Page 199 of Boston College 2006-2007 University Catalog by Boston College University

Undergraduate Director: Dennis B. Hale, 617-552-4165, dennis.hale.1@bc.edu Honors Program Director: Kenji Hayao, 617-552-4096, kenji.hayao.1@bc.edu Study Abroad Program Advisor: Donald L. Hafner, 617-552-4173, donald.hafner.1@bc.edu Department Administrator: Shirley Gee, 617-552-4144, shirley.gee.1@bc.edu Graduate Secretary: Carol Fialkosky, 617-552-4161, carol.fialkosky.1@bc.edu Department Secretary: Doris Powers, 617-552-4294, doris.powers.1@bc.edu Department Phone: 617-552-4160 Undergraduate Program Description Students majoring in Political Science are prepared for political and administrative careers, foreign service, law, business, journalism, graduate work, and teaching in the social sciences. Political Science Majors The Political Science major at Boston College consists of ten courses: two introductory courses, four subfield courses, and four electives. The normal introductory sequence is a two-semester course entitled Fundamentals of Politics (I and II). Following this sequence, students are required to take eight more courses, with at least one course in each of the four subfields of political science (American politics, comparative politics, international politics, and political theory). The Fundamentals sequence is not like the introductory courses in other majors, such as economics or the natural sciences. That is, it does not present a single curriculum which all students are expected to know before moving on to higher level courses. Rather, the Fundamentals course is designed to introduce the student to the study of politics in a variety of ways, and each faculty member who teaches Fundamentals has his or her own particular style of doing so. There is, however, some common ground. Fundamentals I, usually taught in the fall, is devoted principally to a study of some of the classic texts in political theory, while Fundamentals II, usually taught in the spring, takes as its focus an understanding of the modern state and modern politics, using the United States as a central example, but teaching American politics from a comparative perspective. Classroom discussion is central to the way Fundamentals is taught and is encouraged by the diverse and seriously provocative works read in class (e.g., Plato and Aristotle, but also more modern authors, such as Tocqueville), and by the manageable size of the classes. We try to limit enrollment in the Fundamentals courses to no more than 40 students. That is small enough to foster not only conversation, but close associations among students and with faculty that often endure. Beyond Fundamentals Students go directly from Fundamentals into upper-level electives. The courses taken beyond Fundamentals do not have to be taken in any particular order, and the course numbers (PO 300-399 for American politics, PO 400-499 for comparative politics, and so forth) do not indicate a preferred sequence or level of difficulty. There is a considerable variety in these elective offerings, because each faculty member has a rotating set of courses and teaches four or five of these each year. There are approximately 100 courses open to undergraduates over a four-year period. Many of these courses are seminars--some of them open to graduate students as well as to advanced undergraduates. The seminars meet for two hours once a week, and are usually limited to 15 members, so that there is much more opportunity for sustained and intense analysis of texts and problems than there is in a conventional lecture/discussion format. Political Science classes generally involve a fair amount of reading, and a mixture of short to medium length papers and exams. Advanced courses usually involve papers and exams. Advanced courses usually involve research papers. Good writing, careful reading, and class participation will be essential requirements for high grades. Degree Requirements Fields and Electives Two introductory courses (courses beginning with zero ). The preferred sequences are Fundamentals I and II (PO 041 and PO 042), but students may take other introductory courses instead of PO 041 and PO 042 including: PO 061 Introduction to American Politics, PO 081 Introduction to International Politics, or PO 091 Introduction to Comparative Politics. At least one course in each of the four subfields of Political Science: American Politics (PO 300-399), Comparative Politics (PO 400-499), International Politics (PO 500-599), or Political Theory (PO 600-699) Four electives, from among any courses offered by the department. Note: Courses designated as PO 200-299 count as electives toward the major but do not fulfill the four subfield distributional requirements; courses numbered PO 700 and above are graduate courses. Qualifications, Exceptions, and Special Rules PO 041 and 042 need not be taken in the numerical sequence, although it is generally wise to do so. We recognize that some students coming late to the major will need to take PO 042 prior to PO 041. Students who have already taken one or more Political Science elective courses before deciding on the major may be able to substitute one of those for one of the Fundamentals courses. Approval from the Department is necessary to do so, however. There are courses in Political Science offered in the Woods College of Advancing Studies (WCAS). WCAS courses may be used to fulfill elective requirements only. Students should consult in advance with the Departments Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Dennis Hale, if they intend to use a WCAS course to fulfill a major requirement. Students may transfer up to four courses (12 credits) from other institutions, including foreign study programs. But in no case may a student earn a degree in Political Science without taking at least six courses in the Department. Transfer credits and foreign-study credits may not be used to satisfy the four subfield distributional requirements. Students should consult the other limits and regulations that apply to transfer credits and Study Abroad credits. Honors Program The Department of Political Science has established its own Honors program to encourage and reward high academic achievement among its majors. Admission to the program is by invitation from the Department. Each year 15 to 20 Political Science majors who have completed their sophomore year are invited to join the Honors program. Selection is based on their academic records within the major and overall. The Honors program seeks to provide additional opportu- ARTS AND SCIENCES The Boston College Catalog 2006-2007 199

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