Major & Minor Requirements
The study of Politics at Saint Mary’s requires proficiency in four major subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics, and Political Theory.
Students who have completed the Politics major will be able to do the following:
DEMONSTRATE knowledge of institutions, principles, and theories of American constitutional democracy.
POL 1 Introduction to Comparative Politics
POL 2 Introduction to American Politics
POL 3 Introduction to Political Thought
POL 4 Introduction to International Politics
Writing in the Discipline: (1 Required Course)
POL 100 Writing, Research, and Analysis for Politics Majors (intended for sophomores)
8 Upper Division Courses (one in each subfield and any other 4 Electives)
American Politics (1 Required Course)
POL 101 State and Urban Politics
POL 102 Political Parties and Pressure Groups
POL 103 Elections and Voting Behavior
POL 104 United States Public and Constitutional Law
POL 105 Presidency and Congress
POL 106 Politics of Labor
POL 107 American Legal Institutions
POL 108 CIA and the Intelligence Community
POL 109 Topics in American Politics
POL 110 Politics of Race
POL 130 Introduction to Public Administration
POL 133 Politics of Imprisonment
POL 135 Environmental Politics
POL 136 Environmental Law and Regulation
Political Theory (1 Required Course)
POL 111 Modern Political Thought
POL 112 American Political Thought
POL 113 Just and Unjust Wars
POL 114 Topics in Political Thought
POL 115 Theories of Justice
POL 116 Political Polling and Survey Research
POL 117 Theory of Law
International Politics (1 Required Course)
POL 120 International Relations
POL 121 Governing the Global Economy
POL 122 Topics in International Politics
POL 123 American Foreign Policy
POL 124 Defense Policy
POL 125 Human Rights
POL 126 Food Politics
POL 127 Field Work for POL 126: Food Politics (.25)
POL 128 Dynamics of Terrorism
POL 129 Politics of Developing Countries
Comparative Politics (1 Required Course)
POL 140 Gender Politics A/B
POL 141 Contemporary Revolutions
POL 143 Middle East Politics
POL 144 Asian Politics
POL 145 Latin American Politics
POL 146 West European Politics
POL 147 Russian Politics from Lenin to Putin
POL 148 East European Politics
POL 149 Topics in Comparative Politics
The department faculty recommend that students complete the introductory lower divsion course in the specific subfield before taking a correspoding upper division course in that subfield: Politics 1 for upper divison Comparative Politics courses, Politics 2 for upper division American Politics courses, Politics 3 for upper division Political Theory courses, and Politics 4 for upper division International Politics courses.
Prerequisite Grade
Any course listed in this department with a prerequisite assumes a grade of C– or better in the prerequisite course.
Any two of the four lower division politics courses:
POL 1 Introduction to Comparative Politics
POL 2 Introduction to American Politics
POL 3 Introduction to Political Thought
POL 4 Introduction to International Politics
Four upper division politics courses:
American Politics (1 Course)
POL 101 State and Urban Politics
POL 102 Political Parties and Pressure Groups
POL 103 Elections and Voting Behavior
POL 104 United States Public and Constitutional Law
POL 105 Presidency and Congress
POL 106 Politics of Labor
POL 107 American Legal Institutions
POL 108 CIA and the Intelligence Community
POL 109 Topics in American Politics
POL 110 Politics of Race
POL 130 Introduction to Public Administration
POL 133
POL 135 Environmental Politics
POL 136 Environmental Law and Regulation
Political Theory (1 Course)
POL 111 Modern Political Thought
POL 112 American Political Thought
POL 113 Just and Unjust Wars
POL 114 Topics in Political Thought
POL 115 Theories of Justice
POL 116 Political Polling and Survey Research
POL 117 Theory of Law
International Politics (1 Course)
POL 120 International Relations
POL 121 Governing the Global Economy
POL 122 Topics in International Politics
POL 123 American Foreign Policy
POL 124 Defense Policy
POL 125 Human Rights
POL 126 Food Politics
POL 127 Field Work for POL 126: Food Politics
POL 128 Dynamics of Terrorism
POL 129 Politics of Developing Countries
Comparative Politics (1 Course)
POL 140 Gender Politics A/B
POL 141 Contemporary Revolutions
POL 143 Middle East Politics
POL 144 Asian Politics
POL 145 Latin American Politics
POL 146 West European Politics
POL 147 Russian Politics from Lenin to Putin
POL 148 East European Politics
POL 149 Topics in Comparative Politics
The department faculty recommend that students complete the introductory lower divsion course in the specific subfield before taking a correspoding upper division course in that subfield: Politics 1 for upper divison Comparative Politics courses, Politics 2 for upper division American Politics courses, Politics 3 for upper division Political Theory courses, and Politics 4 for upper division International Politics courses.
