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Political ScienceFull Time Faculty: Franklin Adler, David Blaney, Adrienne Christiansen, Julie Dolan (Chair), Paul Dosh, Zornitsa Keremidchieva, Andrew Latham, Patrick Schmidt, Paru Shah Part Time Faculty: Chuck Green, Roopali Phadke (Environmental Studies), Ahmed Samatar (International Studies), Wendy Weber, Michael Zis The study of political science at Macalester emphasizes making connections between the theory and practice of politics. Concerns range from perennial philosophical or normative issues regarding power, justice, freedom, human dignity and social responsibility to practical political matters such as policy making and public problem solving. The political science department seeks to cultivate in its students a wide range of practical and scholarly competencies, including several we consider to be centrally important. First, the department seeks to help its majors develop a mature political imagination. By this we mean a capacity to approach important social problems and issues as a political scientist. A mature political imagination includes an ability to envision what constitutes an important political question/issue; to understand the various ways in which a political scientist might address such a question/issue; to conduct social inquiry into that question/issue employing methodologies and techniques appropriate to political scientists; to recognize the partiality of political science questions, explanations and forms of social inquiry and the importance of insights from other disciplines; and an ability to think creatively about humane solutions to the political problems and challenges confronting the world today. Second, the department seeks to cultivate in its majors specific knowledge competencies. These include both a sound understanding of facts relevant and necessary to the study of political life (including a working knowledge of the key actors, structures, institutions and historical dynamics that constitute the contemporary political order) and a well-developed understanding of the major theoretical trends, perspectives, concerns and debates that have shaped the evolution of the discipline and/or its sub-disciplines over the past several centuries. Political science graduates should be able to engage the world — whether as political scholars or political actors—with theoretical sophistication and confidence. Third, the department seeks to cultivate in its majors a range of cognitive or intellectual competencies. These include a well-developed ability to think conceptually, critically, synthetically, analytically, and rigorously about the world of politics. The political science faculty believes that the development of these higher-order cognitive skills comprises the core of the department’s collective endeavors. Fourth, the department seeks to help political science majors develop a number of practical competencies, including: —a capacity for close, focused, and critical reading of political texts; —an ability to convey information, analysis and persuasive arguments in written and oral forms clearly and effectively; —a well-developed capacity for democratic deliberation; —a level of numeracy appropriate to a student’s research interests and the demands of contemporary political life; —an ability to conduct sound and rigorous social inquiry using appropriate methodologies and techniques; —a capacity for effective collaboration with others; —a capacity for effective problem-solving; —a facility with relevant information technologies. Finally, the department believes that educational excellence in political science should not only involve the development of intellectual capacities, but also the civic competencies required for humane leadership in a multicultural and globalizing world. Cultivating a capacity for effective civic engagement and leadership is central to the goals of a first-class political science program. General Distribution Requirement All courses in the political science department count toward the general distribution requirement in the social sciences except for the following: topics courses (194, 294, 394, 494), internships and preceptorships (624, 634). General Education Requirements Courses that meet the general education requirements in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism and multiculturalism will be posted on the Registrar’s web page in advance of registration for each semester. Additional information regarding the general distribution requirement and the general education requirements can be found in the graduation requirements section of this catalog. Major Requirements A political science major consists of at least nine courses. The department strongly recommends that political science majors plan their programs so that they take courses above the introductory level in at least two of the four major sub-fields of political science—American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. Not more than two courses taught by faculty outside the political science department will count towards the major in meeting the nine course minimum. Exceptions: the research methods courses, Political Science 215, 246, and 252, or relevant courses transferred from an accredited college or university. Consult department advisor or chair. The requirements for a political science major include: —1 Foundations Course; (100 US Politics, 120 International Politics, or 140 Comparative Politics) —1 Theory Course (160 Foundations of Political Theory, 170 Theories of Rhetoric, 260 Contemporary Political Theory, 261 Feminist Political Theory, 262 American Political Thought, or 363 Paradigms of Global Citizenship); —1 Research Methods Course (269 Empirical Research Methods; 272 Researching Political Communication; Sociology 269 Science and Social Inquiry; Sociology 270 Interpretive Social Research; Sociology 275 Comparative-Historical Sociology). In some cases, research methods courses taken in other social science disciplines may be used to fulfill this requirement following approval by the political science department chair. The department urges students to enroll in a research methods course before their junior year. —3 Intermediate-level Courses (students may substitute one foundations course and one advanced course for two intermediate courses; approved study away courses will count as intermediate courses); —1 Practicum (such as an internship, Chuck Green Fellowship course, service-learning course, action-research project, or similar experiential learning experience). The practicum requirement can be met with a non-credit bearing internship upon approval by department chair. However, a major plan must still list no fewer than nine courses. —1 Advanced-level Course (courses at the 300 level); and —1 Capstone Experience (400 Senior Research Seminar or 404 two semesters of Honors Colloquium). Minor Requirements A political science minor consists of any five political science courses, normally including one foundation, one intermediate and one advanced level course. Four of these courses must be taught by the faculty in the political science department. Consult department advisors and chair. Honors Program Interested political science juniors with a GPA of 3.5 or better overall and 3.7 or better in political science may participate in the department’s Honors Program. This program is designed to provide majors with an opportunity to pursue in-depth research on a significant political science topic. The principal elements of the honors program are: (a) filing a declaration of intent to pursue a project; (b) completion of a research proposal submitted to the political science faculty; (c) successful oral defense of the research proposal in front of the political science faculty;(d) participation in the department’s Honors Colloquium (404) in both semesters of the senior year; (e) enrolling in at least two credits of Honors Independent Study (644) in both semesters of the senior year; (f)completing a major work of scholarly research and writing;(g)public oral defense of the thesis. Please see our website for a thorough explanation of the honors program including important dates. http: //www.macalester.edu/politicalscience/curriculum/honors_program.htm Interdisciplinary Programs The political science department supports a number of interdisciplinary programs, including: American studies, Asian studies, humanities, media and cultural studies, international studies, Latin American studies, legal studies, environmental studies, women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, and urban studies. Consult both program and departmental advisors. Topics Courses 194, 294, 394, 494 Courses numbered 194, 294, 394, and 494 are Topics courses. These courses address current issues in contemporary political life or offer an experimental course which may later become part of the regular curriculum. For a list of offerings in any given year, consult the College website prior to registration. (4 credits)
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