Political Science, Minor

To earn a minor in political science at Saint Louis University, students complete six courses with 18 credits of coursework.

In the general minor, SLU students take three courses in each of the four major subfields of political science (American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political thought) for a total of nine credits. Students also take three political science electives for an additional nine credits of coursework.

In the specialized minor, students take three courses from just one of the subfields, as well as nine credits of political science electives.

No more than six credits of transfer credit and no more than three credits of internship can count toward the minor.

Students can choose between a general or a specialized minor.  No one class can fulfill more than one requirement within the minors.

General Minor

Select one course from three of the four subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Thought. 9
Select three Political Science electives in any subfield.9
Total Credits18

Specialized Minor

Select three courses from a single subfield: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, or Political Thought.9
Select three Political Science electives in any subfield.9
Total Credits18

American Politics Courses

Introduction to American Government
American Political Systems
Introduction to Law
The American Constitution
The American Presidency
Race and Politics
Campaigns and Elections
State and Local Politics
Urban Politics
Public Administration
Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll: Morality Politics in the United States
American Foreign Policy
Judicial Politics
American Political Movements
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Public Opinion and Mass Communication
American Presidential Elections
American Politics and Film
U.S. Public Policy
Metropolitan Environment
Foundations of Law
Church and State
Civil Rights: A Moot Court Seminar
Sexuality and the Law
Race, Class, and Punishment
Political Parties
Gender and Politics
Electoral Politics
Law, Policy, Society
Law, Politics, and Regulatory Policy
Public Sector Budgeting
Issues in Public Policy
Urban Economic Development

Comparative Politics Courses 

Introduction to Comparative Politics
Politics of the Developing World
Blood and Money: Ethnic War
European Politics
Introduction to African Politics
Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics
Political Systems of the Sub-Sahara
The Politics of Asia
Introduction to Latin American Politics
Politics of the Middle East and North Africa
East Asian Political Economy
Communism, Capitalism and Social Justice
Political Development in Contemporary Spain
Latin American-U.S. Relations
Russian Political Culture
Political Change
Authoritarian Politics: Rigging Elections and Clinging to Power
Crisis of Leadership

International Relations Courses  

Introduction to International Politics
Introduction to International Political Economy
International Terrorism
Theory and Practice of Human Rights
American Foreign Policy
Problems of Globalization
International Organization and the Management of World Problems
International Security and Conflict Resolution
International Law
International Relations of Africa
Latin American-U.S. Relations
International Relations: Theory and Practice
The European Union: Politics and Political Economy
War, Peace, and Politics
International Challenges
Theories of World Politics

Political Thought Courses

Foundations of Political Theory
Fundamental Issues in Political Philosophy
Theories of Justice
American Anomaly: American Political Institutions in Comparative Perspective
Ancient and Medieval Classics in Political Thought
Renaissance and Modern Political Theories
Capitalism, Racism, Patriarchy: Theorizing Structural Power
The Modern Democratic State
The Politics of Pope Francis
Feminist Theory: Gender Justice
Citizenship and Social Difference
Seminar: Contemporary Political Ideologies
Marx's CAPITAL
American Political Thought

Continuation Standards

Students in the political science minor must maintain a 2.00 grade point average (GPA) in political science coursework.

Students can complete all or part of the political science minor at SLU-Madrid.

Learn More