Duluth campus

This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.

 
Duluth Campus

Political Science B.A.

History, Political Science & International Studies
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Program Type: Baccalaureate
  • Requirements for this program are current for Fall 2015
  • Required credits to graduate with this degree: 120
  • Required credits within the major: 43
  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts
This program prepares students for careers in government and business, the study of law, and graduate study in political science, domestic and international public policy, and related fields. It offers general liberal education coursework, specialized coursework for students majoring in other disciplines, and a related field for graduate students. Students have considerable flexibility in designing their major to ensure it meets personal and professional interests. Up to two courses can be taken from the list of approved courses outside the department. Students should consult their department adviser to define the focus and coverage of their program and select courses in other disciplines, including second majors and minors. Students are encouraged to acquire collateral skills in areas such as statistics, computer applications, and foreign languages. At least 8 political science credits must be taken at UMD. Students interested in graduate study should begin planning in their junior year. Many programs expect proficiency in statistical analysis and/or a foreign language. Honors Requirements: Departmental honors in political science will be automatically granted to any student who is a political science major graduating with a grade point average of 3.80 or higher in political science courses taken at UMD or accepted for transfer to UMD. The average will be calculated using only political science courses.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
  • via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
Admission Requirements
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the Office of Admissions website.
Required prerequisites
Introductory Requirement (1 cr)
Transfer students with 24 or more credits and current UMD students who change colleges to CLA are exempt from this requirement. New first-year students with 24 or more PSEO credits may request to be waived from this requirement.
UST 1000 - Learning in Community (1.0-2.0 cr)
General Requirements
  1. Students must meet all course and credit requirements of the departments and colleges or schools in which they are enrolled including an advanced writing course. Students seeking two degrees must fulfill the requirements of both degrees. However, two degrees cannot be awarded for the same major.
  2. Students must complete all requirements of the Liberal Education Program or its approved equivalent.
  3. Students must complete a minimum of 120 semester credits completed in compliance with University of Minnesota Duluth academic policies with credit limits (e.g., Satisfactory/Non-Satisfactory Grading Policy, Credit for Prior Learning, etc).
  4. At least 30 semester credits must be earned through UMD, and 15 of the last 30 credits earned immediately before graduation must be awarded by UMD.
  5. At least half of upper-division (3xxx-level or higher) credits that satisfy major requirements (major requirements includes all courses required for the major, including courses in a subplan) through UMD.
  6. If a minor is required, students must take at least three upper division credits in their minor field from UMD.
  7. For certificate programs, at least 3 upper-division credits that satisfy requirements for the certificate must be taken through UMD. If the program does not require upper division credits students must take at least one course from the certificate program from UMD.
