Requirements for Political Science Majors
These requirements apply to students entering LSU in Fall 2016 and later.
- 33 hours of political science courses, at least 18 of them 3000 or above
- POLI 2051 American Government, plus one course (any course) each in the three other fields: Comparative Politics, International Politics and Political Theory
Students may declare one or two concentrations within the major; a concentration consists of four courses. There are nine different concentrations listed below. The four fields can serve as concentrations and there are five additional concentrations. Students may complete the major without designating a concentration.
View requirements pre-Fall 2016.
Political Science courses are divided into four fields: (1) American government and politics; (2) Comparative government and politics; (3) International politics and law; and (4) Political theory. All students take Introduction to American Government (POLI 2051 or POLI 2052) and must take one course from each of the other three fields.
Courses listed under more than one field may be applied to only one field. Students must earn a minimum grade-point average of 2.00 in Political Science courses.
Courses in fields as follows:
Field I
American Government and Politics
- General: POLI 2051, POLI 2052, POLI 4000
- Political Behavior: POLI 2030, POLI 4026, POLI 4028, POLI 4030, POLI 4031, POLI 4032, POLI 4034, POLI 4035, POLI 4036, POLI 4037
- Public Law and Jurisprudence: POLI 4020, POLI 4021, POLI 4023
- Public Administration: POLI 2070, POLI 4011, POLI 4017
- State, Urban, and Local Government: POLI 2056, POLI 4015, POLI 4039
Field II
Comparative Government and Politics
- General: POLI 2053, POLI 4060, POLI 4062, POLI 4063, POLI 4064
- Western Europe: POLI 4074, POLI 4075, POLI 4076, POLI 4077
- Latin America: POLI 4065
- Russia and Eastern Europe: POLI 4070, POLI 4072
- Asia: POLI 4067, POLI 4079
- Africa: POLI 4078
- Middle East: POLI 4061
Field III
International Politics and Law
- International Politics: POLI 2057, POLI 4040, POLI 4044, POLI 4045, POLI 4046, POLI 4047, POLI 4048, POLI 4050, POLI 4059
- International Law & Organizations: POLI 4041, POLI 4042
- Foreign Policy: POLI 4043
Field IV
Political Theory
- Political Theory, General: POLI 2060, POLI 4090, POLI 4234
- History of Political Thought: POLI 4080, POLI 4081, POLI 4082
- Contemporary Political Thought: POLI 4096, POLI 4097, POLI 4098
Optional Concentration Courses count as follows:
Campaigns & Elections
- Political Behavior: POLI 4026, POLI 4031, POLI 4034, POLI 4037
- Public Opinion: POLI 4030
- Comparative Elections: POLI 4063
Law & Legal Systems
- American Constitutional Law: POLI 4020, POLI 4021
- Judicial Politics: POLI 4023
- International Law: POLI 4041
- Sociology of Law: SOCL 3371, SOCL 4471
- Mass Media Law: MC 3080, MC 3081
- Legal Writing: ENGL 3101
Public Policy
- Public Policy, General: POLI 2070, POLI 4035
- Topics in Public Policy: POLI 4011, POLI 4015, POLI 4017
- Foreign Policy: POLI 4043
Race & Politics
- Politics & Elections: POLI 4037, POLI 4039
- Constitutional & Political Thought: POLI 4021, POLI 4080
- Race and the Media: MC 3333, MC 3505
- Cross-disciplinary Perspectives: HIST 2061, SOCL 2511