Degree Pathway for the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science - International Relations and Comparative Politics Concentration - Fall 2020 and Beyond

For students who entered fall 2020 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Total Minimum Credits = 120

Minimum Political Science Credits: 36

Maximum Political Science Credits That Can Be Counted Toward Graduation: 45

Minimum Upper Level Credits: 18 with a minimum of 6 at 4000 level plus 12 at 3000 level or higher (POLI.3010, POLI.4960 or POLI.4970 count toward these requirements). One of these advanced courses must be a seminar, which is a small class of advanced students, focused on more intensive writing than usual classes. The topics of seminar courses will vary each semester with the interests of department faculty.

You should meet with your faculty advisor to determine how you will meet the Political Science and Core Curriculum requirements.

¹No more than two Breadth of Knowledge courses can be taken with the same prefix. The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details.

²World Ready Language Track (WR track) requires successful completion of a two course sequence in a World Language (depending on placement) and three approved courses on the culture/history/literature/film related to that language, but taught in English. (Total of 15 credits.) For detailed information refer to Policies - Language Requirements in the undergraduate catalog.

³Political Science majors satisfy the Written and Oral Communication (WOC) ELO by taking an approved, 4000-level Political Science seminar course. See your Advisement Report or the WOC Course Listing for a current list of approved courses.

⁴International Relations and Comparative Politics Concentration Electives (Sophomore Year):

• POLI.1750 Introduction to Environmental Politics
• POLI.2110 Media and Politics Around the World
• POLI.2180 Introduction to Politics and Sports
• POLI.2210 Introduction to Global Security
• POLI.2510 Politics of Identity

⁵International Relations and Comparative Politics Concentration Electives (Junior Year):

• POLI.3040 Politics of Development
• POLI.3340 Islam & Politics
• POLI.3490 The Politics of Race and Ethnicity
• POLI.3580 Global Environmental Policy
• POLI.3610 Southeast Asian Politics
• POLI.3680 Middle East Politics
• POLI.3720 Crime, Security, and Democracy in Latin America
• POLI.3780 International Political Economy
• POLI.3800 American Foreign Policy
• POLI.3840 International Politics of Human Rights
• POLI.3870 Politics of International Organizations
• POLI.3980 The War on Drugs

⁶Approved 4000-level Seminar:

• POLI.4020 Women in Islam
• POLI.4060 The Politics of Identity in the Middle East
• POLI.4110 The Concept of Power
• POLI.4190 Public Opinion and Political Polling
• POLI.4220 Political Communication and Media Studies
• POLI.4340 Islam and Politics
• POLI.4400 Comparative National Security
• POLI.4450 Politics of Repression and Dissent
• POLI.4470 Theories of Political and Criminal Violence

Current UMass Lowell students should use their Advisement Report in SIS. Political Science majors will also be assigned to a faculty advisor who guides students through their studies. The department strongly suggests scheduling an advising meeting once per semester.

Restriction on off-campus study:

Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment.

See the catalog policy for details.