  8. The minimum cumulative University of Minnesota (UMN) GPA required for graduation is 2.00 and includes only University of Minnesota coursework. A minimum UMN GPA of 2.00 is required in each UMD undergraduate major, minor, and certificate. No academic unit may impose a higher GPA standard to graduate.
  9. Diploma, transcripts, licensure, and certification will be withheld until all financial obligations to the University have been met.
Program Requirements
1. A second field of study (either a minor or another major). 2. At least 8 political science credits must be taken at UMD.
Political Science Core (7 cr)
POL 1011 - American Government and Politics [LE CAT6, SOC SCI] (3.0 cr)
POL 4190 - Senior Seminar (4.0 cr)
Introductory Political Science Courses (9 cr)
NOTE: One attempt of POL 1800 is applicable towards the major. If the course is taken twice the additional credits will not apply to the major, but will apply to the overall degree. POL 2700 is the preferred course for methodology. Take 9 credits from the following: (Courses beyond the 9 credits will apply to the 'Additional Electives' area.)
POL 1xxx
or POL 2xxx
Upper Division Electives in Political Science (15 cr)
Take 15 credits from the following: (Courses beyond the 15 credits will apply to the 'Additional Electives' area.)
POL 3xxx
or POL 4xxx
Additional Electives (8 cr)
Take 2 to 3 courses totaling 8 or more credits. Additional POL 1xxx-4xxx level courses, two courses from the 'Electives From Outside the Department' course list, or courses across both areas will satisfy this requirement.
Take 0 - 3 course(s) from the following:
· POL 1xxx
· POL 2xxx
· POL 3xxx
· POL 4xxx
· Electives From Outside the Department (optional)
Take no more than 2 course(s) from the following:
· AMIN 3206 - Federal Indian Policy [LE CAT8, LECD CAT08, SOC SCI, CDIVERSITY] (3.0 cr)
· AMIN 3230 - American Indian Tribal Government and Law [SOC SCI, CDIVERSITY] (3.0 cr)
· AMIN 4230 - Introduction to Federal Indian Law [SOC SCI, CDIVERSITY] (3.0 cr)
· BLAW 2001 - The Legal Environment [LE CAT8, HUMANITIES] (3.0 cr)
· CRIM 3324 - Sociology of Criminal Law (3.0 cr)
· CRIM 3380 - Death Penalty (3.0 cr)
· ECON 2030 - Applied Statistics for Business and Economics [LOGIC & QR] (3.0 cr)
· ECON 4213 - Mathematical Economics (3.0 cr)
· ECON 3570 - Public Finance (3.0 cr)
· GEOG 4393 - Political Geography (3.0 cr)
· HIST 3265 - The Soviet Experiment: Russia, the USSR, and Contemporary Russia [LE CAT7, LEIP CAT07, GLOBAL PER] (4.0 cr)
· HIST 3243 - Europe in Crisis in the 20th Century (4.0 cr)
· HIST 3365 {Inactive} (4.0 cr)
· HIST 3386 - The United States and the World since 1898 (4.0 cr)
· HIST 3465 - Twentieth Century China Politics (4.0 cr)
· HIST 3615 - Modern Africa (4.0 cr)
· HIST 3616 {Inactive} (4.0 cr)
· HIST 3726 - Modern Middle East: 18th Century-Present [GLOBAL PER] (4.0 cr)
· INTS 4100 - Seminar in International Studies (4.0 cr)
· PHIL 3231 - Law and Punishment (4.0 cr)
· PHIL 3291 - Current Social Political Philosophy (4.0 cr)
· SOC 3155 - Quantitative Research Methods and Analysis (4.0 cr)
· SOC 3156 - Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis (4.0 cr)
· WS 3100 - Feminist Thought [HUMANITIES, CDIVERSITY] (4.0 cr)
· WS 3600 - Ecofeminism: Theories and Sustainable Practices [SUSTAIN] (3.0 cr)
· STAT option (one course applicable)
· STAT 1411 - Introduction to Statistics [LE CAT, LOGIC & QR] (3.0 cr)
or STAT 2411 - Statistical Methods [LE CAT, LOGIC & QR] (3.0 cr)
or STAT 3611 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics (4.0 cr)
or STAT 5411 - Analysis of Variance (3.0 cr)
or STAT 5511 - Regression Analysis (3.0 cr)
Advanced Writing Requirement (3 cr)
WRIT 31xx
 
