Degree Programs - Political Science

The Political Science Major

Bachelor of Arts

Beginning with the 2022-23 Catalog, the major in Political Science consists of a minimum of 40 credits (10 courses). Degree requirements vary slightly by catalog year; current and past catalogs are linked at the bottom of this page.

Foundation (3 courses)

POLI 111 (Introduction to American Politics, 4 credits)

POLI 150 (Foundations of Political Theory, 4 credits)

POLI 200 or 202 (The Study of Politics (4 credits) or Statistical Analysis and Mapping of Social Science Data (4 credits))

Elective Concentration (4 courses)

Students must develop an elective concentration through one of two paths:
1. Independently Elected Concentration: Students opting for this path select four courses (at least one of which is a 400-level course) in an area of their interest.
2. Established Elective Concentrations: Students opting for this path select four courses (at least one of which is a 400-level course) from one of the established concentrations below.

Breadth Requirement: Elective (1 course)

Take one additional 4-credit course. Elective courses may support students’ curricular concentration. Courses from study abroad are likely to count in this category.

Capstone (1 course)

POLI 495 Political Science Capstone (4 credits). The senior capstone is to be taken in the fall semester of the senior year. Students must employ best practices in the discipline to complete an independent research project; a student who does not successfully complete this project will not graduate with a major in Political Science.

The Minor

A minor in Political Science consists of a minimum of 24 credits in the department. At least 12 credits must be taken at the University of Redlands.

Other courses

With prior approval of their academic advisors and the Political Science Department chair, students may count three upper-division courses offered by other departments, off-campus coursework (such as through foreign study programs or a Washington Semester), internships, and individualized study courses for up to 12 credits of elective credit toward the major or minor.

Because political science courses are an integral part of the international relations major, students are not permitted to major or minor in both political science and international relations. Students who opt to double major should define two separate courses of study or concentrations; 28 units (7 courses) must be stand-alone credits (i.e., not overlap between these majors). 

Established Elective Concentrations

LAW AND POLITICS

POLI 306 Constitutional Law: National and State Powers (4)

POLI 307 Constitutional Law: Liberty and Authority (4)

POLI 318 American Political Thought and Practice (4)

POLI 345 International Law and Organization (4)

POLI 363 Special Topics in Public Law (4)

POLI 463 Advanced Seminar in Public Law (4)

 

GOVERNANCE AND POLICY 

PLCY 100 Introduction to Public Policy Analysis (4)

POLI 207 Environmental Politics and Policy (4)

POLI 208 California Politics (3) -  offered as a May Term course

POLI 250 American Foreign Policy (4)

POLI 304 U.S. Congress (4)

POLI 308 U.S. Presidency (4)

POLI 354 Immigration Politics and Policy (4) 

POLI 456 Education Policy (4) 

POLI 457 Health Care Policy (4) 


WORLD POLITICS 

IR 200 International Relations Theory (4)

POLI 220 European Politics and Development (4) 

POLI 226 Middle East and African Politics (4) 

POLI 230 Latin American Politics and Development (4) 

POLI 244 International Security (4) 

POLI 250 American Foreign Policy (4) 

POLI 325 Comparative Parties and Elections (4) 

POLI 332 Politics of Japan and Korea (4) 

POLI 345 International Law and Organization (4) 

POLI 346 Foreign Policies of Russia and the Former Soviet States (4) 

POLI 462 Advanced Seminar in Comparative Politics (4) 

POLI 464 Advanced Seminar in International Relations (4)

Catalogs

2020-2021

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2019-2020

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2018-2019

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2016-2018

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2014-2016

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2012-2014 Download PDF