Political Science Minor

Effective Fall 2015

Exclusions:

A minor in Political Science is not open to students with a major in the Department of Political Science.

Advising

Students wishing to pursue a minor in Political Science must develop a specific plan for its completion in consultation with the Department's designated advisor.

Prerequisites

Students should prepare for advanced study in the discipline by completing two of the following introductory courses:

POLSCI 101: Introduction to Political Theory
POLSCI 111: Introduction to American Politics
POLSCI 140: Introduction to Comparative Politics
POLSCI 160: Introduction to World Politics

In rare circumstances, departmental advisors may approve the use of an upper-level course to meet the prerequisite.

Requirements

Minimum Credits: 15

In addition to the prerequisite courses, students who wish to complete the minor in Political Science must complete five POLSCI courses at the 300 level or above for a minimum of 15 credits.

The minor in Political Science is a structured course of study. A sustained focus on two disciplinary subfields makes it possible for students to acquire this structure without completing a full major. Therefore, core courses in the minor must be taken in the same subfield (political theory, American politics, comparative politics, or world politics) as the prerequisite courses.

Only three credits of Experiential and Independent Study credit may be included in the minor.

Residency

At least three of the five upper level courses must be taken on the Ann Arbor campus.

Political Science Minor (Fall 2011-Summer 2015)

Effective Fall 2011-Summer 2015

A minor in Political Science is not open to students with a major in the Department of Political Science.

Students wishing to pursue a minor in Political Science must develop a specific plan for its completion in consultation with the Department's designated advisor.

The minor in political science gives students training in a rigorous discipline and way of thinking and understanding problems. This is an indispensable part of any liberal arts major. Political Science gives students a better understanding of the way public affairs are conducted and a more practical knowledge of how citizens, elected representatives, judges, and administrators approach the decisions they are called upon to make. A minor in political science prepares students to become more active citizens by training them to become astute and informed observers of political behavior in their own country and around the world.

Prerequisites to the Minor

Two introductory courses in two different subfields. First and second-year students choose from among POLSCI 101 (political theory), 111 (American government), 140 (comparative politics), 160 (world politics); juniors and seniors from POLSCI 301 and 302 (political theory), 311 (American government), advisor approval (comparative politics), and advisor approval (world politics).

Requirements for the Minor

Five 3- or 4-credit, upper-level courses taken in two of the five political science fields taken for a total of 15 credits.

Students should ideally take their upperlevel courses in the same two fields as their prerequisites. Advisor approval must be obtained in order to switch areas.

The minor is a structured course of study in itself. Students concentrating in Political Science should consult an advisor before considering dropping the major in order to pursue a minor in political science.

The minor assumes that the student will take 300-level course work in the fields of the introductory work. A sustained focus on two fields makes it possible for students to acquire an in-depth knowledge of two complex areas such as comparative politics and government and world politics for the student interested in world affairs, American and methods, for students interested in electoral politics and polling, or American and comparative to focus on political institutions.

Other constraints

The minor does not allow a student to use a cognate from another department.

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