More Information
Visit the online course catalog for more information about all majors and minors.
The political science major at Merrimack College provides you with a rich, rigorous and wide-ranging educational experience.
As a political science major, you will:
You might also consider double majoring or minoring in related fields, such as pre-law, economics or environmental studies and sustainability.
Why not take your skills out of the classroom and into the political arena? Debate constitutional issues against national teams in Moot Court, explore a public service internship or spend a semester during your junior year with the American University Washington Semester Program or abroad.
As a graduate of our program, you’ll be well equipped to pursue a graduate degree — in law, history, political science or a related topic — or to begin your career working in the public or private sector. Our graduates go on to jobs in business, government, international relations, public administration, academia and more.
Recent graduates hold a variety of exciting positions, including:
All political science majors take a combination of required and elective courses to satisfy the 42-credit requirement.
Required Courses (complete all)
POL 1100 | Politics of the United States |
POL 1500 | Comparative Politics |
POL 2000 | Political Science Methods |
POL 4800 | Senior Seminar: Politics and the Policy Process |
U.S. Politics and Government (choose at least two)
POL 1400 | Politics of Public Policy |
POL 2010 | Political Ethics |
POL 2120 | Government, Business & Law |
POL 2121 | Intro to Public Administration |
POL 2122 | Law and Society |
POL 2181 | American Political Thought |
POL 2300 | The Politics of Food |
POL 3111 | Massachusetts State & Local Government |
POL 3112 | Congress and the Legislative Process |
POL 3113 | The American Presidency |
POL 3122 | Issues in Public Policy |
POL 3130 | Campaigns and Elections |
POL 3140 | Mass Media and American Politics |
POL 3141 | Political Communication |
POL 3150 | Criminal Law |
POL 3151 | American Constitutional Law |
POL 3152 | Civil Liberties and Civil Rights |
POL 3153 | Politics & Religion |
POL 3160 | United States Foreign Policy |
POL 3161 | Politics of Immigration and Human Movement |
POL 3171 | Music and Politics |
World Outside the United States (choose at least two)
POL 1900 | International Politics (formerly POL 2510) |
POL 2200 | Globalization |
POL 2581 | Intro to Political Theory |
POL 3520W | Modern China |
POL 3525 | Politics of the Middle East |
POL 3530 | Democracy, Development and Violence |
POL 3531 | Politics of Developing Nations |
POL 3540 | International Political Economy |
POL 3541 | Cyber Security: The Intersection of Technology and Policy |
POL 4599W | Issues and Cases in United States Foreign Policy |
Remaining Courses
Select the remaining three courses from the electives above. Qualified students may choose all or some from the following list:
POL 4700 |
Directed Study (Moot Court may only be taken twice for credit toward a political science major - 4 credits max) |
POL 4850W | Public Service Internship |
POL 4851 | Public Service Summer Internship |
POL 4852 | Public Service Fall or Spring Internship |
Notes
Visit the online course catalog for more information about all majors and minors.
Download a single-page overview of the political science major.