Political Science is the study of justice and authority, peace and conflict, public policies and elections, government and law, democracy and autocracy, freedom and oppression.  More than any other social science, Political Science uses a wide variety of approaches to explain political phenomena and to evaluate the actions of polities and leaders. The Political Science major develops reading, writing, and thinking skills necessary for a critical understanding of the political world.  The major prepares students to go on to public policy or law schools as well as to graduate work in Political Science. Majors in the department have pursued careers worldwide in public service, journalism, advocacy, law, and education, to name a few.

Major Requirements

Students who wish to declare Political Science as a major should contact the Political Science Chair.  The department will attempt to respect requests for a particular advisor, but, because of the need to distribute advisees evenly among the faculty, cannot guarantee particular requests.

All Haverford Political Science courses count toward the Bryn Mawr major (the same is generally true for courses at Swarthmore and Penn).  Majors in the Bryn Mawr department must take at least four (for 2019-20: three) of their major courses here, in addition to 399.

The study of politics covers a wide ground, and the Political Science major is designed to give students an opportunity to focus their study while also attending to questions, issues, and problems that run through the study of politics more generally, and that connect the study of politics to other disciplines. We have organized the major along the lines of four general themes as well as according to traditional subfields

• Identity and Difference
• Policy Formation and Political Action
• Interdependence and Conflict
• Political and Legal Theory
• American Politics
• Comparative Politics
• International Politics
• Law and Policy

The Political Science major consists of a minimum of 10 courses: 

• Two introductory-level courses, which prospective majors should complete by the end of their sophomore year, from this list: 121, 123 (at HC), 131, 141, 143 (at HC), 151 (at HC), 228, 245 and 231.  These courses may be taken in any order. 
• Two concentrations, at least one of which should be from either the general themes or the traditional subfields listed above.  The second concentration is normally also chosen from those categories, but it can be based on a more substantive focus (e.g. gender, environmental politics, or the politics of a particular region), to be determined in consultation with the student's advisor.  Each concentration consists of three courses, at least one of which must be at the 300 level and all of which must be either at the 200 or 300 level. The specific courses required to satisfy the concentration will be determined as part of a major work plan by the student and her advisor. 
• One course with explicit attention to research in Political Science. This course should treat different approaches to political research, staged writing and revision of a research project, and culminate with a research project (a research design or research essay). The following regularly offered courses at Bryn Mawr and Haverford can fulfill this requirement. Other courses can be designated as Research Attentive or approved by the department chair. POLS 233 (Intro to Research Design and Data Analysis), POLS H277 (Quantitative Methods), POLS 310 (Comparative Public Policy), POLS 339 (Bureaucracy & Democracy in America), POLS 391 (International Political Economy), POLS 367 (China and the World), POLS 371 (Topics in Political Philosophy), POLS 382 (Comparative Political Parties). 
• (The research attentive course requirement is only in effect for majors declaring in AY 2024-2025 and after. Students already declared need only take an additional 300-level course.) 
• Senior Essay (399), to be taken in the spring semester of the senior year. 
• At least four courses, in addition to POLS 399, must be taken in the Bryn Mawr Political Science Department.  

Senior Capstone

The senior project in Political Science can take one of two forms. All students can choose to write Senior Field Essays. With faculty approval and a well-constructed project, students can instead choose to write a senior thesis. Students on both paths will have an oral “defense” at the end of the spring semester.

Senior Field Essays

The Senior Field Essays consist of two essays (approximately 12-15 pages each) on two topics or themes that the student has studied during their time at Bryn Mawr. These essays are an opportunity to reflect on topics/themes of the students’ own choosing, and are intended to draw on, and extend and/or integrate ideas from various courses that the student has taken. Generally, the topics of the essays should reflect their two concentrations and the courses taken within each; the precise topic of each essay will be determined by the student in consultation with a senior essay advisor. Each essay should discuss approximately 5-7 relevant works (books and/or articles), although a higher or lower number (or a specific balance between books and articles) may be determined in consultation with the faculty advisor. The precise number of works considered may vary depending on the topic and will be determined in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor.

