UMASS POLITICAL SCIENCE EXPLORING OUR MAJOR AND MINOR

UMASS POLITICAL SCIENCE EXPLORING OUR MAJOR AND MINOR

THE FIELD OF POLITICAL SCIENCE & THE MAJOR AT UMASS Majors study political life in the varied contexts in which it occurs—institutions, social movements, power relations, elections, political culture, ideas, and war. The major emphasizes issues central to public life such as democracy, citizenship, participation, inequality, global forces, institutions, and governance. A guiding purpose of the Political Science major is to help educate a reflective and engaged citizenry capable of sharing power and responsibility in a contemporary democracy. In service of this purpose, students develop critical thinking skills, and the ability to articulate compelling arguments based on evidence. The program also offers opportunities for the acquisition of quantitative, qualitative, and interpretive research skills that are applicable to a broad range of careers and interests.

CAREER OPTIONS WITH A POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR A MAJOR IN POLI SCI CAN LEAD TO A WIDE VARIETY OF CAREERS, GRAD SCHOOL OR LAW SCHOOL Serving in public office or working for those in public office Positions with nonprofit research and advocacy organizations in human rights, international development, and other concerns Law, business, and corporate positions in environmental protection, consumer affairs, and public affairs Federal and state government positions in environmental protection, criminal justice, public health, welfare, and transportation State and local management and administration in planning, zoning, housing, human resources, environmental policy, education policy, law enforcement, and budgeting and finance Management of domestic or international grass-roots development or refugee assistance organizations

THE MAJOR (FOR STUDENTS ADMITTED TO UMASS FALL 2018 OR AFTER) THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE REQUIRES ITS MAJORS TO COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF 44 CREDITS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE, INCLUDING THE JUNIOR YEAR WRITING AND INTEGRATIVE EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS. ALL COURSES COUNTED TOWARD THE MAJOR MUST BE TAKEN FOR A LETTER GRADE AND CARRY AT LEAST THREE CREDITS AND NO MORE THAN FIVE TRANSFER COURSES (OR A MAXIMUM OF 20 CREDITS) MAY COUNT TOWARD THE MAJOR. STUDENTS MUST MAINTAIN A MINIMUM 2. 0 GPA WITHIN THE MAJOR AS WELL AS OVERALL AT THE UNIVERSITY IN ORDER TO GRADUATE Required Introductory Courses (for students admitted to UMass fall 2018 or later; see our website for major requirements for those entering UMass prior to fall 2018) Three introductory Political Science courses as follows (one in each category below; students must achieve a cumulative average of a 2. 0 across the three introductory courses): POLISCI 101 American Politics or 162 Introduction to Constitutional Law or 181 Controversies in Public Policy POLISCI 111 Comparative Politics or 121 World Politics POLISCI 171 Introduction to Political Theory or 203 American Political Thought or 270 Ancient Political Thought or 271 Modern Political Thought or 273 Power Upper-level Requirement Twenty-four credits at the 200 -level or above, at least 12 of which must be at the 300 -level or above (a 200 -level introductory class used to fulfill the political theory introductory requirement may not count toward the upper-level requirement). The Junior Year Writing (377) and Integrative Experience courses may be counted among these courses. Not more than one of these courses can be an independent study or a graded internship. Global Knowledge & Skills Requirement Complete at least three courses, or nine credits, choosing one of the following options: 1) Global Courses – three courses from a Global Knowledge & Skills list (found on the department website) 2) Certificates approved by the department (list found on website) 3) Study Abroad (IPO-approved program) 4) Foreign Language (in sequence) 5) Individualized (with approval from Undergraduate Program Director). Coursework in this requirement area may not overlap with other requirements in the major.

THE POLITICAL SCIENCE MINOR A Political Science minor may help students make sense of the political world that confronts them in their role as citizen. The minor may be earned by the successful completion of a minimum of five courses (carrying at least three credits) in Political Science. All courses counted toward the Political Science minor must be taken for a letter grade and no fewer than three of the five Political Science courses must be taken within the department. Only one of the five may be at the introductory level and two of the five must be at the 300 level. (A 200 -level introductory course cannot fulfil both the introductory requirement and the 200 -level requirement. ) The minimum GPA for a Political Science minor is 2. 0. Your transcript will show Political Science as your minor. Complete one 100 -level Political Science course Complete four upper-level (200 or above) Political Science Courses of which at least two must be at the 300 -level

OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT Undergraduate Research Engagement Program (UREP) This program provides approximately 20 students per semester exciting opportunities to work along side a faculty member on specific research projects. Visit the UREP website to learn more International Relations Certificate The International Relations Certificate is sponsored by the Political Science Department and the Five College Consortium Can be combined with any undergraduate major, and is a way of indicating to graduate schools or future employers that you have strong interest in world affairs. Earning the certificate requires demonstrating intermediate level competence in a contemporary foreign language and earning at least a B in each of 7 courses on world politics and institutions, the international economy, the history of the international system, US foreign policy, and the politics, history, economy, or culture of one or more foreign areas. Letter of Specialization, Data Analytics for Politics, Policy and Legal Studies (DAPPLS) Offered for students seeking to build greater expertise in data analytic skills, likely to be highly attractive for positions across the public, nonprofit and private sectors. Students who complete the letter will have a strong foundation in the basics of designing social, political, and legal research, as well as more extensive training in at least two techniques for collecting and analyzing data.

GETTING STARTED WITH POLI SCI Get started by taking one or more introductory courses in Political Science: Category 1: POLISCI 101 American Politics or POLISCI 162 Introduction to Constitutional Law or POLISCI 181 Controversies in Public Policy Category 2: POLISCI 111 Comparative Politics or POLISCI 121 World Politics Category 3: POLISCI 171 Introduction to Political Theory or POLISCI 203 American Political Thought or POLISCI 270 Ancient Political Thought or POLISCI 271 Modern Political Thought or POLISCI 273 Power

HOW TO ADD OR DECLARE A POLI SCI MAJOR OR MINOR Please drop in during our weekly Peer Advisor Zoom Drop In Hours to declare a Political Science major or minor, or to ask more questions: You must be logged in to Zoom with your UMass Net ID and password to attend a peer drop in session. When attending a drop in session, you'll enter the Zoom Waiting Room, and be admitted to the advising session when a Peer Advisor is available to assist you. Fall 2020 Peer Advisor Drop In session days, times and Zoom links are: Mondays 11 am to 1 pm https: //umass-amherst. zoom. us/j/94930564767 Tuesdays 11 am to 1 pm https: //umass-amherst. zoom. us/j/98250282045 Thursdays 2: 30 pm to 4: 30 pm https: //umass-amherst. zoom. us/j/96718473061 If you can't attend any of our Zoom Peer drop in advising times, please use our Advising Questions Google Form to request to declare the Political Science major or minor. An advisor will follow up with you promptly on your Google Form submission, and schedule an appointment with you as needed. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING POLITICAL SCIENCE!