Political Science

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Political Science examines the nature of politics from diverse perspectives. The requirements for majors in the department teach students to think critically about the fundamental theories, principles, institutions, and practices of politics in their social and historical contexts. Course work in the department is required in four main sub-fields of the discipline of political science - American Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Political Theory - so that students will acquire the knowledge and skills for further study in law school or graduate school, or will be prepared for careers in public service or related fields. Opportunities for internships and for independent study with faculty are numerous. The department encourages its students to pursue related work in the humanities and social sciences so that their political studies fall within the context of a liberal arts education.

Major Requirements:

POS 100, American Government.
A minimum of 36 credits in POS courses with grades of “C” (2.0) or better. The 36 credits must be distributed as follows and at least 21 of the 36 credits must be at the 300, 400, or 500-level:
American Politics (6 cr.)
International Relations (6 cr.)
Comparative Politics (6 cr.)
Political Theory (6 cr.)
POS Electives (POS 100 may be used as an elective) (12 cr.)
Students must have a minimum of 72 hours outside their major

Majors within the department may not receive more than a total of 12 credits toward graduation for any combination of internships and field experience, and not more than 6 credits may be used toward the departmental major. A field supervisor normally participates in the evaluation of an internship or field experience course.

A minimum of 18 of the 36 POS credits required must be completed at the University of Maine (effective January 2007).

American Politics:

Three credits of an internship or field experience course related to American Politics may be used toward satisfying this sub-field requirement.

POS 203 - American State and Local Government Credits: 3
POS 282 - Introduction to American Law Credits: 3
POS 350 - Mass Media in U.S. Politics Credits: 3
POS 352 - American Public Opinion Credits: 3
POS 353 - The U.S. Congress Credits: 3
POS 354 - The U.S. Presidency Credits: 3
POS 355 - Music and Politics in the American Context Credits: 3
(POS 355 may be used as an American Politics OR a Political Theory Course)
POS 359 - Topics in American Government Credits: 3
POS 363 - Urban Government and Politics Credits: 3
POS 380 - Interest Groups and American Politics Credits: 3
POS 381 - Political Parties and Elections Credits: 3
POS 383 - American Constitutional Law Credits: 3
POS 384 - American Civil Liberties Credits: 3
POS 385 - Women and Politics Credits: 3
POS 386 - Religion and Politics in the United States Credits: 3
POS 484 - The American Constitution and Criminal Due Process Credits: 3
POS 549 - Seminar in American Politics Credits: 3

International Relations:

Three credits of an internship or field experience course related to International Relations may be used toward satisfying this sub-field requirement.

INA 201 - Topics in International Affairs Credits: 3
POS 120 - Introduction to World Politics Credits: 3
POS 273 - International Relations Credits: 3
POS 370 - International Terrorism: The Challenges for America Credits: 3
POS 372 - Canadian Foreign Policy Credits: 3
POS 374 - American Foreign Policy Credits: 3
POS 375 - United States and the Middle East Credits: 3
POS 469 - Politics of the Middle East Credits: 3
POS 474 - Instruments of American Foreign Policy Making Credits: 3
POS 475 - International Security Credits: 3
POS 476 - Seminar in World Politics Credits: 3

Comparative Politics:

POS 241 - Introduction to Comparative Politics Credits: 3
POS 243 - Canadian Government and Politics Credits: 3
POS 335 - Major Governments of Western Europe Credits: 3
POS 336 - Government and Politics in Russia Credits: 3
POS 337 - Government and Politics in Eurasia Credits: 3
POS 344 - Public Policy in Canada Credits: 3
POS 467 - African Politics Credits: 3
POS 531 - Topics in Comparative Politics Credits: 3

Political Theory:

POS 201 - Introduction to Political Theory Credits: 3
POS 301 - Classical Political Thought Credits: 3
POS 302 - Medieval Political Thought Credits: 3
POS 303 - Early Modern Political Thought Credits: 3
POS 304 - American Political Thought Credits: 3
POS 305 - Late Modern Political Thought Credits: 3
POS 355 - Music and Politics in the American Context Credits: 3
(POS 355 may be used as an American Politics OR a Political Theory Course)
POS 401 - Seminar in Political Theory Credits: 3

Internship and Independent Study Courses:

INT 494 - (PAA, POS) Field Experience Credits: Ar
(INT 494 (POS) cannot be used as the political science major’s capstone course)
POS 493 - American Politics Internship Credits: 3, 6 or 9
POS 495 - Congressional Internship Credits: 6 or 9
POS 496 - International Affairs Internship Credits: 6 or 9
POS 498 - Independent Study in Political Science Credits: 3
POS 596 - Directed Research in Political Science Credits: 3

Capstone Course:

POS 499 - Senior Seminar in Political Science Credits: 3

Suggested curriculum for the B.A. in Political Science

First Year - First Semester

ENG 101 - College Composition Credits: 3
POS 100 - American Government Credits: 3
Electives

General Education: Westen Cultural Tradition

General Education: Mathematics

First Year - Second Semester

POS 120 - Introduction to World Politics Credits: 3
POS 241 - Introduction to Comparative Politics Credits: 3
General Education: Social Context and Institutions

Electives

General Education: Science

Second Year - First Semester

POS 201 - Introduction to Political Theory Credits: 3
POS 282 - Introduction to American Law Credits: 3
or
POS 359 - Topics in American Government Credits: 3
Electives

General Education: Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives

General Education: Mathematics

Second Year - Second Semester

POS 243 - Canadian Government and Politics Credits: 3
or POS 344 - Public Policy in Canada
POS 273 - International Relations Credits: 3
or POS 372 - Canadian Foreign Policy or POS 374 - American Foreign Policy
POS 344 - Public Policy in Canada Credits: 3
POS 372 - Canadian Foreign Policy Credits: 3
POS 374 - American Foreign Policy Credits: 3
General Education: Science

General Education: Writing Intensive

General Education: Population and the Environment

Third Year - First Semester

POS Upper level American (3 cr.)
POS Upper level theory (3 cr.)
General Education: Artistic and Creative Expression (3 cr.)
BA Upper level requirement (3 cr.)
Electives (3 cr.)

Third Year - Second Semester

POS Upper level international (3 cr.)
POS Upper level comparative (3 cr.)
General Education: Human Values and Social Context(3 cr.)
BA Upper level requirement (3 cr.)
Electives (3 cr.)

Fourth Year - First Semester

POS 499 - Senior Seminar in Political Science Credits: 3
BA Upper level requirement

Electives

POS Upper level elective

Fourth Year - Second Semester

POS Upper level electives (6 cr.)
Electives (9 cr.)