Political Science is the study of the organization and behavior of people, groups, and institutions which make up our government and the larger political system. The program is designed to introduce students to questions, perspectives, and arguments about the political forces that shape their lives. As such, the program has value for Liberal Studies students as well as for those who may choose the discipline as a major field of study. Students find the substance and the methods of the discipline useful in the legal, business, civic, communications, governmental, and academic professions, as well as any endeavors that draw them into public service.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Liberal Studies Requirements | 84 |
| Major Requirements | 56 |
| Open Electives | 52 |
| Total hours required | 192 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Describe and explain core concepts within the field of political science in their local, national, and international contexts (mastery of content).
- Analyze a given political issue from multiple perspectives and/or theoretical approaches (critical thinking).
- Compose clear and well-organized explanations of political phenomena and support these explanations with evidence (articulate expression).
- Evaluate political institutions, attitudes, and behavior with regards to social justice (moral reasoning).
College Core Requirements
Study in the Major Field
The student’s course of study in the College consists of three parts: Liberal Studies, the major field, and electives. Together these three parts contribute to the liberal education of the student which is the common purpose of all study in the College. By “liberal education” the College understands not only a deep and thorough knowledge of a particular area of study but a knowledge of the diverse areas of study represented by criticism, history, the arts, the behavioral and social sciences, philosophy, religious studies, the natural science, and mathematics.
The major field program generally is built upon a set of core courses and a specialized “concentration.” The number of courses required for a major varies by department. Most students go beyond the minimum requirements, electing additional courses which both broaden and deepen their understanding of their chosen discipline.
Because no academic major program is built in isolation, students are required to pursue a number of electives of the student’s choice. The inherent flexibility of this curriculum demands that the student consult an academic advisor at each stage in the total program and at least once prior to each registration.
Students will be prompted to visit the College Office for their official graduation check early in their senior year.
Declaration of Major, Minor and Concentration
All students in the College are required to declare a major field prior to beginning their junior year. The student will then be assigned a faculty advisor in the major field department or program and should make an appointment to see that advisor at his or her earliest convenience.
Students must declare or change majors, minors, and concentrations, via Campus Connection. However, for the purpose of exploring the possibility of changing a major field, the student should consult an academic advisor in the Office for Academic Advising Support.
The Modern Language Requirement (MLR)
All students will be required to demonstrate competence in a modern language (i.e., a language other than English) equivalent to the proficiency attained from one year of college-level language study. This Modern Language Requirement (MLR) may be demonstrated by:
- placing into 104 or above on the DePaul language placement exam
- completing the last course or earning AP/IB credit for the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language (e.g. 103 for DePaul language classes)
- completing a college course or earning AP/IB credit for a college course beyond the first-year level in any language (e.g. 104 or above for DePaul language classes)
- completing the final course of a four-year sequence of the same modern language in high school*
- completing a proctored exam by BYU and passing the exam (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
- completing a proctored Written Proficiency Test (WPT) by Language Testing International (LTI) and achieving a score of Beginner High or above (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
*Students are strongly encouraged to take the DePaul language placement exam even if they have met the MLR via study of a language in high school. This will ensure continuation of language study at the proper level.
Please note: Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement.
Students who complete an Inter-College Transfer (ICT) to the College will abide by the MLR in place on the effective date of the ICT, regardless of when they first matriculated at DePaul.
Students who have met the MLR and wish to pursue further work in the language may elect the “Modern Language Option” (see below).
The Modern Language Option (MLO)
The Modern Language Option is available to all BA students who wish to study a modern language beyond the level required by their College, and to all other undergraduate students without a modern language requirement who wish to study a language at any level.
Students selecting the MLO may substitute a sequence of three courses in the same language for three domain courses.
The three MLO substitutions must be made in three different domains, and any substitutions must be consistent with the principle that students complete at least one course in each learning domain.
MLO substitutions may not be used to replace requirements in the Math & Computing, and Scientific Inquiry, domains.
Students majoring in one modern language may use the Modern Language Option for study of a second language at the Intermediate level or above.
Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Option.
NOTE: Please contact your college/school regarding additional information and restrictions about the Modern Language Option.
