Concentrations

Optional Concentrations

The Department of Political Science offers three optional subject matter concentrations for Political Science majors that offer students the opportunity to do additional coursework in particular subfields of the discipline. Students must meet all Political Science major requirements separate from the concentration, although some courses may count toward both the major and the concentration as noted below. Students adding a concentration to the major will graduate with a total of 13-15 units of Political Science courses. 

  • International Affairs Concentration 

  • U.S. Law and Policy Concentration

  • Political and Legal Theory Concentration

  • International Affairs

    International Affairs Concentration 

    The International Affairs concentration provides students with a deeper understanding of Comparative Politics and International Relations. Students explore how various national-and sub-national-level political systems are organized, how states interact in a global setting, and how those interactions feed back into domestic-level politics. The concentration provides an overview of the politics of multiple world regions and pushes students to explore democracy, authoritarianism, international conflict, international organizations, and diplomacy.

    • 5 units, including:

      • One introductory-level unit, chosen from:

        • PLSC240 Introduction to Comparative Politics

        • PLSC250 Introduction to International Relations

      • Two units chosen from core upper-level comparative politics courses:

        • PLSC342 Politics of the Middle East and North Africa

        • PLSC343 Politics of Asia

        • PLSC344 Europe Today

        • PLSC345 Politics of Contemporary China

        • PLSC348 Politics of Africa

        • PLSC349 Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean 

        • PLSC379 on comparative topics that are regularly offered by the department, such as Democracy Around the World, Democratic Backsliding in the Americas, Comparative Authoritarianism, Social Movements, etc.

      • Two units chosen from core upper-level international relations courses: 

        • PLSC350 American Foreign Policy

        • PLSC351 Globalization

        • PLSC353 International Security

        • PLSC356 International Political Economy

        • PLSC358 Refugees and Forced Migration

        • PLSC359 Global Governance

        • PLSC360 International Development Policy

        • PLSC379 on international relations topics that are regularly offered by the department.

    • Note (International Affairs):

      • No more than two courses may count toward the major and concentration: one introductory course (PLSC240 or PLSC250) and one upper level (300-level) course.

      • Students may count one study abroad or transfer course that is an equivalent of an existing UR Political Science course toward the concentration. No more than three study abroad and/or transfer courses may count toward the major and concentration.

  • U.S. Law and Policy

    U.S. Law and Policy Concentration

    The U.S. Law and Policy Concentration emphasizes the empirical study of the legal process and public policymaking in the United States. Students examine how the rules, institutions, and political actors in law and policy shape the use of power in American society and influence the nation’s ability to address public problems. Through this concentration, students develop the skills to analyze law and policy as dynamic processes and to assess their outcomes. 

    • 5 units, including:

      • PLSC260 Intro to Public Policy (Required for all) 

      • Two units chosen from upper-level Law and Courts courses:  

        • PLSC331 Constitutional Law

        • PLSC333 Civil Rights and Liberties

        • PLSC336 SCOTUS & Criminal Procedure

        • PLSC337 American Legal System

        • PLSC379 on law and courts topics that are regularly offered by the department. 

      • Two units chosen from upper-level Public Policy courses:  

        • PLSC361 The Politics of Social Welfare

        • PLSC365 U.S. Healthcare Policy and Politics

        • PLSC362 Environmental Law and Policy  

        • PLSC363 Immigration Policy & Politics

        • PLSC379 on public policy topics that are regularly offered by the department

       

    • Note (U.S. Law and Policy Concentration)

      • No more than two courses may count toward the major and concentration: one introductory course (PLSC 260) and one upper level (300-level) course.

  • Political and Legal Theory

    Political and Legal Theory Concentration

    The Political and Legal Theory concentration provides students with an understanding of how ideas about politics shape the practice of politics as well as how these ideas, and thus practices, have developed over time and in different cultures. It also provides students with the opportunity to develop the skill of reading complicated texts with care, charity, and a critical eye. Courses will focus on questions like the nature and problems of democracy, the definition and protection of rights, the origin of legitimate authority, and the understanding of justice and difficulties of achieving it through politics.

    4 units, including

    • PLSC310 Statesmanship

    • PLSC311 Classical Political Thought

    • PLSC312 Modern Political Thought

    • PLSC315 American Political Theory

    • PLSC330 Creation of the American Republic

    • PLSC333 Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

    • PLSC338 Critical Race Theory

    • PLSC339 Jurisprudence and Contemporary American Politics

    • PLSC379 courses that are consistent with the concentration (recent examples include Plato’s Political Thought and Contemporary Democratic Theory)

    • Note (Political and Legal Theory):

      • At least one of the four units must be PLSC 333, PLSC 339, or a PLSC 379 previously approved as a legal-theory-related course.

      • Only one upper level (300-level) course may count toward both the major and concentration.

      • May count one study abroad or transfer course that is an equivalent of an existing UR Political Science course toward the concentration. No more than three study abroad and/or transfer courses may count toward the major and concentration.