Major Requirements – Political Science and International Relations

View Major Requirements for the class of 2024 and succeeding years.

View Major Requirement for the class of 2023.

Requirements for the Political Science and International Relations major

75 credits, including:

1. Core Courses (18 credits):

Majors must complete three of the following core courses preferably prior to their senior year. These courses cannot be substituted with any other courses at Carleton or elsewhere:

POSC 120: Democracy and Dictatorship
POSC 122: Politics in America: Liberty and Equality
POSC 160: Political Philosophy
POSC 170: International Relations and World Politics

2. Methods Sequence (15 credits):

One course (6 credits) of introductory statistics or equivalent preparation, including:

STAT 120: Introduction to Statistics Introduction to Statistics·
STAT 230: Applied Regression Analysis Applied Regression Analysis·
STAT 250: Introduction to Statistical Inference Introduction to Statistical Inference·
PSYC 200: Measurement and Data Analysis in Psychology/201 Measurement and Data Analysis
SOAN 239 (not offered 2024-25) Social Statistics·
Or AP Statistics score of 4 or 5 (see below)

The introductory statistics course (or equivalent) may be taken on an S/CR/NC basis. Other courses may be accepted for this requirement with the approval of the chair. Students who use AP Statistics score of 4 or 5 for the placement must take an additional elective in the department (i.e., 42 elective credits, not 36) to meet the required 75 credits for the major. It is recommended, but not required, to replace that 6 credits with POSC 232: PS Lab: Intelligence Methods for National Security when available. Otherwise, choose one 6 credit elective course from the list of approved elective courses.

POSC 230: Methods of Political Research Methods of Political Research (6 credits). This course should be taken as soon as possible after declaring a major, but not simultaneously with the stats class listed above. This course cannot be substituted with any other method course at Carleton or elsewhere.

POSC 232: PS Lab: Intelligence Methods for National Security Methods (3 credits) from a list of courses offered in the department. Methods courses of 3 credits or more in other departments may be substituted with prior approval from the chair.

POSC 232: PS Lab: Intelligence Methods for National Security
POSC 232: PS Lab: Intelligence Methods for National Security
POSC 232: PS Lab: Intelligence Methods for National Security
POSC 232: PS Lab: Intelligence Methods for National Security
POSC 232: PS Lab: Intelligence Methods for National Security
POSC 232: PS Lab: Intelligence Methods for National Security

3. Elective Courses (36 credits):

At least two courses (12 credits) must be at the 300-level. The department recommends that majors take at least one seminar course during the junior year.
Students may count the fourth 100-level core course (6 credits) as one of their electives.
A maximum of 12 credits earned outside of the department may be applied towards the total number of electives. These non-department credits may consist of: (a) approved courses in other Carleton departments; (b) from non-Carleton OCS programs; or (c) from non-Carleton post-matriculation courses. Non-departmental courses may not be used to replace 300-level seminars, and should be distinct and independent from courses offered by the department. Application of non-Carleton OCS courses and other post-matriculation courses require approval from the chair. The chair may require a copy of the course syllabus for off-campus and other post-matriculation courses.
Students may count up to six credits of POSC 394: Directed Research in Political Science Collaborative Research course as elective credit. Those credits must be taken on a graded basis. Students may take additional POSC 394: Directed Research in Political Science credits without those credits counting as electives in the major. This POSC 394: Directed Research in Political Science course is not a regular course and offered by individual faculty members at their discretion.

Elective Courses:

4. POSC 400 (not offered 2024-25) – Integrative Exercise (6 credits):

During their senior year, students will revise substantially the final paper from an advanced seminar in Political Science.

5. Study Abroad

A maximum of 12 credits earned on a non-Carleton and non-departmental within Carleton off campus studies program may be granted toward the electives requirement. These credits may not be used to replace a core course and should be distinct and independent from electives offered at Carleton. The chair may require a copy of the off-campus course syllabus.