Courses fall into four subfields of the discipline of political science:

• American politics (A)
• Comparative politics (C)
• International politics (I)
• Political theory (T).

Entering the major:

• Students are required to take two one-semester courses selected from the following: 121, 123, 131, 141, and 151 at Haverford; 121, 131, 141, 151 at Bryn Mawr College . These courses should represent two different subfields.

Departmental Studies

• Eight additional courses, of which one must be a senior research seminar and one must be a senior thesis, are required.

• The combination of introductory and elective courses is expected to include representation of three of the four subfields, with course work at the intermediate or advanced level in at least two subfields, prior to taking the senior seminar.

• Some courses may count in either of two subfields but not in both. In consultation with a member of the department, students may substitute two or three intermediate or advanced courses from another department for those in the student's third subfield, where this serves to complement and strengthen the student's work within the Political Science department. For example, a student concentrating in International Politics might offer international economics courses as a subfield; or a student in Political Theory --social and political philosophy courses; or a student in Comparative Politics --courses in an area study; or a student in American Politics --social policy courses, and so forth.

• All senior majors write a thesis and are required to take part in an oral thesis defense through enrollment in 392.

Related Studies

• Each student must take four courses outside Political Science at Haverford or Bryn Mawr College which are related to the major. Some examples of possible interests around which the courses could cluster are : American or other area studies; political and social theory; international affairs; environmental policies; urban affairs; intermediate and advanced foreign language work related to work in the major; or courses from one or more of the other social sciences.

 Requirements for Honors

• The award of Departmental Honors is determined on the basis of the thesis, the quality of course work and performance in oral thesis defense.