Requirements for the major in Politics
The politics major has a four-tiered structure. Each tier marks a distinct level of engagement with political concepts, processes, and institutions. By acquiring content knowledge and methodological skills at the lower levels,
students progress to the upper levels in order to develop their own perspectives on politics.
Thirteen courses are required for successful completion of the politics major. Distributions and prerequisites for these courses are outlined in the table below, followed by a list of courses meeting the requirements under each tier of study. For updated course listings that meet these requirements, consult the program director.
Tier I: Core classes, levels 1000 and 2000
Students must take 1 course in 3 of the 4 following subfields*:
- U.S. Politics, which focuses on the politics of the United States and the Americas in domestic and global context
- LPOL 2120 Power and Politics in the U.S., Vimo
- Comparative Politics, which examines the politics of one or more countries or alternate units of analysis through a comparative lens
- LPOL 2031 Power and the State, Germano
- LPOL Modern Nation State and Its Challenges, Van Der Zwan
- International Relations and Global Politics, which focuses on relations between countries and the increasing ambiguity of the nation-state as a pertinent unit of analysis
- LPOL 2806 Conflict and Inequality in International Affairs, Albero
- LPOL 2033 Politics of Globalization, Germano
- LPOL 2806 Cooperation and Conflict in International Affairs, Youatt
- Political Theory, which examines normative, conceptual, analytic, and diagnostic questions through the lens of political thinkers from ancient through contemporary times.
- LPOL 2023 Reframing the Political, Nienass
- LPOL 2500 Critiques of Domination, Hoye
- LPOL 2051 Intro to Modern Political Theory, Kalyvas
*Only 1 course may be a ULEC course. If a Freshman Seminar is taught by a politics professor, it may count toward core classes, however students who use this option may not also use a ULEC course to satisfy
the core requirement.
Tier II: Interdisciplinary and Experiential Classes
This tier allows students to draw from relevant coursework in economics, history, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, psychology, humanities, and the arts in order to develop their knowledge of politics and power. It also invites students to put into practice their knowledge of politics by doing an internship or taking a civic engagement or study abroad course.
Students must take three courses from an approved list of non-POL classes. At least one of these courses must be one of the following:
- Internship
- Civic Engagement Course
- Study Abroad
Courses fulfilling this requirement TBA.
Tier III: Electives, levels 3000 and 4000
Students may take any six LPOL classes at these levels. Students must be a junior or senior or must have already completed two core classes to enroll.
Tier IV Thesis or Capstone Seminar
In the fourth and final tier, students choose between writing an individual honors thesis and joining a senior capstone seminar.
The honors thesis is written under direct supervision of Department of Politics faculty member and provides students with valuable experience conceptualizing, researching, writing, and presenting an original scholarly work in politics. The honors thesis is researched and written over the course of an academic year; upon completion, students develop and deliver a public presentation of their findings in a suitable academic forum. Students electing to write an honors thesis must meet minimum GPA requirements and receive approval from a supervising faculty member.
The capstone seminar provides an opportunity for students to produce original work that may include research, political intervention, education, or institution-building. Reflecting on the political knowledge acquired in previous courses, students (either individually or collaboratively) design a unique project. The shape and substance of the project will vary depending on the year and the instructor. Examples include:
- A website to educate the public about the oppressive military government in Burma and the struggle for democracy there
- A voter registration drive among New York City high school seniors and college students
- Public opinion research (using student-designed surveys) on attitudes toward immigrants and multiculturalism
- A study comparing the election of women to higher office in Europe, Asia, and the United States
- In-depth interviewing and participant-observation research among striking restaurant delivery workers in New York City
- An intensive reading of one or more works of political theory
Requirements for the Minor in Politics
Six courses are required for successful completion of the politics minor. Distributions and prerequisites for these courses are outlined in the table below, along with a sampling of courses offered by Lang that meet the requirements of each tier. For updated course listings that meet these requirements, consult the program director.Two 2000-level Tier I core courses. Students must take 1 course in 2 of the following subfields.*
- U.S. Politics, which focuses on the politics of the United States and the Americas in domestic and global context
- Power and Politics in the U.S., Vimo
- Comparative Politics, which examines the politics of one or more countries or alternate units of analysis through a comparative lens
- LPOL 2031 Power and the State, Germano
- LPOL Modern Nation State and Its Challenges, Van Der Zwan
- International Relations and Global Politics, which focuses on relations between countries and the increasing ambiguity of the nation-state as a pertinent unit of analysis
- LPOL 2806 Conflict and Inequality in International Affairs, Albero
- LPOL 2033 Politics of Globalization, Germano
- Political Theory, which examines normative, conceptual, analytic, and diagnostic questions through the lens of political thinkers from ancient through contemporary times.
- LPOL 2051 Introduction to Modern Political Theory, Kalyvas
- LPOL 2500 Critiques of Domination, Hoye
*Only 1 course may be a ULEC course. If a Freshman Seminar is taught by a politics professor, it may count toward core classes, however students who use this option may not also use a ULEC course to satisfy the core requirement.
Four 3000-level Tier 3 elective courses. Students may take any four LPOL classes at these levels. Students must be a junior or senior or must have already completed two core classes to enroll.
Four 3000-level Tier 3 elective courses. Students may take any four LPOL classes at these levels. Students must be a junior or senior or must have already completed two core classes to enroll.
