Political Science (B.A.)

Faculty

Dr. James Stocker, Associate Professor of International Affairs; Executive Director of the Trinity Global Leadership Initiative (program chair)
Dr. Erin Carriere-Kretschmer, Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science
Dr. Joshua Wright, Associate Professor of Global Affairs
Dr. Allen Pietrobon, Assistant Professor of Global Affairs
Dr. Kimberly Monroe, Assistant Professor of Global Affairs

Description

The political science program emphasizes both the study of political science as a discipline and the active, practical participation of students in the political process. In addition to course work, students participate in a wide variety of internships and fieldwork classes in Washington, D.C., to learn politics through direct observation and involvement.

The major in political science is designed to help students effectively fulfill their expanding roles in public life. Knowledge of governmental affairs in combination with communication and research skills can open a wide vista of challenging opportunities. Trinity looks to its political science majors to provide the much-needed dedication and leadership qualities aimed at achieving an enriched and more just society.

Political science provides students with grounding in several fields including American government, comparative political systems, international relations, political theory, and field experience afforded by Trinity’s location in the nation’s capital. This resource serves students in two ways: first, through utilization of the city’s political and governmental institutions as learning laboratories and second, by providing students with professional contacts and networking opportunities well before they graduate. In addition, political science majors can combine a thorough grounding in political science theory and methodology with a self-directed focus on selected public policy topics and/or with multidisciplinary course selections through the general education curriculum and complementary courses in other disciplines.

An analysis of the many aspects of leadership as well as the concept itself is woven into every political science course. The political science program is also sensitive to the needs of women not only through gender-specific courses but also through many other courses that address issues and processes of special significance to women. The comparative politics sequence and international relations courses in particular provide an essential resource for the development of multicultural awareness.

The political science program supports a major and minor in the College of Arts and Sciences. Courses in the political science program fall into the following categories: American government and law; international relations and comparative politics; political values; applied skills; elective; and advanced seminar. Each course taken may be counted to fulfill only one distribution requirement for the major, even if the course falls into two categories.

Major Requirements

The major requires 32-33 credits of coursework.

ONE introductory course chosen from:

  • POLS 101 Politics, Power, and You: Democracy at the Crossroads
  • POLS 103 The American Political Process
  • POLS 199H HON:Politics and Power in the Nation's Capital
    • POLS 199H is for Honors students and other students who receive permission to enroll from the instructor

TWO courses in American government & law chosen from:

  • POLS 211 Women and the Law
  • POLS 213 Women and Politics
  • POLS 272 The Politics of Generational Conflict
  • POLS 277 Personality and Political Leadership
  • POLS 301 Congress and Policy Making
  • POLS 305 Public Policy
  • POLS 311 Constitutional Law

TWO courses in international relations and comparative politics chosen from:

  • POLS 231 Introduction to Comparative Politics
  • POLS 241 Introduction to International Relations
  • POLS 341 International Law and Organizations
  • POLS 343 United States Foreign Policy I
  • POLS 363 US Intelligence and World Affairs

ONE course in political values chosen from:

  • POLS 201 Civil Rights and Liberties
  • POLS 275 Politics and Fiction
  • POLS 299 Honors Seminar: The Political Lives of Women
  • POLS 313 Religion, Law and Politics in the United States
  • POLS 471 Politics and The Media

TWO applied skills courses chosen from:

  • POLS 365 Field Work: Political Parties, Campaigns, and Elections
  • POLS 367 Field Work: Public Opinion Polling
  • POLS 369 Field Work: Political Advocacy
  • GLBL 491

TWO electives chosen from any political science courses not already satisfying another major requirement

ONE advanced seminar chosen from:

  • POLS 403 Political Power: Interest Groups, Lobbying, and Public Policy
  • POLS 405 Seminar in Public Policy: Selected Topics
  • POLS 431 Seminar in Comparative Politics and International Relations
  • POLS 443 Seminar on Conflict Theory and Management

Majors must also pass a senior comprehensive exam.

Minor Requirements

Students pursuing the minor must complete 18 credits of political science courses. Internships cannot be counted toward the minor.

Program Policies

Advanced Placement:
Advanced Placement credit will be accepted by the political science program in American government and comparative politics at the 4 or 5 level.

CLEP Policy:
Students wishing to receive credit for CLEP examinations should consult the program chair.

Grades in Major Courses:
Students are required to earn a grade of “C-” (1.7) or better in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major.

Pass/No Pass:
Courses fulfilling the major requirement may not be taken pass/no pass, except for GLBL 491 Internship.

Senior Assessment:
Students must achieve a passing grade on the senior comprehensive examination in order to graduate with a major in political science.

TELL Policy:
Students may receive no more than 12 political science elective credits through the TELL Program.

Transfer Credits:
No more than 15 credits in courses equivalent to those required for the major may be accepted toward the major in political science. No more than nine credits may be accepted toward the minor in political science.

Course Descriptions

POLS 101 Politics, Power, and You: Democracy at the Crossroads
POLS 103 The American Political Process
POLS 199H HON:Politics and Power in the Nation's Capital
POLS 201 Civil Rights and Liberties
POLS 211 Women and the Law
POLS 213 Women and Politics
POLS 231 Introduction to Comparative Politics
POLS 241 Introduction to International Relations
POLS 243 The Politics of Globalization
POLS 250 Politics, Literature, and Film
POLS 272 The Politics of Generational Conflict
POLS 274 Politics, Literature, and Film
POLS 275 Politics and Fiction
POLS 277 Personality and Political Leadership
POLS 299 Honors Seminar: The Political Lives of Women
POLS 301 Congress and Policy Making
POLS 302 The American Presidency
POLS 303 The U.S. Presidency and National Security
POLS 305 Public Policy
POLS 311 Constitutional Law
POLS 313 Religion, Law and Politics in the United States
POLS 322 District of Columbia Govt and Poltics
POLS 330 Comparative Politics: Europe
POLS 337 Comparative Politics: Africa
POLS 341 International Law and Organizations
POLS 342 International Conflict & Cooperation
POLS 343 United States Foreign Policy I
POLS 351 Political Thought: Plato to Rousseau
POLS 353 Modern Political Thought
POLS 363 US Intelligence and World Affairs
POLS 365 Field Work: Political Parties, Campaigns, and Elections
POLS 367 Field Work: Public Opinion Polling
POLS 369 Field Work: Political Advocacy
POLS 403 Political Power: Interest Groups, Lobbying, and Public Policy
POLS 405 Seminar in Public Policy: Selected Topics
POLS 431 Seminar in Comparative Politics and International Relations
POLS 443 Seminar on Conflict Theory and Management
POLS 471 Politics and The Media
GLBL 491
POLS 498 Independent Study