Politics Department

Politics Degree Requirements

The following degree requirements are those reflected in the Fall 2016 Course Catalog.

Major in Politics

11 courses distributed as follows:

  • POLI 100 Issues in Politics
  • POLI 201 Normative Research Methods
         or 
    POLI 202 Empirical Research Methods
  • POLI 303 Analyzing Politics
  • 2 American Politics courses
  • 2 Political Theory courses
  • 2 Comparative Politics/International Relations courses
  • 1 additional POLI course at the 200-level or higher
  • POLI 497 Senior Research Seminar

Notes:

  • POLI 303 Analyzing Politics can also be used to satisfy subfield requirements.
  • We strongly recommend that students enrolling in POLI 202 Empirical Research Methods also take MATH 215Statistical Analysis prior to, or concurrently with, POLI 202 Empirical Research Methods. MATH 215 Statistical Analysis can be used to satisfy the additional POLI elective in the major.



Major in International Relations

11 courses distributed as follows:

  • POLI 100 Issues in Politics
  • POLI 201 Normative Research Methods
         or 
    POLI 202 Empirical Research Methods
  • POLI 250 History of the International System
         or 
    POLI 273 Contemporary Global Issues
  • POLI 303 Topics: Analyzing Politics  
  • POLI 349 Normative Political Economy
         or 
    POLI 363 Comparative Political Economy
  • POLI 355 Advanced International Relations
         or 
    POLI 376 Democracy, Development and Violence
  • One Foreign Policy/Security Studies course from: 
                POLI 281 U.S. Foreign Policy
                POLI 282 Foreign Policy Analysis
                POLI 331 Contemporary Security Studies
                POLI 369 U.S. National Security State
  • One Institutions and Governance course from: 
                *POLI 250 History of the International System
                POLI 283 Model UN
                POLI 325 International Law & Organizations
                POLI 326 International Human Rights
                POLI 341 World of Elections
  • One Comparative Politics course from: 
                POLI 272 Politics of Central & Eastern Europe
                *POLI 273 Contemporary Global Issues
                POLI 371 Politics of Latin America
                HIST 243 Modern Middle East
                HIST 244 Modern China
                HIST 246 Modern Japan
                HIST 280 Contemporary Africa
                HIST 281 Aid, Humanitarianism and Development in Africa
                HIST 310 The Iraq War
                HIST 341 The Arab-Israeli Conflict
  • One additional course not already taken from the above lists, and including: 
                POLI 240 Western Political Thought
                POLI 244 Topics in International Relations
                POLI 275 Irregular Warfare
                POLI 276 Ethics & Politics of Development
                POLI 356 World of War and Conflict
                POLI 440 Advanced Topics in International Relations
  • POLI 497 Senior Research Seminar


Note(s):

*Neither POLI 250 History of the International System nor POLI 273 Contemporary Global Issues can be double-counted as satisfying both an introductory course requirement and a subfield requirement.

  • POLI 303 Topics: Analyzing Politics can also be used to satisfy subfield requirements.
  • We strongly recommend that students enrolling in POLI 202 Empirical Research Methods also take MATH 215Statistical Analysis prior to, or concurrently with, POLI 202 Empirical Research Methods. MATH 215 Statistical Analysis can be used to satisfy the additional POLI elective in the major.
  • We also urge International Relations majors to seriously consider additional foreign language proficiency beyond the standard Hendrix requirement.


Study Abroad Requirement

All International Relations majors must complete at least one study abroad experience. This requirement can be met through a traditional study abroad experience that earns at least one Hendrix course credit. International students are encouraged, but not required, to go abroad to meet the study abroad requirement. As an alternative, international students may earn a GA Odyssey credit in lieu of formal study abroad. Other international experiences may fulfill this requirement at the discretion of the Department.



Senior Capstone Experience

The Senior Capstone Experience for both the politics and international relations majors consists of the successful completion of POLI 497 Senior Research Seminar. The grade for the Senior Capstone Experience is based on the grade in POLI 497 Senior Research Seminar.



Minor in Politics

6 courses distributed as follows:

  • POLI 100 Issues in Politics
  • 1 course each from the Political Theory, American Politics, and Comparative/International Relations subfields as described in the major
  • 2 additional courses in Politics numbered 200 and above.



Minor in International Relations

7 courses distributed as follows:

  • 1 Introductory course from: 
          POLI 250 History of the International System
          POLI 273 Contemporary Global Issues

  • 1 Advanced course from 
          POLI 355 Advanced International Relations
          POLI 376 Democracy, Development and Violence

  • 1 Political Economy course from: 
          POLI 249 Normative Political Economy
          POLI 363 Comparative Political Economy

  • 1 Comparative/Regional Studies course from: 
          POLI 272 Politics of Central & Eastern Europe
          *POLI 273 Contemporary Global Issues
          POLI 371 Politics of Latin America
          HIST 243 Modern Middle East
          HIST 244 Modern China
          HIST 246 Modern Japan
          HIST 280 Contemporary Africa
          HIST 281 Aid, Humanitarianism and Development in Africa
          HIST 310 The Iraq War
          HIST 341 The Arab-Israeli Conflict

  • 1 Institutions and Governance course from: 
          *POLI 250 History of the International System
          POLI 283 Model UN
          POLI 325 International Law & Organizations
          POLI 326 International Human Rights
          POLI 341 World of Elections

  • 1 Foreign Policy/Security Studies course from: 
          POLI 281 U.S. Foreign Policy
          POLI 282 Foreign Policy Analysis
          POLI 330 Contemporary Security Studies
          POLI 370 U.S. National Security State

  • 1 additional course from the above lists, and including: 
          POLI 240 Western Political Thought
          POLI 244 Topics in International Relations
          POLI 275 Irregular Warfare
          POLI 276 Ethics & Politics of Development
          POLI 353 World of War and Conflict
          POLI 440 Advanced Topics in International Relations

 

Note(s):

*Neither POLI 250 History of the International System nor POLI 273 Contemporary Global Issues can be double-counted as satisfying both an introductory course requirement and a subfield requirement.