Program Overview

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Introduction to the Political Science Program

The Political Science program at Western Washington University is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of politics and government. The program is committed to the belief that understanding politics and government is essential to a well-educated person, vital to democratic citizenship, indispensable to effective public service, and critical to the maintenance and ethical progress of a free society.

Program Description

The Political Science curriculum prepares students for careers in public service-related occupations in both government and business. Many students majoring in Political Science go on to law school, graduate school, and into related professions. The program offers a broad and diverse curriculum that reflects the concerns of modern Political Science, including questions of political philosophy and social scientific research.

Why Consider a Political Science Major?

The Political Science major is ideal for students who are interested in careers in public service, law, government, and related fields. The program provides students with a strong foundation in political theory, international relations, comparative politics, and American politics and public policy.

Student Resources

• Department Website: The Political Science department website provides students with information on program requirements, course offerings, and faculty research interests.
• Contact Information: Students can contact the department's Administrative Services Manager or Program Coordinator for assistance with program-related matters.
• Degree Works: Current students can log on to Degree Works to check their student-specific program progress.
• Career Services Center: The Career Services Center provides students with resources and support to connect their major to a career.

Sample Careers

• Campaign Manager
• Politician
• Lobbyist
• Attorney
• Public Relations Specialist
• FBI/CIA Agent
• Consumer Advocate
• Journalist
• Labor Relations Specialist
• City Manager
• Author
• Urban Planner

Admission and Declaration Process

Students are eligible to declare the political science major and any of the majors combined with political science if they have completed any two of the following core courses: PLSC 250, 261, 271, 291, or the equivalent course(s) at another college or university. Due to high student demand and limited capacity, immediate access to specific courses cannot be guaranteed. Priority is given to seniors and juniors who need courses to graduate.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student's major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.

Program Requirements

The Political Science major requires 60 credits, including:

• PLSC 101, 435, 443, 444, 447, and 448 credits apply toward the major but do not count in any field.
• No more than 10 credits of internship or independent study may be counted toward the major.
• Core courses in each of the four fields are required:
  • PLSC 250 for American Politics and Public Policy
  • PLSC 261 for Political Theory
  • PLSC 271 for International Relations
  • PLSC 291 for Comparative Politics
• Students must complete one upper-division course in any two fields (no course may count for more than one field).
• One course from:
  • PLSC 431, PLSC 432, PLSC 433, PLSC 434

Course Offerings

The Political Science program offers a wide range of courses in the following fields:

