Requirements for the Political Science Major - 39 Credits

Political scientists think critically and analytically and apply a broad understanding of the nature of politics to the important questions of our time. A major in Political Science prepares students for graduate education in various fields as well as for careers in government, politics, law, and a wide rang of other professional and managerial positions. The program helps students learn how policies are made and carried out. It also provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in political discourse as informed citizens.

The Department of Political Science offers a major leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree and a minor in the discipline. The department also supports minors in Asian Studies and in Policy and Ethics.

Students majoring in Political Science must choose at least one of the five areas of concentration: American Politics, International Studies, Law, Political Studies, and Public Administration. The internship program, a key element in the department’s offerings, features placements of 3-6 credits locally, in Boston, and in other locations across the state, and placements of 3-9 credits in Washington, D.C. (Washington Center internships). The department hosts three active clubs: the Political Science Club, the Law Club, and the International Relations Club. The department also sponsors a local chapter of the national honor society in Political Science, Pi Sigma Alpha.

* Washington Center internships are offered fore up to 15 credits. Students may apply 6 credits to the major, or 9 credits if they also enroll in a political science course offered by the Washington Center.

International Studies, INTERDISCIPLINARY OPTION Concentration - 18 credits

In addition to the four required courses under International Studies , choose two courses (6 credits) from the list below (other advanced language courses may be substituted with permission of the department chair.)

• CRJU 0335 - Comparative Criminal Justice Systems Credits: 3
• ECON 0303 - Economics of Development Credits: 3
• ECON 0318 - International Economics Credits: 3
• GPS 0217 - Contemporary Global Issues Credits: 3
• HIST 0277 - Latin America Since 1800 Credits: 3
• LFRE 0305 - Speaking and Writing French: Advanced Level Credits: 3
• COMM 0213 - Global Film Studies Credits: 4
• SOCI 0200 - Cultural Anthropology Credits: 3
• EGST 0220 - Religion. Gender and Society Credits: 3

• * Additional courses may count with department chair approval.

Required Electives - 9 Credits

9 credits of additional political science coursework.

For Selected Topics courses (POLS 0323) to count toward the field of concentration, the courses must be within that field.

Students transferring from another school must complete a minimum of 18 credits in Political Science at Westfield State University.

The Department of Political Science encourages students to participate in internships.  Students may apply up to 6 credits of internships toward the 36-credit major, 3 of which may be applied toward the 18-credit minor.  For details, see the department internship manual on from the link   https://www.westfield.ma.edu/images/uploads/political-science/Internship_Manual.pdf or pick up a copy in the department.

Additional Graduation Requirements

All students must meet the University Graduation Requirements  and complete a common core of studies, distributed among the different academic areas as detailed in the Common Core .