Students attend a fall meeting to discuss the general requirements for the essays, and submit a proposal for the topics of the two essays at about the 10th week of the fall semester. (The exact date is announced at the fall meeting). Students are assigned an advisor who meets with the student at the end of fall semester or beginning of spring semester. Students meet regularly with their advisors through the spring semester to discuss their work-in-progress. The first essay is submitted before spring break. The second essay is submitted by the last day of spring classes.

Senior Thesis

Students who are interested in the possibility of writing a thesis and who have a clearly defined thesis topic should discuss their prospective thesis with a member of the Political Science faculty during the fall semester prior to fall break. The faculty member and the student will discuss the appropriateness of doing a thesis in lieu of the Field Essays. With the approval of the faculty member, the student will submit a detailed thesis proposal in lieu of the Field Essay proposals, due around the 10th week of fall semester. Students writing a thesis are assigned a thesis advisor with whom the student meets regularly during the spring term.

Senior Orals

During finals weeks of the spring semester, senior Political Science majors will meet with their advisor and a second faculty reader to discuss their completed field essays or thesis. This is an opportunity for the student to answer questions about, and elaborate on, their senior projects.

Major Credit for Courses Outside the  Political Science Department

Up to three courses from departments other than Political  Science may be accepted for major credit, if in the judgment of the department  these courses are an integral part of a student’s major plan. Decisions as to which outside courses count for Political Science major credit are made by the faculty on a case by case basis.  When in doubt, students should consult their major advisor or the department chair. Ordinarily, 100-level courses taken in other departments may not be counted for major  credit in Political Science.

We encourage students to spend a semester abroad during their junior year.  We generally count one course taken abroad for credit toward the major.  Courses taken abroad count at the 200 level only.

Praxis Courses for Major Credit 

Praxis courses can count within the Political Science major at the 200-level, pending approval by a major’s Political Science advisor. In order to count, Praxis courses need to involve attention to or involvement with political phenomena and include some research component (formalized through a poster, written document, or other form). 

Writing Intensive and Writing Attentive Courses

Students are required to take at least one writing intensive course or two writing attentive courses in their major.  Political Science generally offers one writing intensive course annually.  In addition, a number of 300-level courses that count as writing attentive will be offered annually.

Honors

Students who have done distinguished work in their courses in the major and who write outstanding senior capstones will be considered for departmental honors.

Minor Requirements

A minor in Political Science consists of six courses distributed across a minimum of two fields. At least four of these courses must be at the 200 level or higher, and at least two of them must be at the 300 level. At least three of the courses must be taken from the Bryn Mawr Department of Political Science course offerings.

The fields are:

• Identity and Difference
• Policy Formation and Political Action
• Interdependence and Conflict
• Political and Legal Theory
• American Politics
• Comparative Politics
• International Politics
• Law and Policy

Course Designations

Almost every course offered in the Political Science Departments at Bryn Mawr and Haverford will count for at least one of the fields of concentration, and some may count for more than one (no single course, however, may be counted as part of more than one field of concentration). Many courses offered at Swarthmore and Penn will also count toward these. Because new courses are often being created, the following is not an exhaustive list; students should consult their advisor for information on classifying any courses that do not appear on here.

Identity and Difference

Course List

Code	Title	Units
POLS B131	Introduction to Comparative Politics	1
POLS B205	European Politics: Coming Together or Falling Apart?	1
POLS B206	Conflict & Conflict Management	1
POLS B220	Constitutional Law	1
POLS B221	Gender and Comparative Politics	1
POLS B228	Living Justly in an Unkind World	1
POLS B229	Politics of Women's Empowerment	1
POLS B231	Introduction to Political Philosophy: Modern	1
POLS B242	Gender and International Organizations	1
POLS B245	Philosophy of Law	1
POLS B266	Virtue, Friendship, and Democratic Practice	1
POLS B283	Middle East Politics	1
POLS B304	Community and the Politics of Places	1
POLS H320	Democracy in America	1
POLS B345	Big Data, Big Impact, Big Responsibilities: Fundamentals and Ethics of Data Science	1
POLS B348	Culture and Ethnic Conflict Identity and Conflict	1
POLS B352	Peace Studies in International Politics	1
POLS B354	Comparative Social Movements
POLS B367	China and the World: Implications of China's Rise	1
POLS B375	Perspectives on Work, and Family in the U.S.	1
POLS H379	Feminist Political Theory	1
POLS B382	Political Parties, Polarization and Democracy	1
POLS B391	International Political Economy	1

