Students majoring in political science are challenged to think creatively and analytically about historically and currently relevant topics. Through participation in lectures, seminars, internships, and independent studies, our students develop critical reasoning, communication, data analysis, and reflectional skills.

Many graduates go on to obtain advanced degrees in law, business, public policy, political science, and public administration. Others apply their degree to relevant career employment, pursuing work in political campaigns, lobbies, non-profit foundations, think tanks, corporations, public relations firms, news organizations, government, and international organizations.

Students pursuing this bachelor’s degree must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in the Newcomb-Tulane College core curriculum, 120 credit hours in their degree and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000. More information on degree and core curriculum requirements can be found here.

See Sample Plan of Study below.

Curriculum Requirements 

TO DECLARE A POLS, PSIR OR PSDV MAJOR and for information about undergraduate advising in Political Science, please go to: https://liberalarts.tulane.edu/departments/political-science/undergraduate-advising

Please note, you cannot declare two political science majors. You must choose either POLS, PSIR or PSDV.

¹

Political Science (POLS) majors who are double majors in Sociology or Psychology may satisfy this requirement through the successful completion of SOCI 3030 Intro To Research Design (3 c.h.), PSYC 3090 Univariate I & Lab (4 c.h.). Equivalent courses from other departments or schools may also satisfy this requirement for any student majoring in Political Science, as determined by the Department Chair or Undergraduate Studies Director.

²

No more than four of these courses can be in any single subfield (POLA, POLC, POLI, POLT, or PSDV).

Pre-requisites

For all major tracks (POLS, POLI, & PSDV), students must have successfully completed POLS 2010 Scope/Methods Poli Sci (3 c.h.) or PSDV 2010 Research Design and Methods for International Development (3 c.h.) and the correlating introductory course in order to enroll in any course above the 3000-level.  For example, students must complete POLA 2100 American Government (3 c.h.) in order to enroll in POLA 4000 or 6000-level courses.  Faculty may choose to add other pre-requisites to any course and are encouraged to do so in any case in which they feel that doing so would improve student preparation for and performance in their own courses.  Non-major juniors and seniors may enroll in courses at the 4000-level or above with the consent of the instructor.  The Political Science department enforces all pre-requisites.  Students must have successfully completed a pre-requisite the semester before registering for any class.  The department reserves the right to drop students who are missing the pre-requisite from the course without notice.

Level of Coursework

Sample Plan of Study

This example plan of study for the BA in Political Science represents a fall semester start and encompasses all program requirements. Students are responsible for reviewing university, school, and program requirements, along with prerequisites and the sequencing of courses in coordination with their academic and major advisors.

^{Program String & Field of Study: LABA_UG, POLS}

For more information, contact the School of Liberal Arts.