http://www.montana.edu/wwwpo/
Bachelor's of Arts in Political Science
The Bachelor's (BA) Degree in Political Science will develop knowledge of American political institutions, world politics, political theory, public administration, and public policy. Our students learn to analyze, interpret, and explain political phenomena through the lens, and with the methods, of a political scientist. Our integrated curriculum challenges students to develop their critical thinking, communication, and research skills, preparing our graduates for citizenship, leadership, post-graduate study and diverse employment possibilities. Political Science is an excellent background for students preparing for careers in government, politics, civil society, the law, and the private sector.
As a Political Science major, you will construct an individualized course of study drawing on our rich curriculum, internship program, complimentary majors and minors, and study abroad opportunities. Students will take a lower division foundation block of four courses that introduces them to the sub-fields of Political Science and their modes of inquiry. After completion of the four-class foundation block, students individualize their course of study while fulfilling their upper division coursework requirements and a research design class.
Requirements for a degree in Political Science include:
- Completion of four Political Science lower division foundation courses;
- Completion of eight Political Science upper division courses with at least one course in each of the sub fields: American political institutions, political theory, world politics, and public administration/policy;
- Completion of either STAT 216Q- Introduction to Statistics OR three credits of a foreign language at a second semester first year level, or higher;
- Completion of PSCI 390R-Research Methods in Political Science your Junior year;
- Completion of MSU general graduation requirements of 120 credits, including 42 upper division credits, and the MSU Core.
*All Major requirements must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
Curriculum
Before a Political Science major may enroll in any upper division course, the student must have taken the associated introductory sub-field prerequisite as indicated and achieved a grade of "C" or better.
First: Take all of the following lower division foundation courses:
| PSCI 210IS | Introduction to American Government | 3 |
| PSCI 230D | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| PSCI 240 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| PSCI 250 | Introduction to Political Theory | 3 |
Second: Take either Introduction to Statistics or three credits of a foreign language at second semester first year, or higher.
Third: Take Research Methods
Fourth: Take eight of the following upper division courses, at least one from each of the four subfields:
Upper Division Electives by Subfield
| PSCI 323 | Modern Political Thought | 3 |
| PSCI 331 | International Relations Theory | 3 |
| PSCI 339 | Culture and Ideology: The Development of the Modern Prison | 3 |
| PSCI 354 | Contemporary Issues in Political Theory | 3 |
| PSCI 356 | Classical Political Thought | 3 |
| PSCI 454 | Cinema and Political Theory | 3 |
| PSCI 455 | Politics & Virtue | 3 |
B.A. in Political Science course trajectory
| Freshman Year | Credits |
|---|
| Fall | Spring |
|---|
| PSCI 210IS - Introduction to American Government | 3 | |
| PSCI 250 - Introduction to Political Theory | 3 | |
| W CORE - We recommend College Writing I | 3 | |
| US CORE - University Seminar | 3 | |
| First Semester Foreign Language or Q CORE (100 level math course or above) | 3 | |
| PSCI 230D - Introduction to International Relations | | 3 |
| PSCI 240 - Introduction to Public Administration | | 3 |
| Second Semester Foreign Language or STAT 216 | | 3 |
| University CORE | | 6 |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Sophomore Year | Credits |
|---|
| Fall | Spring |
|---|
| One upper division Political Science course | 3 | |
| Remaining PSCI Foundation courses and/or University CORE | 6 | |
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | 6 | |
| Two upper division Political Science courses | | 6 |
| Two remaining Political Science Foundation or University CORE requirements | | 6 |
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | | 3 |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Junior Year | Credits |
|---|
| Fall | Spring |
|---|
| Two upper division Political Science courses | 6 | |
| PSCI 390R - Research Methods | 3 | |
| Remaining PSCI electives and/or University CORE | 6 | |
| Two upper division Political Science courses | | 6 |
| Remaining Political Science electives and/or University CORE | | 3 |
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | | 6 |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Senior Year | Credits |
|---|
| Fall | Spring |
|---|
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | 12 | |
| One upper division Political Science course | 3 | |
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | | 15 |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Total Program Credits: | 120 |
Political Science Non-Teaching Minor
To earn a Political Science Non-Teaching Minor, a minimum of 21 credit hours are required, with 9 credits from upper division classes, 300-level and above in addition to taking all four foundation courses.
