must meet a set of requirements established by the college in addition to the University's Common Curriculum requirements. For more information, see the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of this catalog.
Learning Objectives
- Define, explain, and apply fundamental theories and concepts of political science.
- Gather and combine information about politics and then to debate on that basis.
- Describe and apply basic methods of political science research such as interpretative, qualitative, and/or quantitative approaches.
- Demonstrate critical thinking, self-reflexive, and logical reasoning skills.