Program Overview

The major in political science requires 30 credit hours in POL courses. 21 of those credits must be completed in residence.

Curriculum Requirements

Departmental Core Courses
POL 201Introduction to American National Government3
POL 202Introduction to Comparative Politics3
POL 203Introduction to International Relations3
or INS 101 Global Perspectives
Select a minimum of six credit hours of 500-level seminar courses offered by the University of Miami6
Select a minimum of one course above the 200-level in three of the following five principal sub-fields of political science 19
American Politics:
American Political Thought
Conspiracy Theories and the Public
The Constitution
Legislative Processes
American Presidency
Race and Ethnic Politics in the U.S.
Crime and Punishment: Implicit Bias in the Justice System
Hot Topics in the Criminal Justice System
Native American Politics
Mass Media and Politics
Campaigns
Democracy in Action: Local Government Simulation
State Government and Politics
Government in Metropolitan Areas
Gender and Politics
U.S. Defense Policy
Public Opinion
Political Parties
Interest Groups and Lobbying
Latinx Politics
Special Topics in American Politics
Transfer Credit In American Politics
The Election
Politics of Civil Rights
Biology and Politics
Media Content Analysis
Advanced Seminar on Electoral Behavior
U.S. Election Administration Challenges
Intelligence and National Security Decision Making
U.S. Health Care Crisis: Politics and Policies
Education Politics and Policy
Congressional Representation
Civic Participation and Democracy
Advanced Seminar on American Politics
The Environmental Movement: Groups, Beliefs and Values
Activism
LGBTI Politics
Disasters and Humanitarian Assistance
Urban Politics
Civil Security Preparedness and Management
Special Topics in American Politics
Comparative Politics
Politics of Globalism
Global Warming, Politics and the European Union
Gender and Politics
Social Movements
Global Energy Politics
African Politics
South East Asian Politics
West European Politics (Previous Title: European Politics and Government)
Government and Politics of the Federal Republic of Germany
Russian Politics
Politics and Society in Latin America
Democratic Consolidation and Erosion
Politics of the Middle East
Politics of Israel
Special Topics in Comparative Politics
Transfer Credit in Comparative Politics
Contemporary Challenges to Democracy
Comparative Public Policy and Administration
Comparative Political Institutions
Global Environmental Politics
Art and Politics in Paris
Activism
Indigenous Politics from a Global Perspective
LGBTI Politics
Disasters and Humanitarian Assistance
The Politics of Civil- Military Relations
The politics of post-communist transactions
Comparative Political Economy of Post-Industrial Democracies
International Development Policy
Civil Security Preparedness and Management
Contemporary Latin American Politics
Politics in China
International Political Economy
Special Topics in Comparative Politics
International Relations
Politics of Globalism
Global Warming, Politics and the European Union
War, Diplomacy, and Influence
International Law and Organizations
Civil Wars
Nationalism, Ethnicity, and Political Conflict
The United States and Asia
U.S.-Latin American Relations
American Foreign Policy
United States Relations with the Middle East
U.S. Defense Policy
International Cooperation
Theories and Debates in International Relations
International Organizations
Ending Wars and Building Peace
Psychology and International Relations
The Historical Roots of American Imperialism
Global Energy Politics
Special Topics in International Relations
International Terrorism
Transfer Credits in International Relations
Security in the Arabian Peninsula
Intelligence and National Security Decision Making
Global Environmental Politics
Chinese Foreign Policy
International Organizations
Ending Wars and Building Peace
The World Before European Domination
Indigenous Politics from a Global Perspective
Uniting States in International Perspective
The Politics of Civil- Military Relations
On Violence: The Politics of Extremes
Security in South Asia: The Conflicts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India
Energy and Security in Eurasia
International Development Policy
Post-Communist Russian Foreign Policy
Conflict in the Middle East and Africa
Illicit Trade in the Global Economy
International Security
International Political Economy
International Relations of the Middle East
European Security
Special Topics in International Relations
Public Administration, Policy, and Law
Economics for Politics and Public Administration
Politics of the Administrative Process
Politics of Growth Management
Introduction to Public Policy
Environmental Politics and Policy
Crime and Punishment: Implicit Bias in the Justice System
Hot Topics in the Criminal Justice System
Democracy in Action: Local Government Simulation
International Law and Organizations
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Constitutional Law I
Constitutional Law II
Special Topics in Public Administration, Policy, and Law
Transfer Credit in Public Administration, Policy, and Law
Budget and Financial Management and Administration
Organizational Dynamics and Management
Equity and Diversity in Public Administration
Issues in Judicial Pol.
Introduction to Graduate Public Administration
Problems in Public and Non-Profit Management
Non-Profit Organizations: Law, Policy, and Management
Comparative Public Policy and Administration
Administrative Law
Courts and Controversy
Applied Policy Analysis
U.S. Health Care Crisis: Politics and Policies
The Law and Politics of Sports
Education Politics and Policy
Human Resource Management in Public Service
Philosophy of Law
Environmental Policy Making
Public Policy Process and Implementation
Energy Policy: Technology, Politics, and Society
Productivity in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors
Total Quality Public Service Management: Achieving High Performance Government
Politics and Ethics
Ethical and Managerial Issues in Government, Business, and Non-Profit Organizations
From Electronic Government to Digital Governance
Public Program Evaluation
Municipal Modernization in the 21st Century
Collaborative Governance
Government and Business
Disasters and Humanitarian Assistance
Civil Security Preparedness and Management
Special Topics in Public Administration, Policy, and Law
Political Theory and Methods
Scope and Methods of Political Science
The Science and Practice of Political Research
Political Fiction and Film
Introduction to Political Theory
Positive Political Theory
Political Ideologies
American Political Thought
Conspiracy Theories and the Public
Politics, Society and Popular Culture
Special Topics in Political Theory and Methods
Transfer Credit in Political Theory and Methods
From Plato Through Rawls
Statistics for Politics and Public Administration
Advanced Political Analysis
Models of Politics
Popular Culture and Politics
Media Content Analysis
Experiments in Political Science
Introductory Statistical Methods in Political Science
Advanced Statistical Methods in Political Science
Introduction to Game Theory for Political Science
Philosophy of Law
Senior Thesis
Senior Thesis II
Special Topics in Political Theory and Methods
POL Electives (300-level or higher)6
General Education Requirements
Written Communication Skills:
WRS 105First-Year Writing I3
WRS 106First-Year Writing II3
or ENG 106 Writing About Literature and Culture
Quantitative Skills:
MTH 108Precalculus Mathematics II (or higher) 23
Areas of Knowledge:
Arts and Humanities Cognate9
People & Society Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major)
STEM Cognate 39
Additional Requirements
Language Requirement3
Minor Requirement15
Electives45
Total Credit Hours120
1

