MAJOR & MINOR REQUIREMENTS

Click the appropriate lines below to view the Requirements for the Major in Political Science for catalogs with the indicated dates:

2000-2001 and earlier

2001-2002 and later

Click here for a description of the Requirements for the Minor in Political Science.

Click here for a complete copy of our Handbook of Undergraduate Studies with a note welcoming you to the department, reasons why you might want to study Political Science, and special study opportunities.

Change of Major Workshops
and
Second Semester Freshman Orientations

Students considering majoring in Political Science must attend a mandatory Change of Major workshop. The Spring 2008 schedule is as follow:

NOTE: Change of major forms WILL NOT be processed outside of these sessions.

The schedule below is the Second Semester Freshman Orientation schedule

Date	Time	Place
Monday, March 10, 2008	10:00-10:50	Social Sciences 332
Tuesday, March 11, 2008	12:30-1:30	TBA
Tuesday, March 11, 2008	5:00-5:50	TBA
Wednesday, March 12, 2008	4:00-4:50	TBA
Thursday, March 13, 2008	5:00-5:50	TBA
Friday, March 14, 2008	1:00-1:50	Social Sciences 332

 

Catalogs 2000-2001 and Earlier:
Requirements for the Political Science Major

At least 30 units (10 courses) are required for a major in Political Science.

You must take two of the following: POL 201 (American National Government), 202 (International Relations), 203 (Political Theory) or 204 (Comparative Politics). All of these courses count as Tier II General Education courses in the Individuals and Societies study area.

You must take at least six courses (or 18 units) that are upper-division (courses numbered 300 or higher). One of these must be a writing-emphasis course (these are designated below by an *).

In addition, at least one course (3 units) shall be taken from five of the six following sub-fields:

1. AMERICAN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: 205, 210, 214, 230, 231, 309*, 406, 407, 410, 412*.

2. POLITICAL BEHAVIOR: 315, 330*, 332*, 334, 335*, 431, 432*, 434, 435, 436*.

3. LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY: 206, 350*, 388, 470, 471, 473*, 474, 475, 476, 478, 480, 481, 483*, 485, 487, 488, 489.

4. POLITICAL THEORY: 290, 321*, 322*, 323*, 326*, 425*, 427*, 428*, 433*, 438*.

5. COMPARATIVE POLITICS: 240, 242, 244, 247, 270, 340, 341*, 373*, 377, 429*, 437*, 440*, 441, 442, 443*, 444, 445*, 446*, 447, 448*, 449, 450, 452, 468*, 496A.

6. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: 250, 360*, 361, 451*, 454, 455*, 456*, 457*, 460, 461*, 464, 484.

You may count one course (3 units) of workshop, internship, colloquium, or independent study towards the major. This course, however, may not apply to the sub-field requirement, or to the upper-division course requirement (although the course may be counted as upper-division credits at the university level).

You must minor in another field. The minor requires a minimum of 18 units, 9 of which must be upper-division. The units may be taken in one or more departments. If the minor is split between two or more departments, all of the courses must be oriented around a particular theme (this is called a thematic minor).

You must complete all the University's Requirements for Graduation. It is recommended that you do so early in your college career. These include requirements in Composition, Foundation Mathematics, Second Language, General Education (Tier One and Tier Two), and Gender/ Race/Class/Ethnicity/Non-Western Area Studies.

You must complete a total of 120 units to graduate (your 30 Political Science units are included in these units). At least 42 units of these must upper-division courses numbered above 299 (this, too, includes the 18 units of upper-division work in Political Science).

Transfer Credits: Of the 30 credits needed to major in Political Science, half or 15 credits (5 courses) can be transferred in from another institution. However, only 9 upper level credits (3 courses) can be transferred in from another institution and applied towards the Department's upper level course requirements.

Catalog 2001-2002 and Later:
Requirements for the Political Science Major

At least 36 units (12 courses) are required for a major in Political Science.

You must take two of the following: POL 201 (American National Government), 202 (International Relations), 203 (Political Theory) or 204 (Comparative Politics). All of these courses count as Tier II General Education courses in the Individuals and Societies study area.

You must take at least eight courses (24 units) that are upper-division (courses numbered 300 or higher). One of these must be a writing-emphasis course (these are designated below by an *).

There are four sub-fields; you must take at least one course in three of them.

1. AMERICAN POLITICS: 201, 205, 206, 210, 214, 230, 231, 309*, 315, 330*, 332*, 386, 388, 406, 407, 410, 412*, 431, 432*, 435, 469, 474, 479, 480*, 481, 483*, 485, 487, 488.

2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: 202, 360*, 361, 365, 373, 441, 451*, 454, 455*, 456*, 457*, 460, 461*, 462, 464, 465, 482, 484.

3. IDEAS AND METHODS: 203, 301, 323*, 326*, 335*, 363, 424A, 425*, 427*, 428*, 433*, 434, 436*, 437*, 438A, 470*, 471*, 473*, 476.

4. COMPARATIVE POLITICS: 204, 247, 248, 340, 341*, 342, 345, 350*, 377, 401, 429*, 443*, 445*, 446*, 447, 448*, 449, 450, 452, 468*, 472, 477.

You may count a total of three courses (9 units) of internship, directed research and independent study towards the major. [Note: while internships may be used as upper-division credits at the university level, they count as lower-division credits within the major, and they do not apply to the sub-field requirements].

You must minor in another field. Most minors consist of 6 courses (18 units), but some minors may differ. The courses may be taken in one or more departments. If the minor is split between two or more departments, all of the courses must be oriented around a particular theme (this is called a thematic minor).

You must complete all the University's Requirements for Graduation. It is recommended that you do so early in your college career. These include requirements in Composition, Foundation Mathematics, Second Language, General Education (Tier One and Tier Two), and Gender/ Race/Class/Ethnicity/Non-Western Area Studies.

You must complete a total of 120 units to graduate (your 36 Political Science units are included in these units). At least 42 units of these must be upper-division courses numbered above 299 (this, too, includes the 24 units of upper-division work in Political Science).

Transfer Credits: Of the 36 credits needed to major in Political Science, half or 18 credits (6 courses) can be transferred in from another institution. However, only 12 upper level credits (4 courses) can be transferred in from another institution and applied towards the Department's upper level course requirements.

Requirements for the Minor in Political Science

You must take 18 units of Political Science courses:

a. Three units from one of the following: 201, 202, 203, 204 (all of which are Tier II General Education courses).

b. Another nine units must be upper-division units.

c. You may choose any two courses for the remaining six units.

Political Science courses may be part of a Thematic Minor: The courses chosen are oriented around a particular theme but are taken in two or more different departments, and must have the written approval of the major advisor.

Department of Political Science, The University of Arizona
© 2002 Arizona Board of Regents.
Please send comments or questions about this web site to:
polisci@email.arizona.edu
Page last updated March 25, 2008