The Politics Department offers a minor in Law and Society. This minor is an interdisciplinary program designed for students who wish to learn how social forces influence the legal system and how law affects society.
Law is central to the organization of society. It shapes what it means to be female or male, a child or adult, a citizen or non-citizen. Law determines the quality of our water and food; the rights we have to sue or be sued; how we are protected by law enforcement or from law enforcement. As the influence of legal institutions in society grows, understanding the place of law in our social, political, economic, and cultural life becomes increasingly important.
The Law and Society minor is open to all undergraduates. It helps prepare students for a wide range of professional opportunities in justice-related careers in law and related professions. For more information, contact a member of the Politics Department faculty.
Students who successfully complete this minor will:
POL 107 American Legal Institutions
Domestic Justice Courses (Select one)
BUSAD 120 Law and Business
COMM 118 Media Law
JC&L 120 Theory and Inquiry in Justice, Community and Leadership
KINES 108 Legal and Administrative Issues
POL 104 Constitutional Law
POL 112 American Political Thought
POL 117 American Legal Theory (new course)
POL 136 Environmental Law
SOC 124 Justice and Community
SOC 128 Crime and Delinquency
Global Justice Courses (Select one)
BUSAD 10 Global Perspectives in Business and Society
GRS 1 Introduction to Global and Regional Studies
JCL 140 Justice in the Global Community
PHIL 114 Philosophy of Law
PHIL 115 Modern Legal Philosophy
POL 115 Theories of Justice
POL 125 Human Rights
SOC 135 Globalization
TRS 117 Wealth and Poverty in the Bible
Skills Courses (Select one)
COMM 10 Argument and Advocacy
ENG 100 Advanced Composition
ES 50 Creating Community: Introduction to Skills for Building a Socially Just Society
PHIL 5 Practical Logic
PHIL 133 The Art of Logic
Field Placement Courses (Select one):
COM 161 Communication and Social Justice*
ECON 100 Wealth, Poverty, and Social Justice*
JC&L 10 Introduction to Justice Community and Leadership*
POL 110 Politics and Race*
POL 140 Gender Politics*
POL 195 Internship (in a law-related public or private organization)
SOC 126 Field Experience (in a law-related public or private organization)
SOC 195 Internship (in a law-related public or private organization)
TRS 143 Catholic Social Teaching*
JC&L 10 Introduction to Justice, Community, and Leadership*
POL 110 Politics and Race*
POL 140 Gender Politics*
POL 195 Internship (in a law-related public or private organization)
SOC 126 Field Experience (in a law-related public or private organization)
SOC 195 Internship (in a law-related public or private organization)
TRS 143 Catholic Social Teaching*
*Community-engagement designated courses
Elective Courses (Select one) Either a second course from the list of American or Global Justice courses, or:
BUSAD 121 Advanced Legal Topics in Business
COMM 107 Political Communication
COMM 100 Communication Theory
COMM 113 Rhetorical Criticism
COMM 116 Advertising and Civic Engagement
ES 1 Introduction to Ethnic Studies
POL 3 Introduction to Political Thought
SOC 4 Social Problems
SOC 112 Race and Identity
SOC 115 Wealth and Poverty
SOC 123 Ethnic Groups in the United States
SOC 125 Gender and Society
WGS 1 Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies
Prerequisite Grade
Any course listed in this department with a prerequisite assumes a grade of C– or better in the prerequisite course.