2018-2019 Undergraduate Bulletin

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 235Judicial Processes and Politics

3

Category B. Political Theory
Select one
POL 270Political Philosophy

3

POL 273Western Political Thought

3

Category C. Urban Politics and Public Policy
Select one
POL 206Urban Politics

3

POL 234Introduction to Public Policy

3

Category D. International/Comparative
Select one
POL 257Comparative Politics

3

POL 260International Relations

3

Category E. American Politics
Select one
POL 214Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Social Movements

3

POL 215U.S. Congress

3

POL 220The American Presidency

3

Subtotal: 15

Part Two. Research Methods

Required
POL 225Introduction to Research in Politics

3

Subtotal: 3

Part Three. Supervised Research Experience in Political Science

Optional

POL 385Supervised Research Experience in Political Science

3

Subtotal: 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 375Law and Society Internship

3

LWS 378Law and Society Internship Intensive

6

POL 280Selected Topics in Political Science

3

POL 301Constitutional Powers

3

POL 305Constitutional Rights and Liberties

3

POL 308State Courts and State Constitutional Law

3

POL 313/LAW 313The Law and Politics of Race Relations

3

POL 316The Politics of Rights

3

POL 318Law & Politics of Sexual Orientation

3

POL 319Gender and Law

3

POL 344The Law and Politics of Immigration

3

POL 420Senior Seminar in Law, Courts and Politics

3

Concentration B. Justice and Politics
AFR 270Africana Social and Intellectual Thought

3

LAW 310/PHI 310Ethics and Law

3

POL 270Political Philosophy

3

POL 273Western Political Thought

3

POL 278/SOC 278Political Sociology

3

POL 280Selected Topics in Political Science

3

POL 316The Politics of Rights

3

POL 371American Political Philosophy

3

POL 375Law, Order, Justice and Society

3

POL 423/PHI 423Selected Topics in Justice

3

Concentration C. American and Urban Politics and Policy
POL 203Municipal and State Government

3

POL 206Urban Politics

3

POL 210Comparative Urban Political Systems

3

POL 214Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Social Movements

3

POL 215U.S. Congress

3

POL 220The American Presidency

3

POL 232Media and Politics

3

POL 234Introduction to Public Policy

3

POL 237Women and Politics

3

POL 280Selected Topics in Political Science

3

POL 302Voting and Public Opinion

3

POL 344The Law and Politics of Immigration

3

POL 406Seminar and Internship in New York City Government and Politics

6

POL 407New York State Assembly/Senate Session Program

12

POL 408CUNY Washington, D.C. Summer Internship Program

6

POL 440Senior Seminar in American and Urban Politics and Policy

3

Concentration D. Comparative/International Politics and Human Rights
LLS 220Human Rights and Law in Latin America

3

POL 210Comparative Urban Political Systems

3

POL 242/HIS 242/LLS 242U.S. Foreign Policy in Latin America

3

POL 246Politics of Global Inequality

3

POL 250International Law and Justice

3

POL 257Comparative Politics

3

POL 259/LAW 259Comparative Criminal Justice Systems

3

POL 260International Relations

3

POL 280Selected Topics in Political Science

3

POL 320International Human Rights

3

POL 322International Organizations

3

POL 325The Politics of Transnational Crime

3

POL 328Politics of International Security

3

POL 331Government and Politics in the Middle East and North Africa

3

POL 362Terrorism and International Relations

3

POL 450Senior Seminar in International Relations and Comparative Politics

3

Subtotal: 15

Part Five. Senior Requirement

POL 409Colloquium for Research in Government and Politics

3

Subtotal: 3

Total Credit Hours: 36-42