Political Science Major
The Political Science Major seeks to prepare students for:
- Graduate study in politics, government, and related fields, including area studies, public policy and public administration
- Law school
- Careers in government and public affairs
- Work in the private and non-profit sectors that require knowledge of government and politics
Political Science Major Requirements
Requirements for a Political Science Major are 38 hours of Political Science and International Relations courses.
Core Courses in Political Science (22 hours)
| Course | Name | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSCI 135 | American Politics and Government | 4 |
| PSCI 145 | Political Philosophy | 4 |
| IR 155 or IR 175 | Comparative Politics International Politics | 4 |
| PSCI 361 or MATH 263 | Political Research Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
| PSCI 494 or IR 494 | Senior Seminar | 2 |
| PSCI 496 | Internship | 4 |
Elective requirements are 16 hours of PSCI and/or IR courses at the 200-level and above (not including PSCI 201), of which at least 8 hours must be taken at the 300-level.
Following is a listing of potential elective courses in Political Science and International Relations.
American Politics
| Course | Name | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSCI 274 | Introduction to Law | 4 |
| PSCI 311 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| PSCI 322 | Chinese Political Thought | 4 |
| PSCI 324 | Black Political Thought | 4 |
| PSCI 325 | Criminal Law Procedure | 2 |
| PSCI 327 | Civil Rights and Police Action | 2 |
| PSCI 328 | Immigration | 4 |
| PSCI 343 | Political Ethics | 4 |
| PSCI 344 | Women, Politics, and American Society | 4 |
| PSCI 361 | Political Research | 4 |
| PSCI 374 | Political Psychology | 4 |
| PSCI 383 | Religion and American Politics | 4 |
| PSCI 384 | Presidency | 4 |
| PSCI 386 | Congress and the Policy Process | 4 |
| PSCI 389 | Campaigns and Elections | 4 |
| PSCI 394 | Spirit of the Laws | 2 |
| PSCI 396 | W.E.B. Du Bois | 2 |
| PSCI 399 | Faith in the Capitol | 2 |
International Relations
| Course | Name | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| IR 315 | Politics of Global Development | 4 |
| IR 325 | Justice Among the Nations | 4 |
| IR 345 | US National Security | 4 |
| IR 346 | African Politics | 4 |
| IR 347 | East Asian Politics | 4 |
| IR 348 | Middle East Politics | 4 |
| IR 356 | European Politics | 4 |
| IR 364 | East Meets West | 4 |
| IR 370 | International Law | 4 |
| IR 378 | U.S. Foreign Policy | 4 |
| IR 379 | International Political Economy | 4 |
Political Theory
| Course | Name | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSCI 322 | Chinese Political Thought | 4 |
| PSCI 324 | Black Political Thought | 4 |
| PSCI 348 | American Political Thought | 4 |
| PSCI 349 | Christian Political Thought | 4 |
| PSCI 366 | Modern Political Thought | 4 |
Related Links
Explore Chicago
Spend your fall semester with Wheaton in Chicago, an urban experiential program in the heart of downtown.
Opportunities
Learn more about scholarships, internships, off-campus programs, and activities through the department.
Student Stories
"Through the Global and Experiental Learning Department, I found an internship in San Francisco. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life." -Samantha Henson, Political Science and Urban Studies '15
Contact Us
Politics and International Relations Department
Memorial Student Center
501 College Avenue
Wheaton, IL 60187