More program views..
View college catalog(s):
· College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

View future requirement(s):
· Fall 2023
· Fall 2022
· Fall 2021
· Fall 2020
· Fall 2019
· Fall 2018
· Fall 2016

View sample plan(s):
· Political Science B.A.

View checkpoint chart:
· Political Science B.A.
View PDF Version:
Search.
Search Programs

Search University Catalogs
Related links.

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Duluth Admissions

Duluth Application

One Stop
for tuition, course registration, financial aid, academic calendars, and more
 
UST 1000 - Learning in Community
Credits: 1.0 -2.0 [max 2.0]
Course Equivalencies: EHS 1000/UST 1000/ ES 1000
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Facilitates the successful transition into college learning and student life at UMD. Credit will not be granted if already received for EHS 1000.
POL 1011 - American Government and Politics (LE CAT6, SOC SCI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Principles of American national government. Survey of American governmental system, structure, operations, and services; constitutionalism, federalism, civil liberties, parties, pressure groups, and elections.
POL 4190 - Senior Seminar
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Supervised research and writing in current areas or issues of politics and political science, subject matter varying with instructor. recommended prereq: 6 cr in relevant upper division political science courses prereq: instructor consent
AMIN 3206 - Federal Indian Policy (LE CAT8, LECD CAT08, SOC SCI, CDIVERSITY)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: AMIN 3206/TAG 3206
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Examination of the formulation, implementation, evolution, and comparison of Indian policy from pre-colonial to self-governance. Introduces students to the theoretical approaches structuring research of federal Indian policy, views, and attitudes of the policy-makers and reaction of indigenous nations. Discussion of the policies and the impact related to those policies. prereq: minimum 30 credits; this course previously titled: Indian-White Relations; credit will not be granted if already received for 3106.
AMIN 3230 - American Indian Tribal Government and Law (SOC SCI, CDIVERSITY)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: AMIN 3230/TAG 3230
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
American Indian tribal governments and leadership, historically and today, have aimed at the promotion and protection of the nation, overseen domestic and foreign affairs, and provided for the basic needs and desires of their citizens. This course provides students a general background of the history, development, structure, and politics associated with indigenous governments, analyzing how these institutions have been modified to meet ever-changing internal needs and external pressures. prereq: minimum 30 credits
AMIN 4230 - Introduction to Federal Indian Law (SOC SCI, CDIVERSITY)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: AMIN 4230/TAG 4230
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Federal Indian law has had a profound effect on our lives, liberties, and properties of indigenous peoples. At times, U.S. policy and Supreme Court ruling shave worked to protect aboriginal rights, while at other times they have had devastating consequences. This course examines the role of the U.S. Supreme Court as a policy-making institution in their dealings with Indigenous nations, requiring us to ask about the origins of federal judicial power and their application indigenous peoples. prereq: minimum 60 credits; credit will not be granted if already received for AMIN 3333
BLAW 2001 - The Legal Environment (LE CAT8, HUMANITIES)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Introduction to U.S. legal system and its impact on modern business operations. Ethical, economic, social, and political perspectives of legal environment. Constitutional law, administrative regulation, torts and products liability, contracts, business organizations, employment/labor law. prereq: Minimum 30 credits
CRIM 3324 - Sociology of Criminal Law
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Nature, goals, and problems in administration of the American criminal judicial process. prereq: 30 credits or instructor consent
CRIM 3380 - Death Penalty
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
This course provides students with a broad survey of the death penalty as a penal sanction and the controversies and issues which surround it. Key topical areas covered are history and foundations, legal landscape, execution and death penalty processes, contemporary issues including innocence, cost, discrimination and deterrence, and perspectives and voices surrounding the death penalty. prereq: 30 credits
ECON 2030 - Applied Statistics for Business and Economics (LOGIC & QR)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Introduction to modern business statistics, emphasizing problem solving applications through statistical decision making using case studies. Topics include organization and presentation of data, summary statistics, distributions, statistical inference including estimation, and hypothesis testing. prereq: minimum 30 credits, LSBE student, pre-business or pre-accounting or Econ BA major or Graphic Design and Marketing major or Graphic Design with Marketing subplan major or Econ minor or Accounting minor or Business Admin minor or Arts Administration; credit will not be granted if already received for Econ 2020, Stat 1411, Stat 2411, Stat 3611, Soc 3151, Psy 3020
ECON 4213 - Mathematical Economics
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer
Application of fundamentals of differential and integral calculus and linear algebra to static, comparative static, and dynamic topics in microeconomics and macroeconomics. prereq: 1022, 1023, Math 1160 or Math 1296
ECON 3570 - Public Finance
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer
Theory and practice of determining governmental expenditures and revenues, including consideration of public goods, welfare economics, raising of revenues, debt policy, and economic stabilization. prereq: 1022, 1023
GEOG 4393 - Political Geography
Credits: 3.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
This course examines the geography of social power from international geopolitics, to protest politics in public space, to theories of hetero-normativity and patriarchy. The central focus of this course is the spatial organization of politics, i.e., how people organize themselves into groups, and how those groups police themselves and vie with each other in various places and at multiple scales. prereq: Minimum 60 credits including or instructor consent
HIST 3265 - The Soviet Experiment: Russia, the USSR, and Contemporary Russia (LE CAT7, LEIP CAT07, GLOBAL PER)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer
This course will cover the economic, political, social and cultural changes within the Russian empire, the Soviet Union, and the Russian Federation over the course of the 20th century and into the 21st. Topics to be covered include the Russo-Japanese War, the revolutions of 1905 and 1917, Russian Civil War, Russia's industrialization and collectivization of land, Stalinism, the Great Patriotic War, the cold War, late Soviet culture, the collapse of the Soviet Union and Russian under Yeltsin and Putin. Throughout the semester, students will be working with a variety of primary and secondary sources in different media (textual materials, visual sources, and film). Thorough written and oral assignment, student will develop their critical reading, writing and speaking skills. Credit will not be granted if already received for HIST 2265 or 2365.
