Bachelors Degree

Requirements

To receive an B.A. in Political Science, a student must:

1. Submit an application for the Political Science major to the undergraduate administrator, and declare on Axess. Forms are available in Encina Hall West, Room 100. For additional information, drop by or phone (650) 723-1608. Students must complete their major ­declaration no later than the end of Autumn Quarter in junior year.

2. Complete 70 units:

a) 45 Political Science course units must complete the breadth requirements.
b) One 5 unit Methods requirement by completing POLISCI 150A, 150B, 150C, 151A, 151B, STATS 60 or ECON 102A. The list of courses satisfying the Methods requirement will be updated each year by the department. Students should consult the Bulletin to learn of new courses that satisfy this requirement.
c) The remaining 20 Political Science units must be completed by taking other Political Science courses including no more than 5 units of directed reading. 10 units of ECON 1A/1B may substitute two 5-unit POLISCI courses.
d) No more than two 5-unit freshman/sophomore seminar courses can be applied throughout the 70 unit major requirement.

3. Satisfy breadth requirements (45 units): each student must take two courses out of the following Political Science courses, one of which must be in the primary concentration; the other must be in the secondary concentration. These courses must be completed by the end of sophomore year.

POLISCI 1. Introduction to International Relations
POLISCI 2. American National Government and Politics
POLISCI 3. Introduction to Political Philosophy
POLISCI 4. Introduction to Comparing Political Systems
POLISCI 151A. Doing Political Science, or POLISCI 151B. Data Analysis for Political Science
The primary concentration must be completed by fulfilling the depth requirement with at least 30 units (see Statement 4).

Each major should declare a secondary concentration in another subfield, with at least 15 units in that concentration, including the introductory course for that subfield.

4. Satisfy a depth requirement. Each major should declare a primary concentration in one subfield and take at least 30 units in this ­concentration, including the introductory course for that subfield. Subfields include:

International Relations (1, 110-119, 210-219, 310-319)
American Politics (2, 120-129, 220-229, 320-329)
Political Theory (3, 130-139, 230-239, 330-339)
Comparative Politics (4, 140-149, 240-249, 340-349)

5. Demonstrate the capacity for sustained research and writing in the discipline. This requirement is satisfied by taking a Political Science course designated as a Writing in the Major (WIM) course.

6. Take at least one 5-unit, advanced undergraduate seminar in Political Science.

7. Students may apply a maximum of 10 units from Stanford Summer Session or courses outside Stanford. Transfer students are allowed up to 20 units of transfer units or summer session. A maximum of 15 units may be applied towards breadth requirements and 5 towards other Political Science course units. All transfer cases require petitions which must be reviewed and approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

8. Directed reading and Oxford tutorial units require a petition and may only be applied towards related coursework units. These units may not be used to fulfill a breadth requirement, and no more than 10 units of directed reading and Oxford tutorial units may count toward the required 70 Political Science units.

9. Courses counting toward the 70-unit requirement must be taken for a letter grade, although units in excess of the required 70 may be taken on a credit/no credit basis. A minimum grade of ‘C’ is required for courses to count towards major requirements.

Notes:

  • Transfer Courses/Summer Session
    • Transfer Students – maximum 20 units; Non-transfer students – maximum 10 units.
    • List any such courses below in the appropriate concentration. Please indicate the institution in the notes section.
    • Attach a petition form, which requires: a copy of the transcript from the institution offering the course, syllabus, and coursework.
  • Stanford in Washington (SIW) course(s) and Oxford tutorials – may be listed on your proposal but will need final approval by submitting a petition form, which requires: a final letter grade on your transcript, syllabus, and coursework.
  • Directed Reading - may be listed on your proposal but will need approval before you register for directed reading units in a given quarter. Students must submit a petition form, which requires: a faculty supervisor signature, project description and method of evaluation.
Ready to Apply?

We have a new procedure for declaring a major. Please follow the instructions below carefully:

  1. Declare intention to major in Political Science through Axess.
  2. Fill out a proposal form and review it with the undergraduate administrator before your meeting with a faculty advisor.
  3. Meet with a faculty advisor. You may want to consult the list of faculty by subfield.
  4. Arrange an appointment with Professor Beatriz Magaloni, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Encina Hall West Room 436. A signup sheet is posted outside the Undergraduate Administrator's Office in Encina Hall West Room 100. Please take this form with you to your appointment.
  5. You should bring the signed form and your undergraduate academic advising folder from your current or freshman advisor to the Undergraduate Administrator (Encina Hall West Room 100), who will approve your major request on AXESS.
Course Petition Form

If you want to transfer credit or apply a course outside of the department, directed reading, SIW, or Oxford tutorial to your major, a petition form must be completed.