External Credit and Residency
A student who has been admitted to the College begins residency within the college as of the first day of classes of the term in which the student is registered. Students in residence, whether attending on a full-time or part-time basis, may not take courses away from DePaul University without the written permission of the college. Permission must be obtained in advance of registration to avoid loss of credit or residency in the college; see the LAS website for more information.
Liberal Studies Requirements
Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.
| First Year Program | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Quarter | ||
| LSP 110 or LSP 111 | DISCOVER CHICAGO or EXPLORE CHICAGO | 4 |
| Focal Point | ||
| LSP 112 | FOCAL POINT SEMINAR | 4 |
| Writing | ||
| WRD 103 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 2 | 4 |
| WRD 104 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 2 | 4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| MAT 120 | QUANTITATIVE REASONING 3 | 4 |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Race, Power, and Resistance | ||
| LSP 200 | SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE | 4 |
| Junior Year | ||
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Required | 4 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Capstone | ||
| PSC 390 | CAPSTONE SEMINAR 1, 2 | 4 |
- 1
A student whose only major is Political Science is required to complete the Capstone offered by the Political Science Department. A student who is double majoring (or pursuing dual degrees) with the primary major (or primary degree) in Political Science may substitute the Capstone of the secondary major or degree. A Political Science major in the University Honors Program shall take only the University Honors Capstone, not both the Honors Capstone and the Political Science Capstone.
- 2
Students must earn a C- or better in this course.
- 3
Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. Students who complete MAT 120 and both a Computational Reasoning course and a Statistical Reasoning course in the Math and Computing Learning Domain take one less Learning Domain course. Students may not apply the course reduction to any Domain where only one course is required, and cannot be applied to the Scientific Inquiry Learning Domain. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam or it may be fulfilled by credit for advanced math coursework earned in-residence at DePaul (MAT 135, MAT 136, MAT 147, MAT 148, MAT 149, MAT 150, MAT 151, MAT 152 MAT 155, MAT 156, MAT 160, MAT 161, MAT 162 MAT 170, MAT 171, MAT 172, or equivalent) or earned externally either as transfer credit from another college/university or as test credit through AP, CLEP, IB, or International A and A/S Level exams. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfill any of the three QR/MCD requirements.
Learning Domains
Arts and Literature (AL)
- 3 Courses Required
Historical Inquiry (HI)
- 2 Courses Required
Math and Computing (MC)
- 2 Courses Required
[1 CR Course and PSC 205 or SOC 279]
Philosophical Inquiry (PI)
- 2 Courses Required
Religious Dimensions (RD)
- 2 Courses Required
Scientific Inquiry (SI)
- 2 Courses Required
[1 Lab Course and 1 SWK Course]
Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)
- 1 Course Required
Notes
A student whose only major is Political Science is required to complete the Capstone offered by the Political Science Department. A student who is double majoring (or pursuing dual degrees) with the primary major (or primary degree) in Political Science may substitute the Capstone of the secondary major or degree. A Political Science major in the University Honors Program shall take only the University Honors Capstone, not both the Honors Capstone and the Political Science Capstone.
Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or the Experiential Learning requirement.
In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.
Major Requirements
Political Science majors must complete the requirements for one of the following four concentrations: Standard, American Politics, International Politics, or Law and Theory. Each concentration requires courses drawn from different subfields of Political Science. The classes within each subfield are listed below. To determine the specific distribution of courses across subfields, students should consult the concentration requirements which can be accessed via the link on the left side of this webpage.
Open Electives
Open elective credits are required in order to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours. These courses are to be selected in consultation with the student's faculty adviser and may include courses in fields such as economics, history, English, sociology, etc. Students may choose to use their open electives as part of a minor or to complete a double major.