HIST 3243 - Europe in Crisis in the 20th Century
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
This course focuses on the turbulent history of Europe in the 20th century, particularly the causes, development, and consequences of the First and Second World Wars. It will explore the world wars as global phenomena and consider the ways in which these events have shaped contemporary geopolitics and the international world order. The course will address the political, military, cultural, economic and social transformations that characterized this period and influence our society today.
HIST 3386 - The United States and the World since 1898
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Examines United States foreign relations--political, economic, social, and cultural--since 1898. prereq: students will receive credit if 3384 (only) or 3385 (only) were taken; credit will not be granted if already received for 3384 and 3385.
HIST 3465 - Twentieth Century China Politics
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Examines Chinese history from the late Qing to the present with a particular attention on the Chinese political, legal, social, and diplomatic history. Teaches the various factors that gradually influenced the historical course of China, the important roles that the West and Japan played in shaping modern China, the causes and consequences of the numerous political movements in the early stage of the People's Republic of China, and China's recent massive reform efforts to prosperity.
HIST 3615 - Modern Africa
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Africa, 1800 to present. Colonial conquest and domination, African resistance, nationalism, and problems of independence. prereq: credit will not be granted if already received for HIST 3515
HIST 3726 - Modern Middle East: 18th Century-Present (GLOBAL PER)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
This course examines developments of politics, religion, culture in the contemporary Middle East from the eighteenth century to the present. Topics include contacts with the west, connections between modernity, democracy and Islam; gender; national identity; globalization and societal transformation in the urban Middle East.
INTS 4100 - Seminar in International Studies
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Analysis of and supervised research and writing on selected topics. prereq: Pol 1050, 60 credits including 8 upper division credits approved IntS courses and instructor consent
PHIL 3231 - Law and Punishment
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Nature of law, natural law theory, and legal positivism and their relationship to traditional and contemporary theories of punishment; deterrence, reform, retribution, rehabilitation, social defense, restitution. prereq: 1001 or SOC 1301 or CRIM 1301
PHIL 3291 - Current Social Political Philosophy
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Detailed philosophical analysis of recent writings about social and political concepts such as freedom, democracy, socialism, communism, fascism, and anarchy. prereq: 1001 or 1003 or instructor consent
SOC 3155 - Quantitative Research Methods and Analysis
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Descriptive statistics. Measures of central tendency, deviation, association. Inferential statistics focusing on probability and hypothesis testing. T-tests, Chi-square tests, analysis of variance, measures of association, introduction to statistical control. Statistical software (SPSS) used to analyze sociological data. Lab. prereq: 2155, crim major or soc major or URS major, min 30 cr
SOC 3156 - Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Application of qualitative research methods to study of social structures. Emphasizes field techniques, secondary data analysis, and interpretation. Lab prereq: (2155 or anth major or urs major or cst minor), at least 60 cr or instructor consent
WS 3100 - Feminist Thought (HUMANITIES, CDIVERSITY)
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Examination and analysis of central ideas and concepts within diverse feminist theories - liberal, socialist, radical, multicultural, postcolonial, ecofeminist, lesbian, maternalist, and others - historical and contemporary. Theoretical debates surrounding issues of the bases of women's liberation and oppression; the nature and construction of gender, sexuality, and the body; feminist epistemologies; and ethical issues within feminism. prereq: 1000 or 2101, 45 cr or instructor consent
WS 3600 - Ecofeminism: Theories and Sustainable Practices (SUSTAIN)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Spring Even Year
In-depth study of ecofeminist theories that explore the interlocking oppressions of women, the earth/nature/other animals, and colonized Others. Scientific, economic, religious, philosophical issues examined. Applied ecofeminist analysis of individual, local, regional, national and transnational ethical, social and environmental issues, such as food and farming, animals, toxins, birthing and reproductive technologies, water quality, and privatization, etc. prereq: 1000 or 2101 or instructor consent
STAT 1411 - Introduction to Statistics (LE CAT, LOGIC & QR)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Statistical ideas involved in gathering, describing, and analyzing observational and experimental data. Experimental design, descriptive statistics, correlation and regression, probabilistic models, sampling, and statistical inference. prereq: Math ACT 21 or higher or a grade of at least C- in MATH 0103 or department approval
STAT 2411 - Statistical Methods (LE CAT, LOGIC & QR)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Graphical and numerical descriptions of data, elementary probability, sampling distributions, estimations, confidence intervals, one-sample and two-sample t-test. prereq: Math ACT 24 or higher or a grade of at least C- in Math 1005 or higher or department approval
STAT 3611 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Basic probability, including combinatorial methods, random variables, mathematical expectation. Binomial, normal, and other standard distributions. Moment-generating functions. Basic statistics, including descriptive statistics and sampling distributions. Estimation and statistical hypothesis testing. prereq: A grade of at least C- in Math 1290 or Math 1296
STAT 5411 - Analysis of Variance
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Analysis of variance techniques as applied to scientific experiments and studies. Randomized block designs, factorial designs, nesting. Checking model assumptions. Using statistical computer software. prereq: 3411 or 3611; a grade of C- or better is required in all prerequisite courses
STAT 5511 - Regression Analysis
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Simple, polynomial, and multiple regression. Matrix formulation of estimation, testing, and prediction in linear regression model. Analysis of residuals, model selection, transformations, and use of computer software. prereq: 3611, Math 3280 or Math 4326, a grade of C- or better in is required in all prerequisite courses