Policy Formation and Political Action

Course List

Code	Title	Units
POLS B121	Introduction to U.S. Politics	1
POLS B131	Introduction to Comparative Politics	1
POLS B205	European Politics: Coming Together or Falling Apart?	1
POLS B222	Introduction to Environmental Issues: Policy Making in Comparative Perspective	1
POLS B224	Comparative Political Phil: China, Greece, and the "West"	1
POLS B228	Living Justly in an Unkind World	1
POLS H237	Latin American Politics	1
POLS B242	Gender and International Organizations	1
POLS B249	Politics of Economic Development	1
POLS B310	Comparative Public Policy	1
POLS H314	Strategic Advocacy: Lobbying & Interest Group Politics in Washington, D.C.	1
POLS H315	Public Policy Analysis	1
POLS H320	Democracy in America	1
POLS H32	Grassroots Politics in Philadelphia	1
POLS B333	Transformations in American Politics: late 20th-early 21st century	1
POLS H334	Politics of Violence	1
POLS B345	Big Data, Big Impact, Big Responsibilities: Fundamentals and Ethics of Data Science	1
POLS B352	Peace Studies in International Politics	1
POLS B354	Comparative Social Movements: Power, Protest, and Mobilization	1
POLS B375	Perspectives on Work and Family in the U.S.	1
POLS B378	Origins of American Constitutionalism	1
POLS B382	Political Parties, Polarization and Democracy	1
POLS B393	US Welfare Politics: Theory and Practice	1

Independence and Conflict

Course List

Code	Title	Units
POLS B205	European Politics: Coming Together or Falling Apart?	1
POLS B206	Conflict & Conflict Management	1
POLS B211	Politics of Humanitarianism	1
POLS B233	Intro to Research Design and Data Analysis for PoliSci	1
POLS B242	Gender and International Organizations	1
POLS B249	Politics of Economic Development	1
POLS B256	Global Politics of Climate Change	1
POLS H261	Global Civil Society	1
POLS B26	Politics of Commodities	1
POLS B278	Oil, Politics, Society, and Economy	1
POLS B283	Middle East Politics	1
POLS B287	Media and Politics: The Middle East Transformed	1
POLS B316	Ethnic Group Politics—Identity and Conflict	1
POLS B348	Culture and Ethnic Conflict Identity and Conflict	1
POLS H350	Topics in International Politics	1
POLS B352	Peace Studies in International Politics	1
POLS B357	International Relations Theory: Conflict and the Middle East	1
POLS B358	Freedom in the 21st Century	1
POLS B367	China and the World: Implications of China's Rise	1
POLS B361	On The Human Condition: The Political Thinking of Hannah Are	1
POLS B378	Origins of American Constitutionalism	1
POLS B379	The United Nations and World Order	1
POLS B382	Political Parties, Polarization and Democracy	1
POLS B391	International Political Economy	1
POLS B392	State in Theory and History	1

Political Theory

Course List

Code	Title	Units
POLS B228	Living Justly in an Unkind World	1
POLS B231	Introduction to Political Philosophy: Modern	1
POLS B241	The Politics of International Law and Institutions	1
POLS B245	Philosophy of Law	1
POLS B266	Virtue, Friendship, and Democratic Practice	1
POLS B272	The Power of the People: Democratic Revolutions	1
POLS B277	Creating Queer Studies	1
POLS B304	Community and the Politics of Places	1
POLS B320	Greek Political Philosophy	1
POLS B327	Political Philosophy in the 20th Century	1
POLS B358	Freedom in the 21st Century	1
POLS B361	On The Human Condition: The Political Thinking of Hannah Are	1
POLS B371	Topics in Political Philosophy	1
POLS B378	Origins of American Constitutionalism	1
POLS H379	Feminist Political Theory	1
POLS B381	Nietzsche	1