Political Science
The study of political science gives the student an understanding of politics, government, and public affairs, and an acquaintance with the structure of thought in the model of the social sciences. Ideally, the student should become prepared to play an enlightened role in transnational, state, and community affairs. Students will also develop a coherent and reasoned knowledge respecting government law, governance, political behavior, and public administration. Political science provides an excellent academic background for students preparing for careers in law, the public service, journalism, teaching, and many private sector jobs. Since the law is particularly central to the discipline of political science, the department has a prelaw advisor and a collection of current law school catalogues and offers the opportunity of prelaw internships to qualified students. Political science is also useful for those interested in management positions in business and industry. 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 (POLS 206, 208, 214, 241, and 251) and to successfully complete a minimum of six credits in each of the subfields of political science (American Politics, Political Theory, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Public Administration and Policy). Additionally, the department requires that majors take two courses either in Modern Languages or Economics.
Curriculum in Political Science
- Political Science Option
- Public Administration Minor (Non-Teaching)
- Political Science Minor (Non-Teaching)
POLITICAL SCIENCE OPTION
Suggested Plan of Study
| Freshman Year | F | S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take one of the following: | |||
| CLS 101--College Seminar | (3) | ||
| COM 110--Public Communication | 3 | ||
| WRIT 101W--College Writing I | 3 | ||
| Take one of the following: | |||
| MATH 150--Liberal Arts Mathematics | 3 | ||
| MATH 151--Language of Math | (3) | ||
| POLS 206--Govt of the U.S | 3 | ||
| POLS 208--State Loc Gov and Pols | 3 | ||
| University Core and Electives | 6 | 9 | |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore Year | F | S | |
| POLS 214--Prin of Political Sci | 3 | ||
| POLS 241--Intro to Interntl Rel | 3 | ||
| POLS 251--Cndct Political Inquiry | 3 | ||
| Foreign Language or Economics | 3-4 | 3-4 | |
| University Core and Electives | 6 | 9 | |
| 15-16 | 15-16 | ||
| Junior & Senior Years | F | S | |
| Two of the following: | |||
| POLS 301--Parties and Elections | 3 | ||
| POLS 302--Media & Politics | 3 | ||
| POLS 304--The U.S. Presidency | 3 | ||
| POLS 306--Legislative Process | 3 | ||
| POLS 353--Women and Politics | 3 | ||
| POLS 409--Const Law & Public Policy | 3 | ||
| POLS 415--Mont Local Pol Policy | 3 | ||
| Two of the following: | |||
| POLS 321--Classic Pol Thought | 3 | ||
| POLS 322--Mod Politic Thought | 3 | ||
| POLS 324--Am Pol Tht & Pop Cultr | 3 | ||
| POLS 340--Inter Relations Theory | 3 | ||
| Four of the following: | |||
| POLS 331--Comparative Democracy | 3 | ||
| POLS 334--Political Mvts & Change | 3 | ||
| POLS 340--Intrnt'l Relations Theory | 3 | ||
| POLS 402--International Law | 3 | ||
| POLS 403--Intrnt'l Organization | 3 | ||
| POLS 405--Political Psychology | 3 | ||
| POLS 420--Nat Amer Gov & Pols | 3 | ||
| POLS 441--Intrnt'l Human Rights | 3 | ||
| POLS 442--Politics of War and Peace | 3 | ||
| Two of the following: | |||
| POLS 350--Natural Resource Polcy | 3 | ||
| POLS 351--Public Policy Analysis | 3 | ||
| POLS 352--Compare Public Policy | 3 | ||
| POLS 354--Environmental Politics | 3 | ||
| POLS 355--Prin of Public Admin | 3 | ||
| POLS 456--Admin Law & Regulation | 3 | ||
| POLS 457--Urban Politics | 3 | ||
| All students must complete: | |||
| POLS 460--Senior Capstone Seminar | 3 | 3 | |
| Total Political Science Credits | 48 |
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. Political science majors are required to fulfill their social science University Core Inquiry requirement outside of the POLS rubric. Before a political science major may enroll in any upper division political science course, the student must have achieved a grade of "C" or better in all courses required for the political science major. 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, POLS 460 may also be used to fulfill the Research and Creative Experience core requirement.
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MINOR (NON-TEACHING)
| Credits | |
| POLS 206--Government of the U.S. |
3 |
| POLS 208--State & Local Gov & Politics |
3 |
|
POLS 306--Legislative Process |
3 |
| POLS 355--Prncpls of Public Admin |
3 |
| Take three of the following: | |
| POLS 304--The Presidency |
3 |
| POLS 306--Legislative Process |
3 |
| POLS 350--Natural Resource Policy |
3 |
| POLS 351--Public Policy Analysis |
3 |
| POLS 352--Comparative Public Policy |
3 |
| POLS 457--Urban Politics |
3 |
| POLS 415--MT Local Politics & Policy |
3 |
|
21 |
POLITICAL SCIENCE MINOR (NON-TEACHING)
| Credits | |
| POLS 206--Government of the U.S. |
3 |
| POLS 208--State & Local Gov & Politics |
3 |
| POLS 214--Prncpls of Political Science |
3 |
| POLS 241--Intro to Intrntl Relations |
3 |
| Take three of the following: | |
| POLS 301--Parties and Elections |
3 |
| POLS 306--Legislative Process |
3 |
| POLS 321--Classical Political Thought |
3 |
| POLS 322--Modern Political Thought |
3 |
| POLS 331--Comparative Democracy |
3 |
| POLS 334--Political Mvments & Change |
3 |
| POLS 353--Women and Politics |
3 |
| POLS 402--International Law |
3 |
| POLS 441--International Human Rights |
3 |
|
21 |