Please note that some courses cover more than one sub-field. Students may not, however, use a single class to fulfill multiple sub-field requirements. An Internship (POL480),  Directed Research (POL489), Directed Readings (POL490), or Senior Thesis (POL563 or POL564) may be used to fulfill a subfield requirement with the permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

2

The Quantitative Skills Proficiency Requirement helps students learn to use quantitative skills and tools to solve problems, including the interpretation, manipulation, and application of quantitative data. Students fulfill this requirement by completing either a Department of Mathematics course numbered MTH 108 Precalculus Mathematics II or higher, MTH 113 Finite Mathematics (recommended for non-STEM majors), or a statistics course approved by the student’s college/school and the University Curriculum Committee in consultation with appropriate academic units.

3

Please note that for the Natural Science Area of Knowledge Requirement degree candidates must earn at least 3 credit hours in the Natural Sciences. Departments offering these courses include Anthropology (only APY 203), Biology, Chemistry, Ecosystem Science and Policy (only ECS 111ECS 112ECS 202), Geography (only GEG 120), Geological Sciences, Marine Sciences (except MSC 313MSC 314), Physical Sciences, and Physics. These credit hours may double count with any other requirement.

*

All majors must complete a quiz for graduating seniors (to be used for assessment purposes) during their last semester of coursework.

**

To satisfy the Advanced Writing & Communication proficiency requirement, students majoring in political science must complete at least one of the four required writing-intensive courses in the Department of Political Science.

***

A student may only share (i.e., "double count") maximally 6 credits between majors and minors offered by the Department of Political Science.

****

To count toward the major, each course must be completed with a grade of C- or above, with an overall GPA of 2.0 or above.

Suggested Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredit Hours
POL 201 Introduction to American National Government 3
POL 202 Introduction to Comparative Politics 3
MTH 113 Finite Mathematics 3
WRS 105 First-Year Writing I 3
Arts and Humanities Cognate 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
POL 203 Introduction to International Relations 3
WRS 106 First-Year Writing II 3
Arts and Humanities Cognate 3
Elective 3
STEM Cognate 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Year
Fall
American Politics Course 3
Language Course 3
Arts and Humanities Cognate 3
STEM Cognate 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
Comparative Politics Course 3
Language Course 3
STEM Cognate 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Third Year
Fall
500 Level POL Seminar Course 1 3
International Relations Course 3
Language Course 3
Minor Course 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
500 Level POL Seminar Course 1 3
POL Elective (300 Level or Higher) 3
Minor Course 3
Minor Course 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall
POL Elective (300 Level or Higher) 3
Minor Course 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours120
1

This includes any 500-level seminar offered by the Department of Political Science or cross-listed with Political Science.

Mission

The Department of Political Science (POL) is a community of scholars and students seeking a deeper understanding of politics, and fosters a commitment to lifelong learning, intellectual growth, and civic responsibility. POL is dedicated to helping students develop analytical abilities, communication skills, and the awareness of political processes in a complex global society. We provide students with rigorous training in the field of political science, and exposure to new knowledge through empirical social science research.

Goals

Political science majors gain an understanding of American political and legal life, the workings of other countries’ political and economic systems, the relations among countries in the international arena, and key concepts in both political philosophy and social science methodology.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will develop knowledge of key political science concepts.
  • Students will develop the ability to analyze evidence and draw reasoned conclusions.
  • Students will develop the ability to communicate clearly in written form.