Requirements
Basic Introduction to the Political Science Major
Please note that two of our introductory lecture courses have writing intensive sections: PLSC114 Introduction to Political Philosophy and PLSC118 The Moral Foundations of Politics. These sections are designed to give students' writing close critical attention. In doing so, they provide an excellent opportunity for freshmen students to improve their writing skills.
The Yale College Program of Study provides the authoritative
description of the Department’s programs and requirements. The
two most popular versions of the major are the Standard major
and the Interdisciplinary concentration major (described below).
Standard
Major |
Interdisciplinary
Concentration Major |
Intensive
Major |
|
| Requirements of the major | 11
term courses |
12
term courses |
11
term courses |
| Specific courses required | None |
None |
PLSC
474b (Directed reading & research for junior intensive
majors); PLSC 490a/493b (2-term senior essay-with specific
adviser) |
| Distribution of courses | 2
courses in each of 3 fields.* 2 seminars (at least one in senior year) |
2
courses in each of 2 fields * plus 7 in field of concentration.**
2 seminars (at least one in senior year) |
2
courses in each of 3 fields.* 2 seminars plus PLSC 474b |
| Substitution permitted: | Up
to 3 courses in other departments** |
Up
to 2 courses in other depts toward distribution; 3 toward
IDC** |
Up
to 3 courses in other departments** |
| Senior Requirements | Senior
seminar essay. Other options include the Yearlong Senior
Essay 490/491 and One-Term Senior Essay 480 |
Senior
seminar essay in field of concentration. Other options include
the Yearlong Senior Essay 490/491 and One-Term Senior Essay
480 |
2-term
senior essay (PLSC 490a/493b – with specific adviser) |
*There are five fields to choose from: (1) American Government,
(2) Comparative Government, (3) International Relations, (4) Analytical
Political Theory, and (5) Political Philosophy.
** Requires DUS approval.
List of Interdisciplinary
Concentrations and Courses
List
of Courses with Field Distributions
Official Yale College program and course information is found in Yale College Programs of Study, available on line at www.yale.edu/yalecollege /publications/ycps.
