Political Science

www.smu.edu/politicalscience

Associate Professor Joseph Kobylka, Department Chair

Professors: James Hollifield, Dennis Ippolito, Calvin Jillson, Michael Lusztig, Luigi Manzetti, Harold Stanley, Stephen Wegren
Associate Professors: Karisa Cloward, Pamela Corley, Joseph Kobylka, Stefano Recchia, Hiroki Takeuchi (Director of Undergraduate Studies), Matthew Wilson
Assistant Professor: Gianna Englert
Lecturers: LaiYee Leong, Grace Mueller

General Information

The Political Science Department offers a curriculum that addresses political ideas, institutions and processes in such regional settings as Asia, Europe, Latin America and the U.S., and in such problem settings such as international relations, economic and social policies, and constitutional and public law. Students study with nationally visible faculty, have the opportunity to become involved in significant research projects and are eligible for summer or term internships in Washington, D.C.

The department offers a B.A. and a minor in political science, with four available concentrations. Undergraduate courses include introductory courses (at the 1000 level) which survey each of the broad fields of study in the discipline. Advanced courses (at the 3000 and 4000 levels) explore more closely defined topics within each of those fields: 3000-level courses examine relatively broad subjects; 4000-level courses examine more specific topics but are not inherently more demanding than 3000-level courses. Introductory-level preparation or at least sophomore standing is recommended for students undertaking these advanced courses. Independent study courses (at the 4000 level) are offered to majors with sophomore or higher standing; prerequisites for these courses are stated in the course descriptions that follow.

Note: Offerings for internships, independent study, and research and study abroad (PLSC 4102 , PLSC 4202 , PLSC 4301 , PLSC 4302 , PLSC 4307 , PLSC 4385 , PLSC 4401 , PLSC 4402 , PLSC 4403 , PLSC 4404 ) are available to majors in political science. Students must have departmental approval prior to registering for these courses. Such courses may not be counted toward departmental subfield requirements.

Students must receive at least a C- in all classes counting toward the major or minor. No course may be counted more than once toward meeting departmental major or minor requirements. In unusual circumstances, a student may petition, through his or her adviser, to the department chair for exceptions to the above requirements. Only the department chair may grant such a written waiver.

Department Transfer Credit Policy

Once students have matriculated at SMU, the political science department will not accept transfer credit for online courses. For general University transfer course policies, students should refer to the transfer policies found on the Enrollment and Academic Records  section of this catalog.

Departmental Distinction

The department offers graduation with distinction to select majors of high academic achievement. Interested students may consult with an appropriate faculty member and apply to the director of undergraduate studies for admission to the distinction track. Eligible students must have completed two introductory departmental courses and 24 hours of departmental credit before applying for candidacy. Criteria for graduating with departmental distinction include the following:

1. A minimum 3.000 overall GPA at graduation.
2. A minimum 3.500 average in courses taken for the political science major.
3. Preparation for a departmental distinction thesis under the supervision of a faculty thesis adviser. The faculty adviser’s grade for the thesis must be A- or higher. This work will be accomplished by taking PLSC 4307 .
4. Passing with distinction an oral examination of at least one hour, conducted by a faculty distinction examination committee, which reviews the candidate’s thesis and major curriculum.
5. A minimum 3.500 average in at least two advanced courses related to the topic of the thesis; one of these may, but need not, be a course taken outside the requirements of the political science major.

Eligible students will be admitted to the distinction track upon recommendation of the director of undergraduate studies in consultation with the faculty member who has agreed to chair the distinction committee and oversee the student’s research and writing. The department does not require candidates for distinction to take PLSC 4304 , but strongly advises students interested in empirical research to do so.

Students advanced to the distinction track must write a substantial piece of independent and original research (PLSC 4307 ) and present it to a distinction committee composed of faculty selected by the distinction adviser in consultation with the student. Upon positive recommendation of this committee, the department will award the student graduation with distinction.

Programs

• Political Science, B.A.

• Political Science Minor

Courses

For purposes of distribution and concentration, courses are grouped in their broad fields in the listings below, as indicated by the last two digits of their course numbers:

• PLSC 4386 - International Relations of East Asia
• PLSC 4390 - NGOs in Global Politics
• PLSC 4392 - Strategy
• PLSC 4393 - Intelligence and National Security
• PLSC 4398 - Nuclear Weapons and World Politics
• PLSC 4401 - Washington Semester Program
• PLSC 4402 - Washington Semester Program
• PLSC 4403 - Washington Semester Program
• PLSC 4404 - Washington Semester Program