Political Studies
Political Studies examines political values, interests, institutions, power and the processes of governing. Courses explore these questions using a variety of methodological approaches.
Political Studies consists of four sub-fields: Political Philosophy examines the history of political concepts such as authority, law, freedom, rights, equality, justice, and the state; Comparative Politics develops criteria for comparing the domestic politics and policies of countries throughout the world, including the U.S.A.; Global Politics examines relationships between and among nation-states, as well as the emergence of transnational forces that increasingly give shape to a global political system; U.S. Politics examines politics and public policy in the U.S.A., including Latino, African American and Asian American politics.
Pitzer Advisers: W. Barndt, G. Herrera, H. Liu, A. Pantoja, R. VanSickle-Ward.
Major Requirements
Students who wish to combine a major in Political Studies with a major in Economics must meet all requirements for the Political Studies major with the exception that the student needs to complete a total of eight (8) courses and a senior seminar in either Political Studies or Economics. Combined majors with other fields will be arranged on a case-by-case basis. AP credit in the field of politics and government with a score of 5 may be counted toward graduation, but not toward fulfilling the requirements of the major. Students may not major in Politics or Government at any of the other colleges in the consortium, as these fields are equivalent to Political Studies.
Required Courses
Introductory Courses (2)
The two introductory classes should be taken at Pitzer.
Research Methods Course (1)
Sub-Field Courses (4)
Students should take at least one course in each of the following sub-fields:
- U.S. Politics
- Comparative Politics
- Political Philosophy
- Global Politics
Upper-Level Sub-Field Courses (3)
Students should take 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.
Senior Seminar (1)
A senior seminar, which includes a major research paper.
Other Requirements
Students are strongly encouraged to take the two required introductory 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.
Political Studies majors intending to pursue graduate study or careers in politics and public policy are strongly recommended to take:
- Statistics (e.g. POST 091 PZ /ECON 091 PZ )
- 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. Some Pitzer Study Abroad and Community Engagement programs provide such opportunities.
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