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Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Political Science

Minor in Political Science

Students on Summer 2020, Fall 2020, or Spring 2021 requirements POLSMIN

The Minor in Political Science provides students an introduction to the theory and practice of government and politics, both in the U.S. and internationally. This minor offers a deepened perspective on many other majors offered at Indiana University.

Requirements

The minor requires at least 18 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Area requirement. One (1) of the following options:
    • American Politics and Public Policy. Two (2) courses:
      • POLS-P 301 Health Policy and Politics in the United States
      • POLS-Y 301 Political Parties and Interest Groups
      • POLS-Y 302 Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society
      • POLS-Y 303 Formation of Public Policy in the United States
      • POLS-Y 304 Constitutional Law
      • POLS-Y 305 Constitutional Rights and Liberties
      • POLS-Y 306 State Politics in the United States
      • POLS-Y 307 Indiana State Government and Politics
      • POLS-Y 308 Urban Politics
      • POLS-Y 311 Democracy and National Security
      • POLS-Y 313 Environmental Policy
      • POLS-Y 315 Political Psychology and Socialization
      • POLS-Y 316 Public Opinion and Political Participation
      • POLS-Y 317 Voting, Elections, and Public Opinion
      • POLS-Y 318 The American Presidency
      • POLS-Y 319 The United States Congress
      • POLS-Y 320 Judicial Politics
      • POLS-Y 321 The Media and Politics
      • POLS-Y 324 Gender and Politics
      • POLS-Y 325 African American Politics
      • POLS-Y 326 American Social Welfare Policy
      • POLS-Y 329 Racial and Ethnic Politics in the United States
      • POLS-Y 394 Public Policy Analysis
    • Comparative Politics and International Relations. Two (2) courses:
      • POLS-P 302 The Politics of Economic Crisis and Reform
      • POLS-P 303 Challenges of Democracy
      • POLS-Y 332 Russian Politics
      • POLS-Y 333 Chinese Politics
      • POLS-Y 334 Japanese Politics
      • POLS-Y 335 Western European Politics
      • POLS-Y 336 South East Asian Political Systems
      • POLS-Y 337 Latin American Politics
      • POLS-Y 338 African Politics
      • POLS-Y 339 Middle Eastern Politics
      • POLS-Y 340 East European Politics
      • POLS-Y 341 Authoritarian Regimes
      • POLS-Y 342 Human Rights and State Repression
      • POLS-Y 343 The Politics of International Development
      • POLS-Y 344 Civil Wars
      • POLS-Y 345 Comparative Revolutions
      • POLS-Y 346 Politics in the Developing World
      • POLS-Y 347 German Politics
      • POLS-Y 348 The Politics of Genocide
      • POLS-Y 350 Politics of the European Union
      • POLS-Y 351 Political Simulations
      • POLS-Y 352 The Holocaust and Politics
      • POLS-Y 353 The Politics of Gender and Sexuality
      • POLS-Y 356 South Asian Politics
      • POLS-Y 360 United States Foreign Policy
      • POLS-Y 361 Contemporary Theories of International Politics
      • POLS-Y 362 International Politics of Selected Regions
      • POLS-Y 363 Comparative Foreign Policy
      • POLS-Y 364 International Organization: Political and Security Aspects
      • POLS-Y 366 Current Foreign Policy Problems
      • POLS-Y 367 International Law
      • POLS-Y 368 Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy
      • POLS-Y 372 The Analysis of International Politics
      • POLS-Y 374 International Organization
      • POLS-Y 375 War and International Conflict
      • POLS-Y 376 International Political Economy
      • POLS-Y 399 Politics of the United Nations
      • POLS-Y 407 Problems in Comparative Politics
    • Political Theory and Methodology. Two (2) courses:
      • POLS-Y 379 Ethics and Public Policy
      • POLS-Y 381 Classical Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 382 Modern Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 383 Foundations of American Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 384 Developments in American Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 386 African American Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 388 Marxist Theory
      • POLS-Y 395 Quantitative Political Analysis
      • POLS-Y 405 Models and Theories of Political Decision Making
      • POLS-Y 406 Problems in Political Philosophy
  2. Second Area Requirement. One (1) course from an area not used to complete the Area Requirement.
  3. Electives. Additional credit hours, as needed, to complete remaining requirements.
  4. Minor GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Minor GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the minor—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Minor Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the minor.
    3. Minor Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Minor Residency. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.

Minor Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course at the 100–499 level with the POLS subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
Restrictions

The following restrictions apply to the minimum credit hours required in the minor:

  • Only 3 credit hours may be counted toward the minor:
    • POLS-X 476 Political Science Practicum III
    • POLS-X 477 Field Experience in Political Science

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science (ECONPOLSBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Political Science (PHILPOLSBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (POLSBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics (POLSECONBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy (POLSPHILBA)
  • Interdepartmental Minor in Economics and Political Science (ECONPOLMIN)
  • Interdepartmental Minor in Political Science and Economics (POLSECNMIN)

Exceptions to and substitutions for minor requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.