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Requirements

Politics Requirements

Policy on AP and Transfer

For the university's policy on AP credits, click here.

The policy on accepting courses from another post-secondary institution for credit at the University of Dallas:

  • the content of the course must be comparable to what is taught in the UD Politics Depatment (a syllabus would be a good indicator of course content at another institution);
  • the chairman of the Politics Department will decide, on a case-by-case basis, (a) whether the course will be counted as a Politics course; or (b) whether it will be counted as an advanced (3000-level) course.

Major Requirements

Students who major in Politics are required to take 36 credits (12 courses):

  • Principles of American Politics (Politics 1311)
  • Political Regimes (3312)
  • Plato's Republic (3331)
  • Aristotle's Politics (3332)
  • Enlightenment (3334)
  • Senior Seminar (4351)
  • Six advanced Politics electives (3000-level or above), at least one of which must be in American politics

All Politics majors, including transfer students, are required to take Politics 1311. Majors must also pass a comprehensive examination or write a senior thesis. In preparation for the Senior Seminar (Politics 4351), majors should have completed eight Politics courses by the end of their junior year, if possible. Students considering a major in Politics should consult with the chair or a Politics professor as soon as possible concerning their program of studies.

For instructions regarding the Senior Thesis or Comprehensive Exam, please see Senior Resources.

Suggested Sequence of Courses for the Politics Major
Year I
       
Philosophy 1301 3   Theology 1310 3
English 1301 3   English 1302 3
History 1311 3   History 1312 3
Language 1301 (or 2311) 3   Language 1302 (or 2312) 3
Politics 1311 3   Econ 1311 or Math 3
  15     15
         
Year II (During Sophomore Year)
       
English 2311-2312 6    
History 2301-2302 6    
Philosophy 2323 3    
Theology 2311 3    
Language (or electives) 6    
Politics 3312 or 3331 3    
Fine Arts 3    
  30    
         
Year III
       
Politics 3312 or 3331 3   Politics 3332 3
Politics 3334 3   Politics Elective 6
Politics Elective 3   Elective 3
Econ 1311 or Math 3   Science 4
Elective 3  
  15     16
         
Year IV
       
Politics 4351 3   Science 3
Politics Elective 3   Politics Elective 6
Philosophy 3311 3   Electives 6
Electives 6      
  15     15

Concentration Requirements

The two concentrations in Politics are for students who are not Politics majors but who want to acquire more than a passing acquaintance with the serious study of politics.

Concentration in Political Philosophy: Politics 1311 (Principles of American Politics), plus an additional 15 credit hours in Politics, to include 3 courses in political philosophy and 2 other Politics courses chosen by the student. Examples of courses in political philosophy are Political Regimes, Plato's Republic, Aristotle's Politics, Political Philosophy in the Middle Ages, Enlightenment, Modernity, Catholic Political Thought, American Political Thought, American Founding, Lincoln, 20th Century American Political Thought, Senior Seminar, Thucydides, Aristotle's Ethics. Other Politics courses with appropriate content can count as political philosophy with the approval of the chairman.

Concentration in American Politics: Politics 1311 (Principles of American Politics), plus an additional 15 credit hours in Politics, to include 3 courses in American politics and 2 other Politics courses chosen by the student. Examples of courses in American politics are Constitutional Law, Public Policy, American Foreign Policy, Presidency, Civil Rights, Congress, Politics and Parties, American Political Thought, American Founding, 20th Century American Political Thought and Policy. Other Politics courses with appropriate content can count as American politics with the approval of the chairman.

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