• American Politics and Public Policy:
  • PLSC 250 - The American Political System
  • PLSC 311 - Introduction to Law and the Legal System
  • PLSC 313 - Law, Courts, Politics, Society: Non-legal Perspectives of Law
  • PLSC 314 - The U.S. Supreme Court: Law and Politics
  • PLSC 321 - Queer and Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Politics
  • PLSC 322 - Latino Politics
  • PLSC 323 - Black Politics in the U.S.
  • PLSC 326 - Policy Analysis: Understanding Public Problems & Policy Solutions
  • PLSC 327 - Urban Politics and Policy in the U.S.
  • PLSC 330 - American Democracy and the Politics of Education
  • PLSC 345 - Women and Politics
  • PLSC 346 - Politics of Inequality
  • PLSC 347 - Race, Politics and Public Policy
  • PLSC 348 - Environmental Justice
  • PLSC 353 - State and Local Politics
  • PLSC 357 - Health Policy
  • PLSC 366 - Quantitative Methods in Political Science
  • PLSC 387 - Applied Skills in Political Science
  • PLSC 398 - Immigration Politics
  • PLSC 414 - Constitutional Law: Separation of Powers and Federalism
  • PLSC 415 - Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties
  • PLSC 420 - Environmental Politics
  • PLSC 422 - Race and Political Identification
  • PLSC 423 - The American Presidency
  • PLSC 427 - Politics of the Policy Process
  • PLSC 431 - Senior Seminar in American Politics and Public Policy
  • PLSC 449 - Politics and Social Change
  • PLSC 450 - Parties, Campaigns and Elections
  • PLSC 467 - Philosophical and Ethical Issues in Law
  • PLSC 489 - Managing an International Ecosystem
• Political Theory:
  • PLSC 261 - Introduction to Political Theory
  • PLSC 361 - Classical Political Thought
  • PLSC 362 - Political Theory: Renaissance and Modern
  • PLSC 364 - Contemporary Political Theory
  • PLSC 432 - Senior Seminar - Political Theory
  • PLSC 462 - The Rise of Modern Political Economy
  • PLSC 463 - American Political Thought
  • PLSC 469 - Feminist Political Theory
  • PLSC 471 - Race and Political Theory
  • PLSC 472 - Comparative Political Thought
  • PLSC 473 - Politics and Culture
  • PLSC 480 - Politics, Government and Religion
  • PLSC 493 - Issues in Political Theory
• International Relations:
  • PLSC 271 - Introduction to International Relations
  • PLSC 310 - The International Security of East Asia
  • PLSC 312 - International Relations of South Asia
  • PLSC 315 - Why We Fight
  • PLSC 325 - Quebec Politics and Quebec-U.S. Relations
  • PLSC 366 - Research in Politics
  • PLSC 370 - Global Issues in International Politics
  • PLSC 372 - International Political Economy
  • PLSC 376 - American Foreign Policy
  • PLSC 387 - Applied Skills in Political Science
  • PLSC 399 - The Politics of Democratization
  • PLSC 403 - The European Union and the Process of European Integration
  • PLSC 434 - Senior Seminar in International Politics
  • PLSC 436 - Managing Environmental Commons
• Comparative Politics:
  • PLSC 291 - Introduction to Comparative Politics
  • PLSC 301 - The British Parliamentary System
  • PLSC 302 - Western Europe
  • PLSC 307 - Government and Politics of East Asia
  • PLSC 308 - African Political Systems
  • PLSC 309 - Globalization from Political, Economic, and Social Perspectives
  • PLSC 312 - International Relations of South Asia
  • PLSC 315 - Why We Fight
  • PLSC 325 - Quebec Politics and Quebec-U.S. Relations
  • PLSC 357 - Health Policy
  • PLSC 366 - Research in Politics
  • PLSC 374 - Comparative Foreign Policy
  • PLSC 378 - Communist Regimes: A Brief History
  • PLSC 383 - Political Geography
  • PLSC 385 - Nationalism, Genocide and Global Politics
  • PLSC 387 - Applied Skills in Political Science
  • PLSC 390 - The Politics of Development
  • PLSC 395 - Politics of Latin America
  • PLSC 396 - Politics of Mexico
  • PLSC 399 - The Politics of Democratization
  • PLSC 402 - Regional European Society and Politics
  • PLSC 403 - The European Union and the Process of European Integration
  • PLSC 404 - Gangs, Organized Crime, and the State in the Americas
  • PLSC 406 - Canadian Government and Politics
  • PLSC 430 - Modern Chinese Politics
  • PLSC 433 - Senior Seminar in Comparative Politics
  • PLSC 436 - Managing Environmental Commons
  • PLSC 449 - Politics and Social Change
  • PLSC 452 - Comparative Political Parties and Party Systems
  • PLSC 453 - Comparative Electoral Systems
  • PLSC 491 - Issues in Political Economy

Departmental Honors

The Department of Political Science offers honors to students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and research skills. To be eligible for departmental honors, students must:

• Be a declared political science major with senior standing (135+ credits)
• Have a 3.5 GPA in all upper-division political science courses
• Have completed both core requirements for the major (PLSC 250, PLSC 261, PLSC 271, and PLSC 291) and completed courses in the area most closely related to the thesis topic
• Have completed one of the following:
  • Two years of foreign language with a B (3.0) or better GPA
  • PLSC 366 Research in Politics, or an equivalent class in social statistics under advisement, and earn a grade of B (3.0) or better
• Submit the completed Honors Contract to the Political Science Department office with proper faculty signatures

To graduate with honors in Political Science, students must:

• Maintain a cumulative 3.5 in all upper-division political science courses
• Complete 4-10 credits of PLSC 496 Honors Tutorial over two quarters under the supervision of a faculty thesis advisor
• Give an oral presentation of the thesis in arrangement with the faculty thesis advisor
• Submit a copy of the honors thesis to the Political Science Department office before the final grade is assigned

University Graduation Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must also meet the university's graduation requirements, which include:

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement