Political Science

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:

  1. Completion of four Political Science lower division foundation courses;
  2. 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; 
  3. Completion of either STAT 216Q- Introduction to Statistics OR three credits of a foreign language at a second semester first year level, or higher;
  4. Completion of PSCI 390R-Research Methods in Political Science your Junior year;
  5. 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 210ISIntroduction to American Government3
PSCI 230DIntroduction to International Relations3
PSCI 240Introduction to Public Administration3
PSCI 250Introduction to Political Theory 3

Second: Take either Introduction to Statistics or three credits of a foreign language at second semester first year, or higher.

STAT 216QIntroduction to Statistics3
or one of the following sequences leading to first year second semester of foreign language
ARAB 102DElementary Modern Arabic II3
CHIN 102DElementary Chinese II3
CHIN 201DIntermediate Chinese I3
CHIN 202DIntermediate Chinese II3
FRCH 102DElementary French II3
FRCH 201DIntermediate French I3
FRCH 202DIntermediate French II3
GRMN 102DElementary German II3
GRMN 201DIntermediate German I3
GRMN 202DIntermediate German II3
JPNS 102DElementary Japanese II3
JPNS 201DIntermediate Japanese I3
JPNS 202DIntermediate Japanese II3
SPNS 102DElementary Spanish II3
SPNS 201DIntermediate Spanish I3
SPNS 202DIntermediate Spanish II3

Third: Take Research Methods

PSCI 390RResearch Methods3

Fourth: Take eight of the following upper division courses, at least one from each of the four subfields:

Upper Division Electives by Subfield 

American Political Institutions
PSCI 302Media and Politics3
PSCI 347The U.S. Congress and the Legislative Process3
PSCI 341Political Parties and Elections3
PSCI 346American Presidency3
PSCI 348Multicultural Politics in the United States3
PSCI 429National Security Policy Decision-Making3
PSCI 446Congressional Campaign3
PSCI 451State and Local Government Policy Making3
PSCI 470Rural Politics3
PSCI 471American Constitutional Law3
Political Theory
PSCI 323Modern Political Thought3
PSCI 331International Relations Theory3
PSCI 339Culture and Ideology: The Development of the Modern Prison3
PSCI 354Contemporary Issues in Political Theory3
PSCI 356Classical Political Thought3
PSCI 454Cinema and Political Theory3
PSCI 455Politics & Virtue3
International Relations/Comparative Politics
PSCI 331International Relations Theory3
PSCI 336European Union3
PSCI 337Model United Nations3
PSCI 338Comparative Politics3
PSCI 353British Politics3
PSCI 414Drug Trafficking and Governance in the Americas 3
PSCI 418The Politics of War & Peace3
PSCI 423Politics of Development3
PSCI 429National Security Policy Decision-Making3
PSCI 434International Law3
PSCI 436Politics of Food & Hunger3
PSCI 437International Political Econ3
PSCI 439International Human Rights3
PSCI 483The Politics of Authoritarianism3
Public Administration/Policy
PSCI 362Natural Resource Policy3
PSCI 407Public Policy Analysis3
PSCI 415The Political Economy of Energy3
PSCI 447Politics of Community Development3
PSCI 451State and Local Government Policy Making3
PSCI 461Administrative Law3
PSCI 465Public Administration and Policy3
NRSM 430Natural Resource Law3

 B.A. in Political Science course trajectory

Freshman YearCredits
FallSpring
PSCI 210IS - Introduction to American Government3  
PSCI 250 - Introduction to Political Theory 3  
W CORE - We recommend College Writing I3  
US CORE - University Seminar3  
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 YearCredits
FallSpring
One upper division Political Science course3  
Remaining PSCI Foundation courses and/or University CORE6  
Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements6  
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 YearCredits
FallSpring
Two upper division Political Science courses6  
PSCI 390R - Research Methods3  
Remaining PSCI electives and/or University CORE6  
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 YearCredits
FallSpring
Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements12  
One upper division Political Science course3  
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 210ISIntroduction to American Government3
PSCI 230DIntroduction to International Relations3
PSCI 240Introduction to Public Administration3
PSCI 250Introduction to Political Theory 3
3 upper division Political Science classes 300-400 level, internships are NOT included
Total Credits21

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 210ISIntroduction to American Government3
PSCI 230DIntroduction to International Relations3
PSCI 240Introduction to Public Administration3
PSCI 250Introduction to Political Theory 3

Second: Take either Introduction to Statistics or three credits of a foreign language at second semester first year, or higher.