To earn a Political Science Non-Teaching Minor, a minimum of 21 credit hours are required, with 9 credits from upper division classes, 300 level and above, in addition to taking all four foundation courses
| PSCI 210IS | Introduction to American Government | 3 |
| PSCI 230D | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| PSCI 240 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| PSCI 250 | Introduction to Political Theory | 3 |
| |
| Total Credits | 21 |
For previous catalog years and curriculum's, please click here. Please reach out to the department at either politicalscience@montana.edu or (406) 994-4141 for more information or questions.
Undergraduate Curriculum in Political Science
Curriculum
Before a Political Science major may enroll in any upper division course, the student must have taken the associated introductory sub-field prerequisite as indicated and achieved a grade of "C" or better.
First: Take all of the following lower division foundation courses:
| PSCI 210IS | Introduction to American Government | 3 |
| PSCI 230D | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| PSCI 240 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| PSCI 250 | Introduction to Political Theory | 3 |
Second: Take either Introduction to Statistics or three credits of a foreign language at second semester first year, or higher.
Third: Take Research Methods
Fourth: Take eight of the following upper division courses, at least one from each of the four subfields:
Upper Division Electives by Subfield
| PSCI 323 | Modern Political Thought | 3 |
| PSCI 331 | International Relations Theory | 3 |
| PSCI 339 | Culture and Ideology: The Development of the Modern Prison | 3 |
| PSCI 354 | Contemporary Issues in Political Theory | 3 |
| PSCI 356 | Classical Political Thought | 3 |
| PSCI 454 | Cinema and Political Theory | 3 |
| PSCI 455 | Politics & Virtue | 3 |
B.A. in Political Science course trajectory
| Freshman Year | Credits |
|---|
| Fall | Spring |
|---|
| PSCI 210IS - Introduction to American Government | 3 | |
| PSCI 250 - Introduction to Political Theory | 3 | |
| W CORE - We recommend College Writing I | 3 | |
| US CORE - University Seminar | 3 | |
| First Semester Foreign Language or Q CORE (100 level math course or above) | 3 | |
| PSCI 230D - Introduction to International Relations | | 3 |
| PSCI 240 - Introduction to Public Administration | | 3 |
| Second Semester Foreign Language or STAT 216 | | 3 |
| University CORE | | 6 |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Sophomore Year | Credits |
|---|
| Fall | Spring |
|---|
| One upper division Political Science course | 3 | |
| Remaining PSCI Foundation courses and/or University CORE | 6 | |
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | 6 | |
| Two upper division Political Science courses | | 6 |
| Two remaining Political Science Foundation or University CORE requirements | | 6 |
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | | 3 |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Junior Year | Credits |
|---|
| Fall | Spring |
|---|
| Two upper division Political Science courses | 6 | |
| PSCI 390R - Research Methods | 3 | |
| Remaining PSCI electives and/or University CORE | 6 | |
| Two upper division Political Science courses | | 6 |
| Remaining Political Science electives and/or University CORE | | 3 |
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | | 6 |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Senior Year | Credits |
|---|
| Fall | Spring |
|---|
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | 12 | |
| One upper division Political Science course | 3 | |
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | | 15 |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Total Program Credits: | 120 |
No political science course may be counted in more than one upper division sub-field requirement. Political Science majors must fulfill Social Science Inquiry (IS), Humanities Inquiry (IH), and Diversity (D) University Core requirements outside of the PSCI rubric.
A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree is a professional degree designed to prepare both pre- and mid-career professionals and administrators for supervisory, analytical support and policy-making positions in public sector agencies, and non-profit organizations, at local, state and federal levels. The program stresses sound preparation in wide range of administrative competencies. MPA coursework includes studies in public administration theory, human resource management, public budgeting, leadership, ethics, organization dynamics, and research methods for public administrators. Information on this program can be found at the MPA Graduate Program page.
