Columbia College: Major in Political Science
Major Planning Form for Columbia College Students
The Columbia College Major in Political Science requires a total of 29 points in political science, distributed as follows:
Courses: A total of 21 points of political science courses should be distributed as follows:
-
9 points in courses in one of the four subfields:
-
Comparative politics
- Political theory
- International relations
-
6 points in another subfield
-
6 additional points in political science courses
At least two of the three introductory courses (W1201, V1501, V1601) must be taken as part of the 21-point distribution. There is no introductory Political Theory course because the Core Contemporary Civilization requirement is equivalent to an introductory course in political theory.
Courses in Barnard College or other divisions of the University not listed on the department website course listing cannot be used to meet the requirement of a major or concentration in political science without the approval of an Undergraduate Adviser, and this should be secured in advance of registration.
A grade of Pass is only acceptable for the first course taken toward the major. Courses with a grade of D may not be applied toward the major.
Seminars: Students are expected to take two 4-point seminars: one in their junior year and another in their senior year (with exceptions made for students on leave or studying abroad) in addition to the 21 points of course work described above. They may choose from among the seminars offered, though at least one of the seminars taken must be in the student’s major subfield (that in which at least 9 other points have been completed.) Entry into seminars requires instructor permission. Please see here for detailed seminar registration guidelines. Seminars cannot be taken for R credit or Pass/D/Fail. Barnard colloquia are open to students with the permission of the instructor. However, Barnard colloquia can only count for seminar credit at the discretion of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Note that admission to Barnard colloquia is by application to the Barnard political science department only. Please see here for more information.
Recommended courses: In addition to courses in political
science, students are strongly advised, but not required, to take 6
credits in a related field.
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Columbia College: Concentration in Political Science
Concentration Planning Form for Columbia College Students
Courses: A total of 21 points of political science courses, including 6 points of courses in each of two of the following subfields: American politics, comparative politics, political theory, and international relations and foreign policy. At least two of the three introductory courses must be taken (W1201, V1501, V1601; see requirements for a major in political science).
Courses in Barnard College or other divisions of the University not listed on the department website course listing cannot be used to meet the requirements of a major or concentration in political science without the approval of an Undergraduate Adviser, and this should be secured in advance of registration for the course.
A grade of Pass is only acceptable for the first course taken toward the concentration. Courses with a grade of D may not be applied toward the concentration.
Recommended courses: In addition to courses in political
science, students are strongly advised, but not required, to take 6
credits in a related field.
NOTE: Departmental prizes are reserved for political science majors.
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CC and GS: Major in Economics–Political Science
Economics - Political Science Major Planning Form for Columbia College and General Studies Students
Departmental Contacts:
Economics:Susan Elmes, Director of Undergraduate Studies, 1006 IAB
Political Science: Robert Erikson, Professor, 726 IAB, 854-0036
Political Science Undergraduate Advising: See schedule here.
Political economy is an interdisciplinary major that introduces students to the methodologies of economics and political science and stresses areas of particular concern to both. This program is particularly beneficial to students planning to do graduate work in schools of public policy and international affairs.
Two advisers are assigned for the interdepartmental major, one in the Department of Economics and one in the Department of Political Science. Please note that the economics adviser can only advise on the economics requirements and the political science adviser can only advise on the political science requirements.
The economics-political science major requires a total of 54 points: 19 points in economics, 15 points in political science, 6 points in mathematics, 6 points in statistical methods, 4 points in a political science seminar, and 4 points in the interdisciplinary seminar as follows. The political science courses are grouped into three areas: (1) American politics, (2) comparative politics, and (3) international relations. For the political science part of the major, students are required to select one area as a major field and one as a minor field. The corresponding introductory courses in both fields must be taken, plus two electives in the major, and one in the minor field.
