Department of Political Science
http://www.montana.edu/wwwpo/The study of political science provides an understanding of politics, government, public policy and affairs and international relations. Political science graduates develop a coherent and reasoned knowledge respecting government law, governance, political behavior, and public administration. In addition, they are prepared to be part of an informed national and global citizenry. Political science provides an excellent academic background for students preparing for careers in law, the public service, journalism, teaching, as well as many private sector jobs. Advising within the department is conducted in groups and by individually assigned advisors. Students are expected to attend the group advising sessions. In addition to classroom work, the political science program encourages students to gain practical experience through its legislative and public affairs intern program. The intern program gives students the opportunity to earn university credit for on-the-job experience with government agencies, law firms, the Congress, state legislatures, and with public policy groups. In order to graduate, all students are expected to successfully complete the five political science foundation courses (PSCI 210IS, 214IS, 230D, 200 & ECNS 101IS). The student must also complete the capstone (PSCI 499R).
The department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with four options. The department requires a mandatory advising meeting during the student's sophomore year to plan their courses for their selected option. All options require the completion of 120 credits, which must include MSU's CORE requirements, and the successful completion of a minimum of 42 upper-division (300 and 400 level) courses.
Analysis & Policy Option
This option emphasizes public policy analysis and American political institutions. In addition to the required foundational courses and advanced political science courses, students will also complete two (6 credits) upper division political science courses in the policy and analysis subfield and PSCI 310 to fulfill their skills requirement.
International Relations Option
This option is for students with an interest in international relations who wish to acquire a sound background in the fundamentals of international relations theory, international institutions, international policy and international political economy. In addition to the required foundational courses and advanced political science courses, students will also complete two (6 credits) upper division political science courses in the international relations subfield and demonstrate competency in a foreign language to fulfill their skills requirement.
Political Theory Option
This option is for students who wish to pursue upper level coursework addressing key questions of political theory, including questions about rights, identity, power, virtue, gender, knowledge, and justice, among others. In addition to the required foundational courses and advanced political science courses, student will also complete two upper level courses (6 credits) in the political theory subfield and take Introduction to Logic (PHL 236) to fulfill their skills requirement.
Political Institutions Option
This option is for students with an interest in political institutions, such as legislatures, executives, or the courts, who wish to acquire a sound background in the fundamentals of how political systems operate. This option includes courses on the American political system, as well as the governing institutions of other nation-states. In addition to the required foundational courses and advanced political science courses, students will also complete two upper level courses (6 credits) in the institutions subfield and take PSCI 310 to fulfill their Skills requirement.
Curriculum in Political Science
- Analysis and Policy Option
- International Relations Option
- Political Theory Option
- Political Institutions Option
- Political Science Minor (Non-Teaching)
Before a political science major may enroll in any upper division political science course, the student is expected to have achieved a grade of "C" or better in the five political science foundation courses (PSCI 210IS, 214IS, 230D, 200 & ECNS 101IS). It is suggested that students complete these courses during their freshman year.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE
| Political Science Freshman Year | Credits | |
| Take one from the following: | ||
| CLS 101US--College Seminar | 3 | |
| COM 110US--Public Communication | 3 | |
| WRIT 101W--College Writing I | 3 | |
| Take one from the following: | ||
| M 145Q--Math for Liberal Arts | 3 | |
| M 147Q--Language of Mathematics | 3 | |
| PSCI 210IS--Intro to American Govt | 3 | |
| PSCI 200--Conducting Pol Inq | 3 | |
| PSCI 214IS--Prin of Political Science | 3 | |
