The Faculty

Chair:  David R. Jones 

 Professors:

Associate Professors:

Assistant Professors:

 

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.

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 (), a capstone seminar (), 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 () or Honors Thesis projects (, ).

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

Base Course

POL 1101

American Government: Practices and Values
Required Course
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 (), or honors thesis projects (, ).

American Government and Political Institutions

POL 2001

The United States in an Age of Globalization

POL 3008

Religion and Politics in the United States (, )

POL 3101

Political Psychology ()

POL 3102

American Conservatism: Origins, Development, and Contemporary Controversies ()

POL 3310

Public Opinion

POL 3311

Political Parties and Elections

POL 3312

Congress and the Legislative Process

POL 3313

Constitutional Law

POL 3314

Civil Liberties

POL 3316

The Presidency

POL 3318

Immigration and Integration in the United States

POL 3340

Political Socialization

POL 3417

Case Studies in American Government
Comparative Politics

POL 2260

Introduction to Comparative Government

POL 3086

Modern Middle East and North Africa ()

POL 3104

Politics of the Third World

POL 3361

Comparative Politics in Selected Areas of the World

POL 3362

European Political Systems

POL 3364

Latin American and Caribbean Political Systems

POL 3365

Asian Political Systems

POL 3366

African Political Systems

POL 3367

Comparative Revolutions

POL 3368

Communist Political Systems

POL 3842

Making of Modern India (), ()
International Politics

POL 2240

Introduction to International Relations

POL 3341

International Relations in the Middle East

POL 3342

American Foreign Policy

POL 3343

International Relations in Selected Areas of the World

POL 3344

The United Nations in World Politics

POL 3345

Contemporary International Conflict

POL 3346

The Rise of Asia in World Affairs (), ()

Seminar on Political Globalization

Political Theory and Methodology

POL 2332

American Political Thought

POL 3062

Political Sociology ()

POL 3201

Topics in Politics and Literature ()

POL 3233

Political and Administrative Research

POL 3333

Political Behavior

POL 3334

American Radicalism

POL 3335

Early Political Theory

POL 3336

Modern Political Theory

POL 3337

Contemporary Political Ideologies

POL 3500

Political Analysis
Public Policy

POL 2353

Public Policy

POL 3001

Women: Politics and Policy

POL 3005

Social Welfare Policy ()

POL 3103

Political Economy

POL 3315

Government and the American Economy

POL 3317

The Politics of Energy and the Environment

POL 5452

Field Work in Government and Politics
Urban Politics

POL 2220

State and Local Government

POL 2321

Urban Government

POL 3323

Politics and Government of New York City

POL 3422

Urban Public Policy

 

Honors Thesis in Political Science

The Honors Thesis is a two-semester sequence (, ) 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:

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

 

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. ().

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 (). Political Science does NOT offer capstone course in summer or winter sessions.

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. 

POL 1101

American Government: Practices and Values

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2001

The United States in an Age of Globalization

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2220

State and Local Government

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2240

Introduction to International Relations

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2260

Introduction to Comparative Government

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2280

The Great Political Debates: The Individual and Society

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2321

Urban Government

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2332

American Political Thought

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 2353

Public Policy

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3001

Women: Politics and Policy

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3005

Social Welfare Policy ()

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3008

Religion And Politics In The United States (), )

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3062

Political Sociology ()

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3086

The Modern Middle East and North Africa ()

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3101

Political Psychology ()

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3102

American Conservatism: Origins, Development, And Contemporary Controversies ()

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3103

Political Economy

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3104

The Politics of the Third World

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3201

Topics in Politics and Literature ()

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3233

Political and Administrative Research

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3310

Political Opinion

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3311

Political Parties and Elections

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3312

Congress and the Legislative Process

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3313

Constitutional Law

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3314

Civil Liberties

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3315

Government and the American Economy

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3316

The Presidency

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3317

The Politics of Energy and the Environment

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3318

Immigration and Integration in the United States

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3323

Politics and Government of New York City

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3333

Political Behavior

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3334

American Radicalism

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3335

Early Political Theory

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3336

Modern Political Theory

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3337

Contemporary Political Ideologies

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3340

Political Socialization

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3341

International Relations in the Middle East

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3342

American Foreign Policy

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3343

International Relations in Selected Areas of the World

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3344

The United Nations in World Politics

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3345

Contemporary International Conflict

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3346

The Rise of Asia in World Affairs (), )

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3347

Seminar on Political Globalization

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3361

Comparative Politics in Selected Areas of the World

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3362

European Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3364

Latin American and Caribbean Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3365

Asian Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3366

African Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3367

Comparative Revolutions

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3368

Communist Political Systems

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3417

Case Studies in American Government

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3422

Urban Public Policy

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3456

American Intellectual History

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3500

Political Analysis

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3842

The Making of Modern India (), )

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 3999

Special Topics in Political Science

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 4900

Political Science Capstone Seminar

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 5000

Independent Study in Political Science I

Hours and credits to be arranged

POL 5001

Independent Study in Political Science II

Hours and credits to be arranged

POL 5002

Independent Study in Political Science III

Hours and credits to be arranged

POL 5452

Field Work in Government and Politics

3 hours; 3 credits

POL 6001H

Political Science Honors I

3 hours; 3 credits per semester

POL 6002H

Political Science Honors II

3 hours; 3 credits per semester