Degree Requirements
Political Science Major Requirements
I. Major Program Requirements
Thirty-three semester credits of political science courses,
including:
PO 100 Intro to PO: Justice and a Just Society
PO 104 American National Government
PO 115 International Relations
PO 280 Introduction to Comparative Politics
PO 495 Senior Seminar
II. Other Program Requirements
A. Foreign Language or Quantitative Analysis Option
Option I: Two semesters of foreign language. Those
with previous language training are urged to begin at the
appropriate level to fulfill the two-course requirement.
Option II: MA 207 Elementary Statistics and PO 306 Data
Analysis for Public Policy. Both courses assume a basic
knowledge of Algebra.
B. Writing Competence for Majors and Minors
The Political Science department expects its students to be able to
write well. All majors and minors are required to take ENWR
203: Expository Writing or ENWR 305: Technical Writing.
Political Science Minor Requirements
l. Minor Program Requirements
Twenty-one semester credits of political science courses, including:
PO 100 Justice/Just Society
PO 104 American National Government
PO 115 International Relations
PO 280 Introduction to Comparative Politics
ll. Other program requirements
The Political Science department expects its graduates to be able to write well. Therefore, all majors and minors are required to take ENWR 203: Expository Writing or ENWR 305: Technical Writing.
Alumni Spotlight
Kelly Devlin
Class of 2008
2011 Graduate of University of Montana Law School
"Obtaining a degree in political science from Carroll College enabled me to succeed in law school. The rigorous writing requirements at Carroll -- both frequent and demanding -- were a great preparation for law school, where well-honed writing skills are essential. Carroll political science courses developed my communication and analytical reasoning skills as well. I am grateful for this foundation in law school, where I am frequently placed outside of my comfort zone and asked to speak to large groups of people."
Senior Seminar
The political science Senior Seminar consists of student presentations and the discussion of scholarly articles that illustrate contemporary controversies in the discipline. In the spring, the seniors and faculty stage a public presentation based on the seminar topic for that year, with themes ranging from conspiracy theories in a Saturday Night Live format to a mock trial on the effects of globalization. Often, special guests—such as the president of Carroll College—take the stage, and impersonations of the famous or the Carroll faculty find a way into the script.