Political Science Major

May be elected as a departmental major

Prerequisites to the Major

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 for the Major

At least 30 credits in POLSCI at the 300 level or above (in addition to required prerequisites).

Core courses must be elected from the 300-level or higher and include at least two courses at the 400-level. Students are encouraged to elect an undergraduate topics seminar at the 400 level (POLSCI 495,496, 497, or 498) in their senior year.

Political science majors are expected to acquire an appreciation of the diverse styles of political inquiry by electing at least one course in four of the following five subfields: political theory, American government, comparative politics, world politics, and methodology. Coursework from both the prerequisite and upper level courses are used to meet this requirement. STATS 250 does not count toward methods requirements for the major.

Ann Arbor Campus Requirement. At least 12 credits – including both 400 level courses – must be taken on the Ann Arbor campus.

Exclusions. Only eight credits of Experiential and Independent Study credit may be included in the major. Only four of these credits can come from POLSCI 399.

Only 12 credits of study abroad coursework in political science may be counted toward the major. Students are encouraged to seek preapproval of study abroad selections.

Roster of POLSCI subfields and courses

• American
  111, 300, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324,326, 327, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 380, 385, 410, 432, 482, 484, 486, 496
• Comparative
  140, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 382, 387, 395, 396, 397, 451, 497
• Methods
  381, 391, 488, 490, 499
• Theory
  101, 301, 302, 306, 307, 308, 309, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 495
• World
  160, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 379, 462, 463, 498

Teaching Certificate

Students interested in obtaining a secondary teaching certificate with a teaching major or minor in Political Science should consult  "Teacher Certification Program" and the School of Education Teacher Education Office, 1228 School of Education Building, (734) 615-1528.

Honors Plan

Especially well-qualified students are encouraged to undertake an Honors plan, which involves preparing a thesis under the direction of a faculty member. To become eligible for the Honors plan, students must take POLSCI 381 before their senior year. During the senior year, students enroll in a proseminar in which they prepare the thesis.

The department collects applications to the Honors plan during the winter of each academic year. Students usually apply during their junior year. Sophomore majors who have completed POLSCI 381 may apply during their sophomore or junior year. To be admitted to the Honors plan, students must have:

• received an A-range grade in POLSCI 381,
• a grade point average of 3.5 or higher both overall and in Political Science courses,
• secured a faculty member as a thesis advisor,
• written a thesis research proposal (which is generally done in POLSCI 381).

The Honors plan requires at least 34 credit hours of POLSCI coursework at the 300 level or above and must include the following:

• POLSCI 381: Political Science Research Design
• POLSCI 493 : Senior Honors Proseminar (fall only)
• POLSCI 494: Senior Honors Proseminar (winter  only)
• at least one course in four of the following five subfields: political theory, American government, comparative politics, world politics, and methodology.

A student must end their undergraduate career with at least a 3.5 GPA in political science coursework and a 3.4 overall GPA in order to receive any level of Honors with their diploma.

May be elected as a departmental major

Prerequisites to the Major

Two courses chosen from different subfields of political science. 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 Major

At least 24 credits in POLSCI (in addition to required prerequisites) and 6 credits elected through a cognate department.

Core courses must be elected from the 300-level or higher, including at least two at the 400-level. Twelve credits (including the two at the 400-level) must be taken in the department.

Only 9 hours of foreign credit from a one-term accredited program and 12 hours of foreign credit from a year-long program may be counted toward the major core.

No more than 4 credits of internship and 4 credits of directed study may be included in a plan for the major. Directed reading may not be counted as advanced unless approved beforehand by a department advisor.

Credit for STATS 250 (or 350) can count toward methods requirements for the major.

Seniors are encouraged to elect an undergraduate seminar (POLSCI 495, 496, 497, or 498). Law courses, with the exception of POLSCI 345 are counted in the American politics subfid. Political science majors are expected to acquire an appreciation of the diverse styles of political inquiry by electing at least one course in four of the following subfields: political theory, American government, comparative politics, world politics, and methodology. Normally, this requirement is satisfied by the prerequisites to major and different additional upper-level courses in two subfields. Cognate courses, which are upper-level courses in another discipline, are an integral part of the plan for the major and should be selected with a view toward building a coherent program of study. As a general rule, cognate courses should be in the same discipline with exceptions approved in advance by a department advisor.

Roster of POLSCI subfields and courses

• American 111, 300, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324,326, 327, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 380, 385, 410, 432, 482, 484, 486, 496
• Comparative 140, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 382, 387, 395, 396, 397, 451, 497
• Methods 381, 391, 488, 490, 499
• Theory 101, 301, 302, 306, 307, 308, 309, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 495
• World 160, 360, 361, 363, 364, 365, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 379, 462, 463, 498

Honors Plan

Especially well-qualified students are encouraged to undertake an Honors major. Such students elect the Honors proseminar (POLSCI 381) before their senior year and prepare a senior thesis under the direction of a faculty member in the department. Senior Seminars (POLSCI 493, 494) provide thesis credit. Students may count only two Honors courses toward the major core, one if a previous directed reading has been taken.

Normally, candidates for an Honors major must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.5 in political science courses.