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The Faculty

Chair:  David R. Jones 

 Professors:

  • Mitchell S. Cohen
  • Alan DiGaetano
  • Thomas Halper
  • David R. Jones

Associate Professors:

  • Louis Bolce
  • Gerald D. De Maio
  • Benedetto Fontana
  • Stephanie R. Golob
  • Susan Tenenbaum

Assistant Professors:

  • Els de Graauw
  • Myung-Koo Kang
  • Roseanne McManus
  • Till Weber

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Field Description

Our lives, our communities, and our world are to a considerable degree shaped by political events. Political science provides students with an understanding of the multifaceted ideas, structures, and processes of politics in the United States and abroad. Courses are designed to accomplish three principal objectives: to help the student acquire and establish habits of critical and creative thinking about public issues; to enlarge and broaden the students understanding of significant data, major ideas, and activities regarding politics; and to prepare students for careers in law, government, journalism, and education.

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The Major

In order to officially become a major in Political Science, students must come in person to the Politcal Science Department (NVC 5-280) to fill out our major declaration form and have it approved by the chair.

The Political Science major is unusually flexible. Students are required to take American Government (

POL 1101
), a capstone seminar (
POL 4900
), plus seven other political science courses, representing at least four of the six subfields outlined below. At least two electives must be at the 3000-level.

In addition to our field-specific courses, students can also receive elective credit for Independent Study projects (

POL 5000
) or Honors Thesis projects (
POL 6001H
,
POL 6002H
).

Important Advisory Regarding Capstones: Students must complete at least two 3000-level courses in Political Science BEFORE they are eligible to register for the capstone (

POL 4900
). Political Science does NOT offer any capstone courses in summer or winter sessions.

Base Course
American Government: Practices and Values
Required Course
POL 4900
Political Science Capstone Seminar
Electives                                             21 credits

Students are to select 21 credits from among all the courses offered by the department, with at least one course from four of the six areas listed below. At least two electives must be at the 3000-level. Students can also receive elective credit for independent study projects (

POL 5000
), or honors thesis projects (
POL 6001H
,
POL 6002H
).

American Government and Political Institutions

The United States in an Age of Globalization
Religion and Politics in the United States (
HIS 3008
,
REL 3008
)
Political Psychology (
PSY 3101
)
American Conservatism: Origins, Development, and Contemporary Controversies (
HIS 3102
)
Public Opinion
Political Parties and Elections
Congress and the Legislative Process
Constitutional Law
Civil Liberties
The Presidency
Immigration and Integration in the United States
Political Socialization
Case Studies in American Government
Comparative Politics
Introduction to Comparative Government
Modern Middle East and North Africa (
HIS 3086
)
Politics of the Third World
Comparative Politics in Selected Areas of the World
European Political Systems
Latin American and Caribbean Political Systems
Asian Political Systems
African Political Systems
Comparative Revolutions
Communist Political Systems
Making of Modern India (
AAS 3842
), (
HIS 3842
)
International Politics
Introduction to International Relations
International Relations in the Middle East
American Foreign Policy
International Relations in Selected Areas of the World
The United Nations in World Politics
Contemporary International Conflict
The Rise of Asia in World Affairs (
AAS 3346
), (
HIS 3346
)
POL 3347

Seminar on Political Globalization

Political Theory and Methodology
American Political Thought

Political Sociology (

SOC 3062
)

Topics in Politics and Literature (
ENG 3201
)
Political and Administrative Research
Political Behavior
American Radicalism
Early Political Theory
Modern Political Theory
Contemporary Political Ideologies
Political Analysis
Public Policy
Public Policy
Women: Politics and Policy
Social Welfare Policy (
HIS 3005
)
Political Economy
Government and the American Economy
The Politics of Energy and the Environment
Field Work in Government and Politics
Urban Politics
State and Local Government
Urban Government
Politics and Government of New York City
Urban Public Policy

 

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Honors Thesis in Political Science

The Honors Thesis is a two-semester sequence (

POL 6001H
,
POL 6002H
) that offers students of superior academic achievement the opportunity to work individually with a professor on a major research project in Political Science. This project involves in-depth and original research of an empirical and/or theoretical question in the field. The degree "with honors" is conferred upon acceptances of the honors project by the Committee on Undergraduate Honors. the six credits earned from completing a thesis will be accepted as part of the 24 credit major.  

