Academics

Students must meet the following requirements to graduate with a major in political science:

• Complete at least 30 credits in political science;
• Complete at least 3 credits (1 course) in each of the 4 subfields of political science;
• Complete at least 9 credits (3 courses) at the 300-level;
• POLSC 29400 courses may not be used to satisfy the 4-subfield requirements
• Use no more than 6 credits in internship, independent study, and/or experiential courses (such as Model United Nations) to satisfy the 30 credits in the major. Also, such credits may not be used to satisfy the distribution requirements in the four fields.

If you have any questions about which classes you can use for your major, please contact one of our department advisors.

Students who declared a political science major before September 1, 2009 remain under the old (24 credit) rules. However, if students re-declare the major (as when declaring a second major or adding a minor), they will fall under the new (30 credit) rules. Students in such a situation may request a waiver from the department to remain under the old rules.

The international relations minor is an interdisciplinary course of study that explores large and vital questions about power, international organizations, security, war and peace, foreign policy, terrorism, international law, international finance, trae and development, human rights, migration, environmental issues, international crime, political systems from around the world. It incorporates classes from the Economics, History, Geography, Political Science, and Sociology departments.

The international relations minor helps to prepare students for careers in a wide variety of areas including the government, international organizations, journalism, advocacy organizations as well as graduate work. Students who have studied international relations at Hunter College have gone on to work in the US and foreign diplomatic corps and foreign ministries, graduated from top IR graduate programs, served in the military, and worked for multinational corporations and non-governmental organizations. 

Requirements (15 Credit Minor):

• Students are required to complete at least one course from Group A.
• Students should take at least one course from two of the other four categories (Group B-E).
• Students can take no more than three courses from one department.
• Students may not use more than  one 100-level course towards completion of the IR minor.
• No more than two courses from the major can be applied toward the IR minor.
• Students must take at least one 300 level course in the minor.

The Legal Studies minor is an interdisciplinary course of study that allows students to examine the role and development of law from different perspectives within a liberal arts curriculum. Legal studies students will be introduced to the study of judicial opinions, theories of law and legal interpretation, the structure and role of legal institutions, and the operation of law in history and everyday life.

Law is a central feature of political, social, and economic life. The legal studies minor will prepare students embarking on careers in government, business, or the non-profit sector to think broadly and critically about the nature of law. It will also be extremely helpful for any students planning to pursue graduate study focusing on law or legal institutions, in a wide variety of disciplines. The legal studies program  places an emphasis on developing students’ communication skills, interdisciplinary scholarship and a commitment to connect undergraduate education to advanced career opportunities. The core of the legal studies minor, though, is a commitment to the study of law within the liberal arts tradition.

While there are many ways for students to prepare successfully for law school, an advantage of the legal studies minor is its ability to help the college identify students planning to apply to law school, to ensure that these students receive guidance on the application process as early as possible, and to give them a solid foundation when they enter law school.

Requirements (15 Credit Minor):

• Students are required to complete at least one course from within each of the three categories below. Students can take no more than three courses from one department.
• No more than two courses from the student’s major can be applied toward the Legal Studies minor.
• Courses used to fulfill the Legal Studies minor may be used to meet any other degree requirements, including the political science major.
• Students should be aware that courses listed for this minor may have prerequisites within their home departments.

15 TOTAL CREDITS (at least 6 credits in political science, 6 credits in philosophy and at least 3 credits at the 30000 level)

CORE COURSES--Both Courses Required

• PHILO 10600 Philosophy, Politics and Society (or another 10000-level course, to be approved by the philosophy department)
• POLSC 20000 Interpreting Politics: An Introduction to Political Ideas (W)

Breadth Requirements

1 course in each of the 3 fields listed below:

History of Political Philosophy and Thought

• PHILO 38010 Plato (W)
• PHILO 38011 Aristotle (W)
• PHILO 38070 Hegel (W)
• PHILO 38076 Marx (W)
• PHILO 38086 Foucault (W)
• POLSC 20100 Ancient to Early Modern Political Thought (W)
• POLSC 20200 Modern Political Thought (1600-1900) (W)
• POLSC 20300 Political Thought Since 1900 (W)
• POLSC 209 Women and Gender in Western Political Thought (W)
• POLSC 30100 American Political Thought (W)

Basic Concepts and Themes

• PHILO 22600 African-American Philosophy (W)
• PHILO 23000 Feminist Philosophy (W)
• PHILO 24600 Political Philosophy (W)
• PHILO 24800 International Ethics (W)
• PHILO 25500 Environmental Philosophy (W)
• PHILO 31900 Marxist and Critical Theory (W)
• PHILO 34600 Contemporary Theories of Justice (W)
• PHILO 34800 Philosophy of Human Rights (W)
• PHILO 394XX Philosophical Problems (PHILO 39474 and 39475 only)
• POLSC 30200 Critical Theory and Politics (W)
• POLSC 30500 Democratic Theory (W)
• POLSC 30900 Feminist Political Theory (W)
• POLSC 31600 Political Theory of Human Rights (W)

Theoretical Dimensions of Contemporary Controversies

• PHILO 22600 African-American Philosphy (W)
• PHILO 23000 Feminist Philosophy (W)
• PHILO 25000 Problems of Ethics and Society (W)
• PHILO 25200 Problems of Law and Morality (W)
• PHILO 25500 Environmental Philosophy (W)
• PHILO 34600 Contemporary Theories of Justice (W)
• PHILO 34800 Philosophy of Human Rights (W)
• PHILO 39400 Philosophical Problems (PHILO 39475 only)
• POLSC 20400 Contemporary Issues in Political Theory
• POLSC 30300 Democracy and Emergency (W)
• POLSC 30400 Contemporary Issues in Political Theory
• POLSC 30500 Democratic Theory (W)
• POLSC 30900 Feminist Political Theory (W)
• POLSC 31600 Political Theory of Human Rights (W)

No more than 6 major credits can be counted toward the minor.