Political Science, BS

Political Science Major Requirements

The major requires the completion of 33 credits.

The political science department offers a large number of courses in four substantive fields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. Core courses provide a survey of each field and with the methods employed in the contemporary study of politics. The field courses, at 1000-level, provide students with advanced coursework in each of these areas of specialization. The combination of core and field courses provides students with a comprehensive overview of political science as a discipline while permitting students to concentrate in a particular field or fields.

Political Science BS and BPhil

Outstanding and motivated students seeking an even more challenging academic experience, especially those who are considering graduate school, should consult with an advisor about the option of a BS or BPhil in Political Science. The BS degree requires the departmental minor field to be Methods and Models in Political Science (PS 1702  and PS 1710 ), as well as 12 credits of additional coursework in cognate fields and an original paper of high quality. The BPhil degree, which is offered through the David C. Frederick Honors College (FHC), requires a plan of cognate fieldwork and a thesis approved by the department and FHC. For more information on the BPhil, see https://www.frederickhonors.pitt.edu/research/bachelor-philosophy-bphil-degree.