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    Nov 13, 2024  
2024/25 UM UMM Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024/25 UM UMM Undergraduate Catalog

Political Science


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OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

Minimum number of credits required to complete the major: 36

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: A “C-” or better is required in all Political Science (POS) courses counting towards the major.

Other GPA requirements to graduate: Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in the courses in the major field that are credited toward the major.

Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience: POS 499 , or POS 487  and POS 488  taken together or HON 498 /HON 499  on a topic in political science. The thesis proposal form must have signature of the chair of the Department of Political Science.

Courses satisfying the writing intensive requirement within the major: HON 499 , POS 301 , POS 303 , POS 304 , POS 308 , POS 453 , POS 467 , POS 487 , POS 488 , POS 499  

Residency requirement: A minimum of 18 of the 36 POS credits required must be completed at the University of Maine

Contact Information:  Mark Brewer, Professor and Chair, 113A Boudreau Hall (207) 581-1863, mark.brewer@maine.edu


The requirements listed on this page are specific to this particular major. Students are also responsible for meeting any graduation requirements set out by their college. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) should make sure to review those requirements as stated on the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences  page of the catalog.

For more information about our undergraduate and graduate programs, program learning outcomes, internships, special resources and programs, and research and career opportunities, see our web site at https://umaine.edu/polisci.

Information about the Political Science major

Major Requirements:

  • POS 100 , American Government.
  • The 36 credits minimum in POS courses 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.)
  • 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.

American Politics:


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

International Relations:


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

Comparative Politics:


Political Theory:


Internship and Independent Study Courses:


Suggested curriculum for the B.A. in Political Science


First Year - First Semester


First Year - Second Semester


Second Year - First Semester


  • Credits: 3
  • Course from Upper Level American Politics Sub-field  Credits: 3
  • General Education: Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Credits: 3
  • General Education: Mathematics Credits: 3
  • Course towards Minor or Double Major  Credits: 3

Second Year - Second Semester


  • POS Upper Level Course from International Relations Sub-field Credits: 3
  • POS Upper Level Course from Comparative Politics Sub-field Credits: 3
  • General Education: Lab-Science Credits: 4
  • General Education: Writing Intensive Credits: 3
  • General Education: Population and the Environment Credits: 3

Third Year - First Semester


  • POS Upper level American Credits: 3
  • POS Upper level theory Credits: 3
  • General Education: Artistic and Creative Expression Credits: 3
  • Course towards Minor or Double Major Credits: 6

Third Year - Second Semester


  • POS Upper level Elective Credits: 3
  • POS Upper level Elective Credits: 3 
  • General Education: Human Values and Social Context Credits: 3
  • Course towards Minor or Double Major Credits: 6

Fourth Year - First Semester


Fourth Year - Second Semester


  • POS Upper level electives Credits: 6
  • Electives Credits: 9

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