Political Science is the study of justice and authority, peace and conflict, public policies and elections, government and law, democracy and autocracy, freedom and oppression. More than any other social science, Political Science pursues a wide variety of approaches in explaining how and why political events and institutions come about as they do, and in evaluating ways in which polities, policies, and leaders are good and bad, laudable and criticizable. Some of these approaches are like those found in Sociology (survey research), or in Anthropology (ethnography), or in economics (cost-benefit analysis), or in the interpretive branches of history, philosophy, and literary criticism. The variety of complementary approaches housed within the same department is the great strength of Political Science as an undergraduate major. The major is excellent preparation for those planning to go on to law or public policy schools, as well as to graduate work in Political Science. Majors in the department have gone on to careers both in this country and abroad in public service, journalism, law, education, and administration.
There are a variety of ways to begin studying Political Science, and so we offer a wide variety of introductory or entry level courses. While it is not necessary to begin right away, we think that by the end of the sophomore year prospective majors should have completed at least any two and preferably three (especially if you plan to spend all or part of junior year away from Bryn Mawr) of the following Political Science courses offered this year. These courses may be taken in any order; all are equally introductory.
FALL SEMESTER
At Bryn Mawr: 131: Comparative Politics; 141: International Politics; 220: Constitutional Law.
At Haverford: 131: Comparative Government and Politics; 161: The Politics of Globalization
SPRING SEMESTER
At Bryn Mawr: 111: Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies; 121: Introduction to American Politics; 228: Introduction to Political Philosophy (Ancient & Early Modern)
At Haverford: 123: American Politics: Difference and Discrimination; 131: Comparative Government and Politics; 151: International Politics; 171: Introduction to Political Theory: Democratic Authority
There is no prescribed sequence for taking introductory courses; follow your interests and inclinations in choosing among them. Similar courses are offered at Haverford, and count fully as credits toward the Bryn Mawr major. Majors in the Bryn Mawr department must take at least three of their major courses here (in addition to 398-399). It is therefore strongly advised that at least one (and preferably two) of your introductory courses in Political Science be taken at Bryn Mawr.
The course requirements for the major in Political Science are set out in detail in the BMC undergraduate catalogue as follows:
Purpose
The major in Political Science develops reading, writing, and thinking skills needed for a critical understanding of the political world. Course work includes a variety of approaches to the study of politics: historical/interpretive, quantitative/deductive, and philosophical. Using these approaches, students examine political life in a variety of contexts, from neighborhoods to global systems, asking questions about the ways humans have addressed the organization of society, the management of conflicts, or the structure of power and authority.
Course Requirements
The major consists of a minimum of ten courses, including senior conference and senior thesis. Two of these are chosen from the following nine entry-level courses: 101. 121, 123 (at HC), 131, 141, 143 (at HC), 151 (at HC), 228, and 231. The major includes work done in two distinct fields of Political Science. A minimum of three courses must be taken in each field, and at least one course in each field must be at the 300 level. All majors take the senior conference (398) in the first semester of their senior year and write a senior essay (399) in the second. As noted above, all students majoring in Political Science at Bryn Mawr must take at least three Political Science courses at Bryn Mawr College, in addition to 398-399.
Fields
Fields are not fixed in advance, but are set by consultation between the student and the faculty adviser. The most common fields have been comparative politics, international politics, American politics, and political philosophy, but fields have also been established in women and politics, political development, East Asian studies, ethics, legal studies, environmental studies, and political psychology, among others.
Up to three courses from departments other than Political Science may be offered for major credit, if in the judgment of the department these courses are an integral part of a student’s major plan. This may occur when courses taken in related departments or programs (such as History, Sociology, Philosophy, Africana Studies, East Asian Studies, and Economics) are closely linked with courses the student takes in Political Science. For example, a student with a field in international politics may count a course in international economics, or a student with a field in American politics may count a course in American history, and so on. Decisions as to which outside courses are countable for Political Science major credit are made by the faculty on a case by case basis: when in doubt, consult your major advisor or the department chair. Ordinarily, courses at the 100 level or other introductory courses taken in related departments may not be used for major credit in Political Science.
Students who have done distinguished work in their courses in the major and who write outstanding senior essays will be considered for departmental honors.
All Haverford Political Science courses will count toward the Bryn Mawr major (the same is generally true for courses at Swarthmore and the University of Pennsylvania); courses taken in related departments at Haverford will be considered for major credit in the same way as similar courses taken at Bryn Mawr. Everyone majoring in Political Science at Bryn Mawr must take at least three courses in Political Science at Bryn Mawr, not counting Political Science 398 and 399.