Program Requirements

Politics

Politics courses are designed to give students opportunities to develop both theoretical and practical understandings of the political world. Students are encouraged to develop analytic and evaluative skills that will enable them to investigate, understand, and explain political phenomena. The Politics curriculum also aims to foster informed and active participation in the political process.

Those who pursue the Politics major have the opportunity to study in the areas of American politics, political philosophy, comparative politics, and international relations. The senior thesis, required of all majors, involves writing a major research paper under the close supervision of a faculty member. Opportunities for interning in government and politics at the local, state, or national levels are available for qualified students with required academic preparation.

Politics majors find career opportunities in law, politics, public administration, planning, international organizations, foreign service, international management, journalism, teaching, research, social service, grass-roots activism, business, and government.

Requirements for the Politics Major (10 Credits)

Two credits are required at the 100 and 200 level. No more than four credits at the 100 and 200 level may count toward the major. If four credits are earned at the 100 and 200 levels, four credits are required in 300 level courses; if three credits are earned at the 100 and 200 levels, five credits are required in 300 level courses; if two credits are earned at the 100 and 200 levels, six credits are required in 300 level courses. Only one credit at the 100 level may count toward the major.

One course is required in each of the following three area concentrations of the major.

One course in Political Theory (1)

POLI 203 (AR) Themes in Political Theory
POLI 212 (TH) History of Western Political Philosophy
POLI 213 (W; IT) Writing Political Philosophy: Individuality and Community
POLI 301 Liberalism and Its Critics
POLI 303 (AR) Topics in Political Theory [Crosslisted with WGS 342]
POLI 304 (W; AR) Politics of Environmental Ethics
POLI 305 Modern Political Theory
POLI 306 Critical Theories of the Law
POLI 307 American Political Thought
POLI 311 (W; IT) Writing Political Humor
POLI 314 (AR) Politics and Religion in the United States
POLI 315 Topics in Politics

One course in American Politics (1)

POLI 210 (US) American Politics
POLI 307 American Political Thought
POLI 314 (AR) Politics and Religion in the United States
POLI 315 Topics in Politics
POLI 319 U.S. Welfare Policy
POLI 330 Topics in Public Policy
POLI 334 Law and Public Policy
POLI 337 Constitutional Law
POLI 341 Environmental Policymaking: Politics and Process
POLI 343 Oregon and the Politics of the Pacific Northwest
POLI 345 Forest Ecology and Policy
POLI 351 (W) Women in American Politics
POLI 353 Parties, Elections and Campaigns
POLI 354 The American Presidency
POLI 358 American Political Development
POLI 379 Latinos in US Politics
POLI 396 Internship in Government and Politics (1-2)
POLI 398 Legislative Internship

One course in Comparative and International Politics (1)

POLI 214 (US) International Politics
POLI 216 (US) Politics of Advanced Industrial Societies
POLI 218 (US) Political Change in the Third World
POLI 315 Topics in Politics
POLI 326 (W) Globalization and Equity
POLI 362 Latin American Politics
POLI 369 Women and Politics
POLI 370 (W) Europe and the International System
POLI 372 American Foreign Policy
POLI 373 International Security and Cooperation
POLI 374 Asia and the International System
POLI 376 Latin American Revolutions
POLI 378 (W) Nations and the International System
POLI 380 Asian Politics and Development
POLI 382 (US) Capitalism and Democracy (1)

One Capstone Course

POLI 480 (W) Senior Thesis is required of all majors (2)

At least six credits must be completed in residence at Willamette University. No more than three credits toward the major may be earned through off-campus programs, including AP credit and transfer credits, no more than one credit may be earned toward the major through internship.

Requirements for the Politics Minor (5 Credits)

Two credits are required at the 100-200 level. Three credits are required at the 300 level. Only one credit at the 100 level may count toward the minor. At least one course must be taken, at any level, in two of the three area concentrations: Political Theory; American Politics; and Comparative and International Politics. No more than one credit toward the minor may be earned through off-campus programs including AP credits and transfer credits.

Faculty

Melissa Buis Michaux, Associate Professor of Politics, Chair
Sammy Basu, Associate Professor of Politics
Joe W. Bowersox, Dempsey Chair in Environmental Policy and Politics, Adjunct Professor of Politics
Rachel Carella, Visiting Assistant Instructor of Politics
Richard J. Ellis, Mark O. Hatfield Professor of Politics
Greg Felker, Associate Professor of Politics
David S. Gutterman, Assistant Professor of Politics
Robert E. Hawkinson, Adjunct Professor of Politics and Commons Facilitator
Jonneke Koomen, Assistant Professor of Politics
Michael Marks, Professor of Politics (Sabbatical 2009-2010)