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Requirements
Political Science
The department of political science seeks to make the study of politics and international relations an integral part of the liberal education of Beloit students, providing them with a coherent, comprehensive introduction to the discipline of political science.
To further these purposes, faculty actively engage in the political world and scholarship about it, and the department offers courses that encourage the thoughtful consideration of political aims, institutions, processes, and problems. These include the exploration of power, conflict, peace, citizenship, and justice from diverse perspectives. Introductory courses are designed to equip students for responsible, effective participation in civic life and public affairs in local to global contexts.
For majors or minors, the department offers opportunities for more specialized study in government and politics as a foundation for graduate education and future vocations in law, government, journalism, teaching, activism, and other public service careers. The department works to strengthen the college as a whole by participating responsibly in its intellectual life, its core programs, and through service.
Majors
- Nine departmental units (5 of which must be taken at Beloit College):
- At least l unit from each of the four subfields:
- U.S. politics: 110, 215, 216, 221, 225.
- Comparative politics: 130, 236, 237, 248, 249, 250, 251, 255, 261, 265, 270, 272, 273.
- International relations: 160, 237, 246, 250, 255, 262, 270, 273, 275.
- Political theory: 180, 280, 285, 287.
- One unit from Political Science 310, 330, 380, 386, or Interdisciplinary Studies 375.
- Four additional units in political science.
- No more than 3 units at the 100-level may count toward the major.
- At least l unit from each of the four subfields:
- Supporting courses (4 units):
- One unit in economics.
- One unit in history.
- Two units from Philosophy 100 (logic), any (non-native) language, or any statistics (including Political Science 201 if taken as a 10th political science unit).
- An experiential learning activity that might include an internship, off-campus study semester, honors project, or research special projects, as approved by the advisor.
- Students are strongly encouraged to develop an area of thematic emphasis in their course of study.
- Writing/communication requirement: Political science majors are expected to be proficient in multiple modes of writing, including the different kinds of work involved in research oriented projects, close textual exegesis, policy analysis, and other forms of writing related to applied politics, such as position papers and reports. Our curriculum is structured with an eye toward introducing students to each of these forms of writing, and graduating seniors should have encountered each of them in fulfilling their major requirements. In addition, our capstone seminars (300-level courses) seek to provide students with a sustained research and writing project.
Minors
- Six units of political science, with no more than 3 at the 100-level.