The political science major is designed to provide an understanding of the political forces, institutions, ideas, and problems of contemporary society. Our curriculum prepares students for graduate studies and professional careers in law, politics, teaching, journalism, government, and international civil service. Major: Students who plan to major in Political Science must complete the following requirements: Take both of the following 100 level courses, either freshman or sophomore year: *POL 102: American Government and Politics *POL 104: Introduction to World Politics Take one 200 level course in political theory, to be completed by the junior year: *POL 201: Theories of Peace and Conflict *POL 202: Justice, Power, and Political Thought Take the required course on political science methods: POL 401 Empirical Political Research Take seven additional department course offerings, including one 300-level course from each of the three sub-fields offered at Washington College: American Government and Political Thought; Comparative Politics; and International Politics. Complete a senior thesis, Political Science SCE, for the Senior Capstone Experience. Please see the department’s webpage on the Senior Capstone Experience for more information. Complete a department-approved experiential learning requirement, such as a study abroad experience, an internship, or completion of a Model Diplomacy or Model UN course. Please see the department’s webpage on the Experiential Education requirement. Students intending to major in political science are encouraged to take Mathematics 109 (Statistics), and Computer Science 100 (Basics of Computing) or Computer Science 201 (Computer Science I), as part of their freshman-sophomore distribution selections, so that some aspects of the most recent methodological developments in political analysis will be more readily understandable to them.

Professional careers in law, politics, teaching, journalism, government, and international civil service.