Political Science Majors

Requirements:

Requirements for Concentration: 10 units, including 1 unit at the 100-level in Political Science; 1 unit at the 100- or 200-level in each of the four major fields of political science, i.e., American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics, Political Theory; 2 units of graded 300-level work including one 300-level seminar (i.e. a course with a number in the 340s, 350s, 360s, 370s or 380s). Students are required to take I unit at the 100-level in political science, and are allowed to count up to 2 units at the 100-level in political science toward the major. No more than 1 unit of field work may be counted toward the major. After declaring a major, no course in political science may be elected NRO.

Transfer students and students taking academic leaves of absence: A minimum of 6 graded units in the political science major must be taken at Vassar.

Senior-Year Requirement: One 300-level seminar (i.e. a course with a number in the 340s, 350s, 360s, 370s or 380s)

Recommendation: Political Analysis (207) is highly recommended to all majors because it deals specifically with a basic methodology of political science.

Sequence of Courses: The department recommends that students take Modern Political Thought (270) before electing subsequent 200- and 300-level political theory courses. There is no requirement to specialize in one of the four fields, although specialization is permitted.

Advisers: The department.

Correlate Sequences in Political Science

Four correlate sequences are available in political science: one each in American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics, and Political Theory. 6 political science units are required to complete each sequence. With the approval of the sequence adviser, up to 2 units of political science credit transferred from outside Vassar may count toward the completion of the sequence. With the approval of the sequence adviser, a maximum of 1 unit of fieldwork may count toward completion of the sequence. Up to 1 unit of work elected NRO, taken before declaring a correlate sequence, may count toward completion of the sequence. After declaring a correlate sequence, no course elected NRO may count toward completion of the sequence.

Correlate Sequence in American Politics: Political Science 140; three courses at the 200-level in the subfield of American politics; one additional related 200-level course (to be determined by the correlate sequence adviser and the student); and a 300-level graded course in the subfield of American politics. Sequence Advisers: Mr. Born, Mr. Harris, Mr. Plotkin, Ms. Villmoare.

Correlate Sequence in Comparative Politics: Political Science 150; three courses at the 200-level in the subfield of comparative politics; one additional related 200-level course (to be determined by the correlate sequence adviser and the student); and a 300-level graded course in the subfield of comparative politics. Sequence Advisers: Ms. Hite, Mr. Longman, Mr. Su.

Correlate Sequence in International Politics: Political Science 160; three courses at the 200-level in the subfield of international politics; one additional related 200-level course (to be determined by the correlate sequence adviser and the student); and a 300-level graded course in the subfield of international politics. Sequence Advisers: Ms. Haus, Mr. Mampilly, Mr. Muppidi, Mr. Rock.

Correlate Sequence in Political Theory: Political Science 170; three courses at the 200-level in the subfield of political theory; one additional related 200-level course (to be determined by the correlate sequence adviser and the student); and a 300-level graded course in the subfield of political theory. Sequence Advisers: Mr. Davison, Ms. Gregory, Ms. Shanley, Mr. Stillman.

The general College requirements must also be met: the Freshman Course, the unit of quantitative analysis, the foreign language proficiency equivalent, and the distribution of units outside the curricular division of the major. For more information on these requirements, see the Vassar Catalogue.

Field Work and Internships:

The department encourages students to pursue their individual interests outside the classroom. Field work offers a wide variety of choices away from campus for those interested in learning through a combination of theoretical reading and first hand experience. The requirements for field work are listed below.

Internships can offer majors a unique opportunity for first-hand experience in the political world which surrounds us. Most internships for political science majors are arranged through the Office of Field Work with academic credit arranged through a faculty supervisor in the Department of Political Science. Some other internship programs, including the Washington Semester Program, are arranged through the Study Away Office or the Center for Career Development.

Field Work Requirements:

Political Science 290a or b for One-Half Unit

The following components are required for one-half unit of field work credit:

Approximately forty hours of work in the field per semester.
Reading in theoretical material related to the field work - specific assignments to be determined in consultation with the instructor.
A 10- to 12-page paper analyzing the field work in the context of the reading. Papers are due on the last day of classes. Unexcused late papers are subject to penalty and may be unacceptable. Field work is graded "SA" or "UN."
Periodic conferences with the instructor - at least one conference every three weeks. Some instructors may require more frequent conferences. Students must consult with their instructors about readings and paper topics within the first three weeks of class. These conferences constitute an important dimension of the field work experience and are necessary to receive academic credit.
Individual faculty members may establish additional requirements for field work that they supervise.

Political Science 290a or b for One Unit

In unusual cases, a full unit of Field Work may be elected. The following components are required for a full unit of Field Work credit:

Approximately eighty hours of work in the field per semester.
Reading in theoretical material related to the field work - specific assignments to be determined in consultation with the instructor.
A 20-25 page paper analyzing the field work in the context of the reading. Papers are due on the last day of classes. Unexcused late papers are subject to penalty and may be unacceptable. Field work is graded "SA" or"UN."
Periodic conferences with the instructor - at least one conference every three weeks. Some instructors may require more frequent conferences. Students must consult with their instructors about readings and paper topics within the first three weeks of class. These conferences constitute an important dimension of the field work experience and are necessary to receive academic credit.
Individual faculty members may establish additional requirements for field work that they supervise.

Read more about field work and internships in the Majors' Handbook.

Study Away:

Many political science majors take part in Junior Year Abroad or exchange programs, especially those students interested in American, comparative, and international politics. Visit Vassar's Study Away website for information, upcoming meetings, and approved programs.

Major's Handbook:

Download PDF version of the handbook

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