| PSCI 230D--Intro to Int'l Relations | 3 | |
| ECNS 101IS--Econ Way of Thinking | 3 | |
| Total | 6 | |
| Political Science Core | Credits | |
| Take one course from each of the categories: | ||
| Political Institutions | ||
| PSCI 302 --Media & Politics | 3 | |
| PSCI 306 --Legislative Process | 3 | |
| PSCI 341 --Political Parties and Election | 3 | |
| PSCI 346 --American Presidency | 3 | |
| PSCI 471 --American Constitutional Law | 3 | |
| PSCI 408 --Environmental Politics | 3 | |
| PSCI 444 --Congressional Campaigns | 3 | |
| International Relations | ||
| PSCI 331 --International Relations Theory | 3 | |
| PSCI 418 --War and Peace | 3 | |
| PSCI 434 --International Law | 3 | |
| PSCI 435 --Globalization and Politics | 3 | |
| PSCI 436 --Politics of Food and Hunger | 3 | |
| PSCI 437 --International Political Economy | 3 | |
| PSCI 439 --International Human Rights | 3 | |
| Analysis/Policy | ||
| PSCI 310 --Applied Policy Ana | 3 | |
| PSCI 365 --Pub Policy Issues and Analysis | 3 | |
| PSCI 362 --National Resource Policy | 3 | |
| PSCI 407 --Public Policy Analysis | 3 | |
| PSCI 465 --Public Admin and Policy | 3 | |
| PSCI 461 --Administrative Law | 3 | |
| Theory | ||
| PSCI 451 --Ancient & Medieval Pol Phil | 3 | |
| PSCI 323 --Modern Political Thought | 3 | |
| PSCI 352 --National Resource Policy | 3 | |
| PSCI 353 --Classical Political Thought | 3 | |
| PSCI 354 --Contemporary Theory | 3 | |
| PSCI 454 --Cinema and Political Theory | 3 | |
| Total | 12 | |
| Skills -- Take one of the following corresponding to the option: | ||
| Political Institutions | PSCI 310 --Applied Policy Analysis | 3 |
| International Relations | ||
| Moderate Proficiency in Foreign Language. | ||
| Analysis/Policy | ||
| PSCI 310 --Applied Policy Analysis | ||
| Theory | ||
| PHL 236 --Introduction to Logic | ||
| Total | 3 | |
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS OPTION
| Credits | ||
| Choose two courses from the following: | ||
| PSCI 302 --Media & Politics | 3 | |
| PSCI 306 --Legislative Process | 3 | |
| PSCI 341 --Political Parties and Election | 3 | |
| PSCI 346 --American Presidency | 3 | |
| PSCI 471 --American Constitutional Law | 3 | |
| PSCI 408 --Environmental Politics | 3 | |
| PSCI 444 --Congressional Campaign | 3 | |
| Total | 6 |
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OPTION
| Credits | ||
| Choose two courses from the following: | ||
| PSCI 331 --International Relations Theory | 3 | |
| PSCI 418 --War and Peace | 3 | |
| PSCI 434 --International Law | 3 | |
| PSCI 435 --Globalization and Politics | 3 | |
| PSCI 436 --Politics of Food and Hunger | 3 | |
| PSCI 437 --International Political Economy | 3 | |
| PSCI 439 --International Human Rights | 3 | |
| Total | 6 |
ANALYSIS AND POLICY OPTION
| Credits | ||
| Take two from the following: | ||
| PSCI 365 --Pub Policy Issues and Analysis | 3 | |
| PSCI 362 --Natural Resource Policy | 3 | |
| PSCI 407 --Public Policy Analysis | 3 | |
| PSCI 465 --Public Admin and Policy | 3 | |
| PSCI 461 --Administrative Law | 3 | |
| PSCI 491 --The Political Economy of Energy | 3 | |
| Total | 6 |
POLITICAL THEORY OPTION
| Credits | ||
| Take two courses from the following: | ||
| PSCI 323 --Modern Political Thought | 3 | |
| PSCI 352 --American Political Thought | 3 | |
| PSCI 353 --Classical Political Thought | 3 | |
| PSCI 354 --Contemporary Theory | 3 | |
| PSCI 451 --Ancient & Medieval Pol Phil | 3 | |
| PSCI 454 --Cinema and Political Theory | 3 | |
| Total | 6 |
A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above. No political science course may be counted in more than one upper division subfield requirement except for PSCI 499R (as core). Political science majors must fulfill Diversity University Core requirements outside of the PSCI rubric. ECNS 101IS or ECNS 202 is a requirement for political science majors; the University Core requirement for Inquiry Social Science (IS) is satisfied by ECNS 101IS. Before a political science major may enroll in any upper division political science course, the student is expected to have achieved a grade of "C" or better in the five political science foundation courses (PSCI 210IS, 214IS, 200, 230D). To be credited toward graduation, a student must not earn less than a "C" in any upper division political science course being counted toward graduation requirements in the discipline. In addition to being required for the major, PSCI 499R may also be used to fulfill the Research and Creative Experience core requirement.
POLITICAL SCIENCE MINOR (NON-TEACHING)
| Credits | |
| PSCI 210IS--Introduction to American Government. | 3 |
| PSCI 214IS--Principles of Political Science | 3 |
| PSCI 230D--Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| PSCI 240--Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| Plus three upper division courses selected from the four political science subfields |
9 |
| Total | 21 |
