Political Science, Bachelor of Arts
The major in Political Science introduces students to the principal fields of inquiry in political science. This major provides a program of study for students considering careers in a variety of fields, including public service, law, community affairs, international relations and politics. Students may select from among four concentrations–of–choice: Law, Courts and Politics which explores the intersection of the legal system and the broader political system; Justice and Politics, which examines the political philosophy and various societal values that underlie contemporary views of justice; American and Urban Politics and Policy, which emphasizes the role of political institutions in shaping solutions to contemporary urban problems; and Comparative/International Politics and Human Rights, which explores the global dimensions of politics and governance.
Learning outcomes. Students will:
- Initiate, develop, and present independent research.
- Write effectively, engage in intellectually grounded debate, and form and express cogent arguments.
- Develop skills in critical thinking in order to become knowledgeable citizens capable of reasoned judgments on contemporary political issues.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the major subfields of political science.
Credits Required.
| Political Science Major |
36-42 |
| General Education |
42 |
| Electives |
36-42 |
| Total Credits Required for B.A. Degree |
120 |
Co-Coordinators. Professors Brian Arbour (646.557.4616, barbour@jay.cuny.edu) and Jennifer Rutledge (646.557.4710, jrutledge@jjay.cuny.edu), Department of Political Science
Advisor. Ms. Catherine Kleint, Academic Advisement Center (ckleint@jjay.cuny.edu)
Advising resources. Political Science Major Advising Resources. Sample Four-year Plan of Study. Major Checklist.
Prerequisite. POL 101 (or GOV 101). This course can fulfill the College’s general education requirement in the Flexible Core: U.S. Experience in its Diversity area.
Experiential learning opportunities. Students in the Political Science major have various opportunities for experiential learning. Students can participate in four credit-bearing internship programs during their junior and senior years. The New York City Internship program places students in the local offices of city, state and federal elected representatives. Students can apply to intern in the N.Y. State Legislature in Albany for a semester or in Washington, D.C. during the summer term. The Judicial Internship places students with judges in New York state courts. In addition, students can engage in undergraduate research opportunities, either working individually with a faculty member as a research assistant or on their own project or working collaboratively with a group of thee or more students with a faculty member. Finally, students in the major can participate in John Jay's nationally recognized and award-winning Model United Nations program.
Additional information. Students who enrolled for the first time at the College or changed to this major in September 2012 or thereafter must complete the major in the form presented here. Students who enrolled prior to that date may choose either the form shown here or the earlier version of the major. A copy of the earlier version may be obtained in the 2011-12 Undergraduate Bulletin.
Part One. Foundation Courses
Select five courses, only one per category
Category A. Law, Courts and Politics
| POL 235 | Judicial Processes and Politics | 3 |
Category B. Political Theory
Select one
Category C. Urban Politics and Public Policy
Select one
Category D. International/Comparative
Select one
Category E. American Politics
Select one
| POL 214 | Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Social Movements | 3 |
| POL 215 | U.S. Congress | 3 |
| POL 220 | The American Presidency | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 15
Part Two. Research Methods
Required
| POL 225 | Introduction to Research in Politics | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 3
Part Three. Supervised Research Experience in Political Science
Optional
| POL 385 | Supervised Research Experience in Political Science | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 0-6
Part Four. Concentration-Of-Choice
Select one concentration.
Students selecting Concentration A have three options: 1) students may take five 3-credit courses in the concentration, including one 400-level and two 300-level political science courses; or 2) students may take the LWS 375 internship and four 3-credit courses in the concentration, including an additional 300-level political science course and one 400-level political science course; or 3) students may take the LWS 378 internship and three 3-credit courses in the concentration, including one 400-level political science course.
Students selecting Concentration B or Concentration D, must take five 3-credit courses within their concentration. At least one 400-level and two 300-level political science courses must be completed.
Students selecting Concentration C have two options: 1) students may take five 3-credit courses in the concentration, including one 400-level and two 300-level political science courses; or 2) students may take any of the Public Affairs Internships (POL 406, POL 407, or POL 408) and three 3-credit courses in the concentration, including one 300-level political science course. Even if students take POL 407, only 6 credits of internship apply to the concentration.
Students selecting any of the Public Affairs Internships or the Law and Society Internships must obtain permission of the instructor before registering.
Concentration A. Law, Courts and Politics
| LWS 375 | Law and Society Internship | 3 |
| LWS 378 | Law and Society Internship Intensive | 6 |
| POL 280 | Selected Topics in Political Science | 3 |
| POL 301 | Constitutional Powers | 3 |
| POL 305 | Constitutional Rights and Liberties | 3 |
| POL 308 | State Courts and State Constitutional Law | 3 |
| POL 313/LAW 313 | The Law and Politics of Race Relations | 3 |
| POL 316 | The Politics of Rights | 3 |
| POL 318 | Law & Politics of Sexual Orientation | 3 |
| POL 319 | Gender and Law | 3 |
| POL 344 | The Law and Politics of Immigration | 3 |
| POL 420 | Senior Seminar in Law, Courts and Politics | 3 |
Concentration B. Justice and Politics
Concentration C. American and Urban Politics and Policy
| POL 203 | Municipal and State Government | 3 |
| POL 206 | Urban Politics | 3 |
| POL 210 | Comparative Urban Political Systems | 3 |
| POL 214 | Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Social Movements | 3 |
| POL 215 | U.S. Congress | 3 |
| POL 220 | The American Presidency | 3 |
| POL 232 | Media and Politics | 3 |
| POL 234 | Introduction to Public Policy | 3 |
| POL 237 | Women and Politics | 3 |
| POL 280 | Selected Topics in Political Science | 3 |
| POL 302 | Voting and Public Opinion | 3 |
| POL 344 | The Law and Politics of Immigration | 3 |
| POL 406 | Seminar and Internship in New York City Government and Politics | 6 |
| POL 407 | New York State Assembly/Senate Session Program | 12 |
| POL 408 | CUNY Washington, D.C. Summer Internship Program | 6 |
| POL 440 | Senior Seminar in American and Urban Politics and Policy | 3 |
Concentration D. Comparative/International Politics and Human Rights
| LLS 220 | Human Rights and Law in Latin America | 3 |
| POL 210 | Comparative Urban Political Systems | 3 |
| POL 242/HIS 242/LLS 242 | U.S. Foreign Policy in Latin America | 3 |
| POL 246 | Politics of Global Inequality | 3 |
| POL 250 | International Law and Justice | 3 |
| POL 257 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POL 259/LAW 259 | Comparative Criminal Justice Systems | 3 |
| POL 260 | International Relations | 3 |
| POL 280 | Selected Topics in Political Science | 3 |
| POL 320 | International Human Rights | 3 |
| POL 322 | International Organizations | 3 |
| POL 325 | The Politics of Transnational Crime | 3 |
| POL 328 | Politics of International Security | 3 |
| POL 331 | Government and Politics in the Middle East and North Africa | 3 |
| POL 362 | Terrorism and International Relations | 3 |
| POL 450 | Senior Seminar in International Relations and Comparative Politics | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 15
Part Five. Senior Requirement
| POL 409 | Colloquium for Research in Government and Politics | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 3
Total Credit Hours: 36-42