Major in Political Science - 43 credits
Required Courses...................................22 credits
POL216 American Government and Politics (4)
POL227 Introduction to International Politics (4)
POL229 Introduction to Comparative Politics (4)
POL300 Scope and Methods of Political Science (3) [pre-requisite for senior seminar]
POL323 Modern Political Theory (4)
OR
POL220 Classical and Medieval Political Theory (4)
POL4XX Senior Seminar (3)
Political Science Electives........................21 credits
Majors are required to complete 21 credits of electives. Twelve credits are to come from courses in one of the following sub-fields: American government, political theory, comparative politics, international politics or law. The other nine credits are to be in courses from the remaining four sub-fields. Only nine credits of internship may be applied to the major while the remaining 6 credits will be upper-division credits towards graduation.
Courses used to meet the requirements of any other major or minor may not be used to meet the requirements of this major.
Students must earn a grade of C- or better in courses used for the Political Science major.
Major International Relations - 41 credits*
Required Courses....................................……..20 credits
POL227 Introduction to International Politics (4)
POL300 Scope and Methods (3)
POL306 Contemporary American Foreign Policy (3)
POL404 Seminar in International Relations (3)
One of the following:
ANT214 Cultural Anthropology (3)
GEO274 Environment and Culture (3)
One of the following in international economics:*
ECO302 Comparative Economic Systems (4)
ECO401 International Trade and Finance (4)
ECO418 Economics of Developments (4)
ECO4XX Economics of the Pacific Rim
* Or other international economics courses approved by the chair.
Elective Courses......................................21 credits
Majors are required to complete fifteen credits by advisement, selected from among those courses accepted for credit in the International Relations major/minor program. No more than 3-4 credits (one course) may be at the 200 level.
Six credits by advisement are to come from courses concerned with a single world area selected from among those courses accepted for credit in the International Relations major/minor program.
All international economics courses require a minimum of ECO206 or ECO207 as a prerequisite. (3 credits)
Courses used to meet the requirements of any other major or minor may not be used to meet the requirements of this major.
Students must earn a grade of "C-" or better in courses used for the International Relations major.
*NOTE: The International Relations major is 41 credits. Either ECO206 or ECO207 (3 credits) is also required as a pre-requisite for any of the four International Economics courses in this major.
Honors
A departmental honors program allows the department to recognize student excellence in Political Science or International Relations. Student majors who maintain a college GPA and a GPA in Political Science or International Relations of 3.3 may apply to do individual Honors Research (POL491) for 3 credits. The full department will review the student's final paper, and will determine whether it warrants a recommendation of "Honors in Political Science: or "Honors in International Relations."
A chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, was established by the department at SUNY New Paltz in 1979 and charter members were inducted in that year. Each year, outstanding eligible undergraduates at New Paltz are invited to join the society. Membership is open to students, regardless of major, if they meet the following requirements: 1) completion of at least 60 college credits; 2) completion of at least 15 credits in Political Science, either at SUNY New Paltz or in transfer; 3) completion fo at least 3 credits of Political Science at the upper-division (300) level; 4) a GPA of at least 3.0 in Political Science classes, at SUNY New Paltz and at other schools; and 5) an overall GPA of at least 3.0, at SUNY New Paltz and at other schools.