Prerequisites:

  • 3.5 GPA in Political Science and also a 3.5 cumulative GPA
  • Complete a minimum of four courses in Political Science, including at least two at the 3000-level or above
  • Submit an application and prospectus that has been approved by the prospective faculty mentor, the Chair of Political Science (Dr. David Jones), and the Chair of the Committee of Undergraduate Honors (Dr. Frank Heiland). The deadline for the prospectus is April 1 for a student who wishes to begin the thesis in the Fall semester, and November 1 for a tudent who wishes to begin the thesis in the Spring semester.
  • Students do NOT have to be enrolled in the Honors Program to write an honors thesis.

For more information, please visit the Honors Thesis in Political Science website

 

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The Minor

In order to officially become a minor in Political Science, students must fill out a minor declaration form. The department strongly recommends that you come in person to the Political Science Department (VC 5-280) for advisement on filling out the minor form, and how to successfully complete our minor. The Political Science minor is very flexible. Students can take any two 3000-level courses, and then a capstone seminar. (

POL 4900
).

Important Advisory Regarding Capstones: Students must complete at least two 3000-level courses in Political Science BEFORE they are eligible to register for the capstone (
POL 4900
). Political Science does NOT offer capstone course in summer or winter sessions.

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Courses in Political Science

Important Note: A number of the courses listed below are not offered every semester. Please consult CUNYfirst for the information on what courses are currently being offered. 

American Government: Practices and Values

3 hours; 3 credits

The United States in an Age of Globalization

3 hours; 3 credits

State and Local Government

3 hours; 3 credits

Introduction to International Relations

3 hours; 3 credits

Introduction to Comparative Government

3 hours; 3 credits

The Great Political Debates: The Individual and Society

3 hours; 3 credits

Urban Government

3 hours; 3 credits

American Political Thought

3 hours; 3 credits

Public Policy

3 hours; 3 credits

Women: Politics and Policy

3 hours; 3 credits

Social Welfare Policy (

HIS 3005
)

3 hours; 3 credits

Religion And Politics In The United States (

HIS 3008
),
REL 3008
)

3 hours; 3 credits

Political Sociology (

SOC 3062
)

3 hours; 3 credits

The Modern Middle East and North Africa (

HIS 3086
)

3 hours; 3 credits

Political Psychology (

PSY 3101
)

3 hours; 3 credits

American Conservatism: Origins, Development, And Contemporary Controversies (

HIS 3102
)

3 hours; 3 credits

Political Economy

3 hours; 3 credits

The Politics of the Third World

3 hours; 3 credits

Topics in Politics and Literature (

ENG 3201
)

3 hours; 3 credits

Political and Administrative Research

3 hours; 3 credits

Political Opinion

3 hours; 3 credits

Political Parties and Elections

3 hours; 3 credits

Congress and the Legislative Process

3 hours; 3 credits

Constitutional Law

3 hours; 3 credits

Civil Liberties

3 hours; 3 credits

Government and the American Economy

3 hours; 3 credits

The Presidency

3 hours; 3 credits

The Politics of Energy and the Environment

3 hours; 3 credits

Immigration and Integration in the United States

3 hours; 3 credits

Politics and Government of New York City

3 hours; 3 credits

Political Behavior

3 hours; 3 credits

American Radicalism

3 hours; 3 credits

Early Political Theory

3 hours; 3 credits

Modern Political Theory

3 hours; 3 credits

Contemporary Political Ideologies

3 hours; 3 credits

Political Socialization

3 hours; 3 credits

International Relations in the Middle East

3 hours; 3 credits

American Foreign Policy

3 hours; 3 credits

International Relations in Selected Areas of the World

3 hours; 3 credits

The United Nations in World Politics

3 hours; 3 credits

Contemporary International Conflict

3 hours; 3 credits

The Rise of Asia in World Affairs (

AAS 3346
),
HIS 3346
)

3 hours; 3 credits

Seminar on Political Globalization

3 hours; 3 credits

Comparative Politics in Selected Areas of the World

3 hours; 3 credits

European Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

Latin American and Caribbean Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

Asian Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

African Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

Comparative Revolutions

3 hours; 3 credits

Communist Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

Case Studies in American Government

3 hours; 3 credits

Urban Public Policy

3 hours; 3 credits

American Intellectual History

3 hours; 3 credits

Political Analysis

3 hours; 3 credits

The Making of Modern India (

AAS 3842
),
HIS 3842
)

3 hours; 3 credits

Special Topics in Political Science

3 hours; 3 credits

Political Science Capstone Seminar

3 hours; 3 credits

Independent Study in Political Science I

Hours and credits to be arranged

Independent Study in Political Science II

Hours and credits to be arranged

Independent Study in Political Science III

Hours and credits to be arranged

Field Work in Government and Politics

3 hours; 3 credits

Political Science Honors I

3 hours; 3 credits per semester

Political Science Honors II

3 hours; 3 credits per semester

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