Economics core courses (13 points)
- ECON W1105 Principles of economics
- ECON W3211 Intermediate microeconomics
- ECON W3213 Intermediate macroeconomics
- ECON W4370 Political economy
Mathematics sequence (6 points)
Statistical methods (6 points)
- One of the following:
- ECON W3412 Introduction to econometrics and one of the statistics courses listed under Regulations for Economics Majors, Concentrators, and Interdepartmental Majors.
- POLS W4911 Analysis of political data and one of the statistics course listed under Regulations for Economics Majors, Concentrators, and Interdepartmental Majors or POLS W4910 Principles of quantitative political research.
Economics electives (6 points)
- Two electives at the 3000 level or above
Political science courses (15 points)
- Major subfield - 9 points, including the introductory course, all in one of the three subfields of American politics, comparative politics, or international relations, coordinated with the economics electives and approved in advance by the adviser
- Minor subfield - 6 points of courses, including the introductory course in another subfield, coordinated with the economics electives and approved by the adviser
Seminars (8 points)
- A Political Science Department seminar, to be approved in advance by the adviser, in the major subfield.
- ECPS W4921 Seminar in political economy.
Students who fulfill their statistical methods requirement with POLS W4910 cannot take ECON W3412.
Courses in Barnard College or other divisions of the University not listed on the department website course listing cannot be used to meet the requirements of a major or concentration in political science without the approval of an Undergraduate Adviser, and this should be secured in advance of registration for the course.
A grade of Pass is only acceptable for the first course taken toward the major. Courses with a grade of D may not be applied toward the major.
Economics–political science students are eligible for prizes reserved
both for political science majors and for economics majors.
NOTE: Students are advised that the regulations outlined in the Economics major section regarding core courses, electives, Barnard courses, School of Continuing Education courses, math courses, statistics courses, grades and transfer credits also apply toward the economics-political science major.
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General Studies: Major in Political Science
Major Planning Form for General Studies Students who declared PRIOR TO January 2012
Major Planning Form for General Studies Students who declared January 2012 or later
The requirements listed below are special to this department and must be read in conjunction with the general requirements for the bachelor’s degree.
Program of study: To be planned with the department as soon as the student starts to register for courses toward the major. Students should not wait until they formally declare the major before meeting with an Undergraduate Adviser during the registration period to plan their programs for the major.
Major requirements: At least 31 credits in political science, to be distributed as follows:
- 13 credits including a 4-credit seminar in one subfield (the 9 credits in course work to be taken prior to and in preparation for the seminar)
- 6 credits in another subfield
- 12 credits selected from any of the subfields, including an additional 4-credit seminar (note that the additional
seminar requirement applies only to those students who declared their
major after January 2012. Students who declared their major prior to
this date are required to take only one seminar).
The 31 credits must include three introductory courses:
- an introductory course in political theory, to be chosen from the following:
- COCI F1101 & F1102 Contemporary Civilization (note that both semesters must be taken to satisfy the introductory course requirement. Though this sequence equals 8 points, you may only count 3 points toward the major).
- POLS W4133 Political Thought: Classical & Medieval
- POLS W4134 Modern Political Thought
- any two of the other three introductory courses:
- American politics (W1201)
- comparative politics (V1501)
- international politics (V1601)
The Barnard colloquia listed in this bulletin are open to students only with the permission of the instructor, and these courses cannot be used to meet the seminar requirement for the major in political science, unless approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Courses in Barnard College or other divisions of the University not listed on the department website course listing cannot be used to meet the requirements of a major or concentration in political science without the approval of an Undergraduate Adviser, and this must be secured in advance of registration for the course.
A grade of Pass is only acceptable for the first course taken toward the major. Courses with a grade of D may not be applied toward the major.
Transfer credits: Courses in political science taken at other institutions cannot be credited toward the major without the written approval of an Undergraduate Adviser or the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students hoping to transfer credits should meet with an Undergraduate Adviser during advising hours, or the DUS during office hours, as soon as they start taking courses toward the major, since the number of credits transferred (if any) will be critical for subsequent planning. Students will need the syllabi for courses submitted for transfer credit, and no more than 12 transfer credits may normally be credited toward the major.