STAT 216QIntroduction to Statistics3
or one of the following sequences leading to first year second semester of foreign language
ARAB 102DElementary Modern Arabic II3
CHIN 102DElementary Chinese II3
CHIN 201DIntermediate Chinese I3
CHIN 202DIntermediate Chinese II3
FRCH 102DElementary French II3
FRCH 201DIntermediate French I3
FRCH 202DIntermediate French II3
GRMN 102DElementary German II3
GRMN 201DIntermediate German I3
GRMN 202DIntermediate German II3
JPNS 102DElementary Japanese II3
JPNS 201DIntermediate Japanese I3
JPNS 202DIntermediate Japanese II3
SPNS 102DElementary Spanish II3
SPNS 201DIntermediate Spanish I3
SPNS 202DIntermediate Spanish II3

Third: Take Research Methods

PSCI 390RResearch Methods3

Fourth: Take eight of the following upper division courses, at least one from each of the four subfields:

Upper Division Electives by Subfield 

American Political Institutions
PSCI 302Media and Politics3
PSCI 347The U.S. Congress and the Legislative Process3
PSCI 341Political Parties and Elections3
PSCI 346American Presidency3
PSCI 348Multicultural Politics in the United States3
PSCI 429National Security Policy Decision-Making3
PSCI 446Congressional Campaign3
PSCI 451State and Local Government Policy Making3
PSCI 470Rural Politics3
PSCI 471American Constitutional Law3
Political Theory
PSCI 323Modern Political Thought3
PSCI 331International Relations Theory3
PSCI 339Culture and Ideology: The Development of the Modern Prison3
PSCI 354Contemporary Issues in Political Theory3
PSCI 356Classical Political Thought3
PSCI 454Cinema and Political Theory3
PSCI 455Politics & Virtue3
International Relations/Comparative Politics
PSCI 331International Relations Theory3
PSCI 336European Union3
PSCI 337Model United Nations3
PSCI 338Comparative Politics3
PSCI 353British Politics3
PSCI 414Drug Trafficking and Governance in the Americas 3
PSCI 418The Politics of War & Peace3
PSCI 423Politics of Development3
PSCI 429National Security Policy Decision-Making3
PSCI 434International Law3
PSCI 436Politics of Food & Hunger3
PSCI 437International Political Econ3
PSCI 439International Human Rights3
PSCI 483The Politics of Authoritarianism3
Public Administration/Policy
PSCI 362Natural Resource Policy3
PSCI 407Public Policy Analysis3
PSCI 415The Political Economy of Energy3
PSCI 447Politics of Community Development3
PSCI 451State and Local Government Policy Making3
PSCI 461Administrative Law3
PSCI 465Public Administration and Policy3
NRSM 430Natural Resource Law3

 B.A. in Political Science course trajectory

Freshman YearCredits
FallSpring
PSCI 210IS - Introduction to American Government3  
PSCI 250 - Introduction to Political Theory 3  
W CORE - We recommend College Writing I3  
US CORE - University Seminar3  
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 YearCredits
FallSpring
One upper division Political Science course3  
Remaining PSCI Foundation courses and/or University CORE6  
Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements6  
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 YearCredits
FallSpring
Two upper division Political Science courses6  
PSCI 390R - Research Methods3  
Remaining PSCI electives and/or University CORE6  
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 YearCredits
FallSpring
Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements12  
One upper division Political Science course3  
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.