Political Studies Major

Requirements for the Major

Satisfactory completion of twelve (12) courses in Political Studies. These must include:

1. POST 010A PZ , POST 010B PZ  and POST 070 PZ .
2. At least one course in each of the four sub-fields: U.S., Comparative, Political Philosophy and Global.
3. At least three upper-level courses in one of the four sub-fields (upper level courses require that appropriate introductory-level courses have been taken).
4. A senior seminar, offered in Fall or Spring semester, which includes a major research paper.

Political Studies majors intending to pursue graduate study or careers in politics and public policy are strongly recommended to take:

POST 091 PZ  and 93

• 2 years of language study
• Macroeconomics and Microeconomics
• A survey course in modern world history and another history course
• appropriate to one’s focus of study
• An off-campus internship in a political organization. Certain Pitzer External Studies programs provide such opportunities and internships are also available in Politics of Water and Labor and Politics

POST 010A PZ  will normally be offered in Fall semester, POST 010B PZ  in Spring. Students are strongly encouraged to take these courses in their first year. POST 070 PZ  will normally be offered in the Fall and is best taken by students in their sophomore or junior years.

Senior Thesis: Those students who wish to write a senior thesis must present a proposal or paper to the Political Studies Field Group at the end of the prior semester for approval.

Honors:

Exceptional students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better may be awarded honors in Political Studies on the basis of the excellence of their work in the major and on a senior thesis.