Recommended courses: In addition to courses in political science, students are strongly advised, but not required, to take 6 credits in a related field.
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General Studies: Concentration in Political Science
Concentration Planning Form for General Studies students
The requirements listed below are special to this department and must be read in conjunction with the general requirements for the bachelor’s degree.
Program of study: To be planned with the department as soon as the student starts to register for courses toward the concentration. Students should not wait until they formally declare the concentration before meeting with an Undergraduate Adviser during the registration period to plan their programs for the concentration.
Concentration requirements: At least 21 credits in political science, to be distributed as follows:
- 6 credits in one subfield
- 6 credits in another subfield
- 9 credits selected from any of the subfields.
The 31 credits must include three introductory courses:
- an introductory course in political theory, to be chosen from the following:
- COCI F1101 & F1102 Contemporary Civilization (note that both semesters must be taken to satisfy the introductory
course requirement. Though this sequence equals 8 points, you may only
count 3 points toward the concentration).
- POLS W4133 Political Thought: Classical & Medieval
- POLS W4134 Modern Political Thought
- any two of the other three introductory courses:
- American politics (W1201)
- comparative politics (V1501)
- international politics (V1601)
Courses in Barnard College or other divisions of the University not listed on the department website course listing cannot be used to meet the requirements of a major or concentration in political science without the approval of an Undergraduate Adviser, and this must be secured in advance of registration for the course.
A grade of Pass is only acceptable for the first course taken toward the concentration. Courses with a grade of D may not be applied toward the concentration.
Transfer credits: Courses in political science taken at other institutions cannot be credited toward the major without the written approval of an Undergraduate Adviser or the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students hoping to transfer credits should meet with an Undergraduate Adviser during advising hours, or the DUS during office hours, as soon as they start taking courses toward the major, since the number of credits transferred (if any) will be critical for subsequent planning. Students will need the syllabi for courses submitted for transfer credit, and no more than 12 transfer credits may normally be credited toward the major.
Recommended courses: In addition to courses in political science, students are strongly advised, but not required, to take 6 credits in a related field.
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CC and GS: Major in Political Science-Statistics
Political Science - Statistics Major Planning Form for Columbia College and General Studies students
The interdisciplinary major of political science-statistics is designed for students who desire an understanding of political science to pursue advanced study in this field and who also wish to have at their command a broad range of sophisticated statistical tools to analyze data related to social science and public policy research.
Departmental Contacts:
Political Science: Robert Shapiro, Professor, 730 IAB, 854-3944
Political Science Undergraduate Advising: See schedule here.
Statistics: Ji Meng Loh, Associate Professor, 1255 Amsterdam Avenue, Room 1012, 854-5370
Required Courses: The major requires a minimum of 47 points, distributed as follows:
Mathematics - 9 points
- MATH V1101 Calculus I
- MATH V1102 Calculus II
- MATH V2010 Linear Algebra
Computer Science - 3 points
- COMS W1003, W1004 (preferred), W1005 or W1007
Statistics - 12 points
- STAT 1001, W1111 or W1211
- STAT W3000 or W4105
- STAT W4107
- STAT W4315
Political Science - 20 points
- 13 points in one of the major subfields, including the introductory course in that subfield
- Intro courses (one of which must be taken):
- American Politics - POLS W1201
- Comparative Politics - POLS V1501
- International Relations - V1601
- Political Theory: POLS V1013 or POLS W4133 or POLS W4134 or COCI C1101 & C1102 (CC students) or COCI F1101 or F1102 (GS students). Note that if a student chooses to take COCI 1101-2, both semesters must be taken. Though this sequence equals 8 points, you may only count 3 points toward the major.
- 6 points in the same subfield as the intro course
- a 4-point seminar in that subfield
Elective - 3 points
- an elective in a quantitatively oriented course, approved by an Undergraduate Adviser, in statistics or a social science (e.g., POLS, ANTH, SOCI, etc.)
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