Program Overview

Political Science Program

The Political Science program at Gonzaga University invites students to examine political thought, action, systems, and power. A major or minor in political science provides an enduring political education for citizens, a solid basis for graduate work, a fine background for the study of law, the teaching or practice of politics, and political change.

Program Overview

Our faculty believes that public-spirited participation in civic affairs serves the department's mission and the mission of Gonzaga University. We encourage majors to do politics in our public affairs internships and other forms of experiential learning as well as in pursuing their own political interests and passions. In the fall or spring semester of their senior year, all political science majors take POLS 498 Senior Seminar. This capstone experience allows our students to integrate and apply what they have learned in as Political Science students to contemporary politics.

Program Requirements

• Course List Code | Title | Hours
  • Lower Division
    • POLS 101 | Introduction to American Politics | 3
    • POLS 103 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3
    • POLS 104 | Introduction International Relations | 3
    • POLS 201 | Political Thought and Praxis 1 | 3
    • POLS 202 | How to Study Politics 1 | 3
  • Upper Division
    • Upper division courses require Junior or Senior standing or instructor permission
    • POLS 498 | Senior Seminar | 3
  • Concentrations
    • Select one of the following concentrations: | 18
      • American Politics
      • Comparative Politics
      • International Relations
  • Total Hours | 36

Concentrations

American Politics Concentration

• Course List Code | Title | Hours
  • Select nine credits in American Politics | 9
    • POLS 301-327
    • POLS 332 | American Political Thought: Founding Era
    • POLS 346 | Tocqueville and America
    • POLS 484 | Seminar in American Politics
  • Select one course in Political Thought | 3
    • POLS 317 | Ecological Thought and Politics
    • POLS 330-346
    • POLS 486 | Seminar in Political Thought
  • Select one course in Comparative or International Politics | 3
    • POLS 328 | Politics of the Pacific Northwest
    • POLS 329 | North American Environmental Policies
    • POLS 343 | War and Peace
    • POLS 350-380
    • POLS 487-488
  • Elective
    • Select one of the following: | 3
      • POLS 301-497
  • Total Hours | 18

Comparative Politics Concentration

• Course List Code | Title | Hours
  • Select one course in American Politics: | 3
    • POLS 301-327
    • POLS 332 | American Political Thought: Founding Era
    • POLS 346 | Tocqueville and America
    • POLS 484 | Seminar in American Politics
  • Select one course in Political Thought: | 3
    • POLS 317 | Ecological Thought and Politics
    • POLS 330-346
    • POLS 486 | Seminar in Political Thought
  • Select nine credits in Comparative Politics | 9
    • POLS 328 | Politics of the Pacific Northwest
    • POLS 329 | North American Environmental Policies
    • POLS 352-357
    • POLS 360 | Parliamentary Government
    • POLS 364 | Politics of the Pacific Rim
    • POLS 365 | African Politics and Development
    • POLS 368 | Tyranny to Democracy in the 21st Century
    • POLS 372 | Middle East Politics
    • POLS 488 | Seminar in Comparative Politics
  • Elective
    • Select one of the following: | 3
      • POLS 301-497
  • Total Hours | 18

International Relations Concentration

• Course List Code | Title | Hours
  • Select one course in American Politics: | 3
    • POLS 301-327
    • POLS 332 | American Political Thought: Founding Era
    • POLS 346 | Tocqueville and America
    • POLS 484 | Seminar in American Politics
  • Select one course in Political Thought: | 3
    • POLS 317 | Ecological Thought and Politics
    • POLS 330-346
    • POLS 486 | Seminar in Political Thought
  • Select nine credits in International Politics | 9
    • POLS 343 | War and Peace
    • POLS 350 | Survey of Internatnl Studies
    • POLS 351 | International Relations
    • POLS 359 | Global South Development
    • POLS 361 | European Relations
    • POLS 363 | Global Gender Regimes
    • POLS 366 | Perspectives on Global Issues
    • POLS 367 | New Europe
    • POLS 369-371
    • POLS 373-380
    • POLS 487 | Seminar in International Relations
  • Elective
    • Select one of the following: | 3
      • POLS 301-497
  • Total Hours | 18

Political Science Minor

Program Requirements

• Course List Code | Title | Hours
  • Lower Division
    • POLS 101 | Introduction to American Politics | 3
    • POLS 103 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3
    • or POLS 104 | Introduction International Relations
  • Electives
    • Select 12 credits of the following: | 12
      • POLS 201 | Political Thought and Praxis
      • POLS 202 | How to Study Politics
      • POLS 301-497
  • Total Hours | 18

Courses

• POLS 101. Introduction to American Politics. (3 Credits) The American Constitution: the evolution of democracy and the structure of the national government. Congress: the Presidency and the courts. Political parties and interest groups. Public policy in domestic and foreign affairs. How to think about politics. Fall and Spring.
• POLS 103. Introduction to Comparative Politics. (3 Credits) Comparison of key political institutions, political attitudes, patterns of interaction, and long-term quarrels in selected countries from Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America. How legislatures, executives, and political parties work and the influence of culture, social structure, ideology, and nationalism. Fall and Spring.
• POLS 104. Introduction International Relations. (3 Credits) This course is designed to be an introduction to the political science subfield of international relations. The course will cover the major theoretical perspectives in international relations, security and economic relations between states, and global challenges that states face from non-state actors and the environment. Fall and Spring.
• POLS 201. Political Thought and Praxis. (3 Credits) This course serves as an introduction to the field of political theory for students of political science. The concepts considered include democracy, equality, freedom, and justice with examination of additional fundamental concepts informed by instructor preference and contemporary political events. Students in this course will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate theory and, importantly, apply it to political practice (praxis). Fall Semester.
• POLS 202. How to Study Politics. (3 Credits) This course introduces Political Science majors to the research methods used in the discipline of Political Science. In addition to developing fundamental research skills for Political Science majors, it teaches students how to fact-check and evaluate sources and to think critically about information gleaned from a variety of media. Spring.

... (rest of the courses and details)