Course Listing by Category
Methodology
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| POLITICAL INQUIRY | ||
| GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS | ||
| STATISTICS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES | ||
| POLITICAL ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH | ||
| WRITING IN POLITICAL SCIENCE |
Political Culture
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| LATINO POLITICS | ||
| POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION | ||
| AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE | ||
| WOMEN AND POLITICS | ||
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN POLITICS | ||
| TOPICS IN POLITICAL CULTURE | ||
| POLITICAL CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT | ||
| LGBTQ POLITICS | ||
| INTERNET, TECHNOLOGY, AND POLITICS | ||
| RELIGION, NATIONALISM AND POLITICS | ||
| ADVANCED TOPICS IN POLITICAL CULTURE |
American Politics
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM | ||
| THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY | ||
| CONGRESS AND THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS | ||
| POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS | ||
| URBAN POLITICS | ||
| STATE POLITICS | ||
| LATINO POLITICAL BEHAVIOR | ||
| TOPICS IN AMERICAN POLITICS | ||
| MASS MEDIA AND AMERICAN POLITICS | ||
| URBAN POLICYMAKING | ||
| CHICAGO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS | ||
| INEQUALITY IN AMERICAN SOCIETY | ||
| IDEOLOGY, ECONOMICS AND POLICY | ||
| PUBLIC OPINION | ||
| ADVANCED TOPICS IN AMERICAN POLITICS | ||
| ADVANCED TOPICS IN PUBLIC POLICY |
Political Thought
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY | ||
| CLASSICAL POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| LIBERALISM, CONSERVATISM, AND DEMOCRACY | ||
| POLITICAL IDEAS AND IDEOLOGIES | ||
| FREEDOM AND EMPOWERMENT | ||
| EQUALITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE | ||
| LEGITIMACY AND CRISIS | ||
| TOPICS IN POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| MARXISM | ||
| THEORIES OF THE CHURCH | ||
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| CHRISTIAN POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| ADVANCED TOPICS IN POLITICAL THOUGHT |
International Relations
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | ||
| AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY | ||
| RUSSIAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS | ||
| LATIN AMERICAN-UNITED STATES RELATIONS | ||
| ASIAN FOREIGN POLICY | ||
| U.S. - AFRICA RELATIONS | ||
| WAR, PEACE, AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION | ||
| TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | ||
| THE EUROPEAN UNION | ||
| POLITICAL ISLAM AND AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY | ||
| ARMS, SECURITY, AND WAR | ||
| INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE PACIFIC RIM | ||
| INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY | ||
| THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WORLD POLITICS | ||
| THE UNITED NATIONS AND WORLD PROBLEMS | ||
| ETHICS IN WORLD POLITICS | ||
| GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS | ||
| ADVANCED TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS |
Comparative Politics
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS | ||
| EUROPEAN POLITICS | ||
| RUSSIAN POLITICS | ||
| LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS | ||
| ASIAN POLITICS | ||
| AFRICAN POLITICS | ||
| MIDDLE EAST POLITICS | ||
| CYBER WARFARE AND CYBER POLITICS | ||
| TOPICS IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS | ||
| JAPANESE POLITICS | ||
| REVOLUTION AND TERRORISM | ||
| CHINESE POLITICS | ||
| COMPARATIVE DEMOCRACY AND DICTATORSHIP | ||
| GLOBAL GENDER POLITICS | ||
| ADVANCED TOPICS IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS |
Public Law
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LAW AND THE POLITICAL SYSTEM | ||
| CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS | ||
| CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: RIGHTS OF DEFENDANTS | ||
| CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAWS | ||
| LAW AND POPULAR CULTURE | ||
| TOPICS IN PUBLIC LAW | ||
| INTERNATIONAL LAW | ||
| THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM | ||
| WOMEN AND THE LAW | ||
| VOTING, REPRESENTATION, AND THE LAW | ||
| NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION | ||
| IMMIGRATION LAW | ||
| RIGHTS-BASED SOCIAL MOVEMENTS | ||
| ADVANCED TOPICS IN PUBLIC LAW |
Experiential Politics
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MODEL UN | ||
| POLITICAL ACTION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE | ||
| MOCK TRIAL: CIVIL LAW | ||
| MOCK TRIAL: CRIMINAL LAW | ||
| CAMPAIGNS AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT |
Other Courses
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPECIAL TOPICS | ||
| CAPSTONE SEMINAR | ||
| INTERNSHIP | ||
| HONORS SEMINAR | ||
| SENIOR THESIS | ||
| TRAVEL/STUDY | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY |