[Note: Please consult the department's Undergraduate Student Handbook [bottom of the page] for more detailed information about our undergraduate programs, thematic sequences, and their requirements.]

Majors

Political Science

The major in political science requires a course in American politics in order to insure that all graduates have a working knowledge of the U.S. political system, and three courses that introduce various subfields within the discipline. If you entered Miami in Fall 2006 or after, and are majoring in political science, you should take POL 241 first, if possible. Then you should move on to take at least 2 other courses at the 200-level.

Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs (pre-Fall 2009 students)

The DFA major is designed primarily for students interested in understanding more about comparative and international politics. It is a major appropriate for those interested in international careers. It is also the kind of broad, liberal arts program which many pre-law students will want to consider. Additionally, it provides a solid background for graduate study in international relations. All DFA majors are urged to take advantage of opportunities for foreign study.

The student in this major should begin by taking POL 271 (World Politics) and POL 221 (Modern World Governments). You may then take POL 373 (American Foreign Policy), which is also required of DFA majors, and begin taking some of your related hours as well as other political science courses required of DFA majors.

Diplomacy and Global Politics (Fall 2009 and after students)

This program of concentration is designed primarily for students interested in understanding more about comparative and international politics. It is a major appropriate for those interested in international careers. It is also the kind of broad, liberal arts program which many pre-law students will want to consider. Additionally, it provides a solid background for graduate study in comparative politics and international relations.

Majors in DGP should begin by taking POL 271 (World Politics), POL 221 (Modern World Governments), and POL 241 (American Political System). You may then begin taking some of your related hours as well as other political science courses required of DGP majors.

Public Administration

The Public Administration major is designed for undergraduates interested in studying and understanding the issues of governance and management of the public sector, and more specifically about the link between politics and public policy implementation. It is appropriate for those interested in public service careers in the federal government, state government, and/or local government including: city and county management, public finance administration, public personnel administration, and public policy analysis and program evaluation. This major prepares students for continuation of their education in professional and graduate schools of public administration, public policy analysis, and related fields. It also serves as a course of pre-legal study.

PA majors should begin by taking POL 241 and then POL 261, the introduction to public administration and a prerequisite for upper-level courses in this area. We also encourage PA majors to take ECO 201 (microeconomics) and 202 (macroeconomics) as early as possible in your major program.

Minor in Political Science

A minor in political science requires the student to first take POL 241 and then follow that by taking at least one of the following:

• POL 201 Political Thinking
• POL 221 Modern World Governments
• POL 261 Public Administration
• POL 271 World Politics

Prerequisites

• POL 241 (American Politics) for all upper division courses in American Politics
• POL 201 (Modern Political Ideologies) for POL 302 and POL 303
• POL 221 (Modern World Governments) for upper division courses in Comparative Politics
• POL 306 (Applied Research Methods) for POL 406
• POL 271 (World Politics) for all upper division courses in the International Relations
• POL 331 (Development of the Russian Polity) for POL 332

Combined BA-MA Program

The Department of Political Science offers outstanding undergraduate students the opportunity to earn both the bachelor’s and master’s degree. Students accepted to the highly competitive combined BA-MA program take up to 9 hours of graduate work while earning their undergraduate degree. Students apply for admission by March 1 of the junior year and start coursework in the fall semester of the senior year. All undergraduate coursework should be completed in the senior year with full-time graduate work in the MA year. Students must complete all the standard requirements for the MA.

Related Files: 

Handbook 2012-13.pdf

MU_POL BA-MA_FlyrFNL.pdf