Degree Requirements - 126 credits
Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science degree with this major
Political Science Major Requirements: 11 courses, 41 credits
Core Requirements (5 courses, 17 credits)
| POLS-110 | Introduction to American Politics | 4 |
| POLS-H110 | Honors Introduction to American Politics | 4 |
| POLS-120 | Research Methodology for Political Science | 4 |
| POLS-181 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 4 |
| POLS-H181 | Honors Introduction to Comparative Politics | 4 |
| POLS-201 | Data Analysis and Politics | 4 |
| POLS-501 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
Students in the Honors Program have the option of completing the Honors version of a course.
Concentration Requirement (6 courses, 24 credits)
Choose one of the following areas of concentration:
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American Politics
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Public Policy and Law
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Political Theory
Residency Requirement Policy: In the College of Arts and Sciences, a two-course (8 credit) residency requirement must be satisfied for completion of a minor and a four-course (16 credit) residency requirement must be satisfied for the completion of a major.
About the Political Science Major
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.
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Concentrations
American Politics Concentration: 6 courses, 24 credits
Core Requirements (3 course, 12 credits)
| POLS-223 | American Politics and Institutions | 4 |
| POLS-224 | Getting on the Agenda: Public Policy Processes and Procedures | 4 |
| POLS-345 | Public Policy Writing | 4 |
Electives (3 courses, 12 credits)
Choose three POLS electives (12 credits), including internship options. Students are strongly encouraged, in consultation with their advisors, to select courses that provide a broad and balanced knowledge of American Politics. No more than one internship course may be used to fulfill the major.
Internship Courses:
| POLS-521 | Internship in Political Science and Legal Studies | 4 |
| POLS-523 | Washington Internship | 12 |
| POLS-H523 | Honors Washington Internship | 12 |
| POLS-524 | Washington Internship-Summer | 8 |
| POLS-H524 | Honors Washington Internship Summer | 8 |
| POLS-525 | Washington Internship Seminar | 4 |
| POLS-H525 | Honors Washington Internship Seminar | 4 |
| POLS-534 | Experiential Learning in Political Science | 12 |
| POLS-H534 | Honor Experiental Learning in Government | 12 |
| POLS-220 | Constitutional Law: Institutions, Power Structures and Federalism | 4 |
Credits earned in excess of the major elective credit requirement count toward a student’s overall credit requirement for the degree.
Public Policy and Law Concentration: 6 courses, 24 credits
Core Requirements (4 course, 16 credits)
| POLS-224 | Getting on the Agenda: Public Policy Processes and Procedures | 4 |
| POLS-225 | U.S. Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties | 4 |
| POLS-245 | Courts, Public Policy, and Legal Research | 4 |
| POLS-H245 | Honors Courts, Public Policy and Legal Research | 4 |
| POLS-345 | Public Policy Writing | 4 |
Students in the Honors Program have the option of completing the Honors version of a course.
Electives (2 courses, 8 credits)
Choose two POLS electives (8 credits), including internship options. Students are strongly encouraged, in consultation with their advisors, to select courses that provide a broad and balanced knowledge of Public Policy and Law. No more than one internship course may be used to fulfill the major.
Internship courses:
| POLS-521 | Internship in Political Science and Legal Studies | 4 |
| POLS-523 | Washington Internship | 12 |
| POLS-H523 | Honors Washington Internship | 12 |
| POLS-524 | Washington Internship-Summer | 8 |
| POLS-H524 | Honors Washington Internship Summer | 8 |
| POLS-525 | Washington Internship Seminar | 4 |
| POLS-H525 | Honors Washington Internship Seminar | 4 |
| POLS-534 | Experiential Learning in Political Science | 12 |
| POLS-H534 | Honor Experiental Learning in Government | 12 |
| POLS-220 | Constitutional Law: Institutions, Power Structures and Federalism | 4 |
Credits earned in excess of the major elective credit requirement count toward a student’s overall credit requirement for the degree.
Political Theory Concentration: 6 courses, 24 credits
Core Requirements (2 courses, 8 credits)
Electives (4 courses, 16 credits)
Choose four of the following:
Note: Students are strongly encouraged, in consultation with their advisors, to select courses that provide a broad and balanced knowledge of Political Theory.
Students in the Honors Program have the option of completing the Honors version of a course.
About the Political Science Major
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.
View the Program Page
Political Science Major Learning Goals and Objectives
Learning goals and objectives reflect the educational outcomes achieved by students through the completion of this program. These transferable skills prepare Suffolk students for success in the workplace, in graduate school, and in their local and global communities.
| Learning Goals |
Learning Objectives |
| Students will... |
Students will be able to... |
| Develop skills in using social science research methods to analyze social and political issues |
- Conduct research in the field of political science
- Perform data analysis
- Critically evaluate political science analytically
- Clearly interpret and communicate, both in written and oral form, the results of the analysis |
| Acquire broad background knowledge in the field of political science through study of one of three sub-fields |
- Define political science as a discipline
- Use a knowledge base of political science concepts to analyze public policy programs |
| Become informed, engaged citizens |
- Connect classroom learning with the experience of working in government, politics, or public affairs
- Develop capacity to think critically about local, state, national, and global politics |
About the Political Science Major
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.
View the Program Page
Honors
Honors in the Major is a highly selective opportunity to complete a signature original project or thesis with the close personalized mentorship of a departmental faculty member beginning in the junior year. Students have the opportunity to complete a junior level interdisciplinary course addressing real-world problems. In the senior year, students present research or creative works completed in their discipline at the Honors in the Major Symposium. There is special recognition at Commencement and on the Suffolk transcript.
About the Political Science Major
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.
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Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's in Applied Politics or Global Public Policy
Degree Requirements
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Students admitted to this dual degree program must meet all the requirements of the undergraduate Political Science (BA or BS) or International Relations (BA only) major offered by the department of Political Science & Legal Studies.
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Students must also meet all requirements for the Master’s degree in Applied Politics (MAAP) or Global Public Policy (MAGPP).
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Students will take two Political Science graduate courses during their senior year; one during the fall semester and one during the spring semester. The two graduate courses taken during the senior year will count toward BOTH the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. Credit hours will be awarded based on the graduate course description.
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The graduate courses taken during the senior year will be determined by the Political Science graduate program director.
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Students are subject to the usual standards for academic standing, i.e., undergraduate standards for undergraduate courses and graduate standards for graduate courses.
Upon successful completion of all of the degree requirements, a student will receive a dual Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. The exact degree will be awarded based on the specific undergraduate program the student completes. A student may permanently exit the dual degree program and opt to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree if all the requirements for a Bachelor’s degree have been met. In this case, the graduate courses taken in the senior year will be counted as 4-credit courses applied toward the undergraduate degree requirements.
About the Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's in Applied Politics or Global Public Policy Degree
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this accelerated bachelor's/master's degree.
View the Program Page