Political Science department web page
The information on this page pertains to program requirements for students who matriculated in the 2024-2025 academic year. View requirements for previous catalog years here.
The Department of Political Science administers a major in American Politics. The undergraduate major, totaling 42 credits, serves our undergraduate students who choose Drake for the distinct experiential environment available in Des Moines and on campus, allowing consistent and meaningful participation in local, state, and national politics. The American Politics major offers students a unique learning environment that synthesizes rigorous academic study alongside practical experience and skills, exemplifying the Drake mission statement’s focus on “collaborative learning among students, faculty, and staff” and “the integration of the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation.”
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| POLS 001 - The American Political System | 3 |
| POLS 065 - Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLS 110 - Methods in Politics | 3 |
| POLS 159 - Research Seminar | 3 |
| POLS 195 - Senior Seminar in American Politics | 3 |
| Theoretical Foundations - Select one course from the following | |
| POLS 182 - Political Theory of the American Founding | 3 |
| POLS 183 - American Liberalism and Conservatism | 3 |
| POLS 185 - American Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 186 - Law, Politics, and Religion | 3 |
| Political Institutions - Select two courses from the following | |
| POLS 101 - Congress and the Legislative Procedure | |
| POLS 102 - The American Presidency | |
| POLS 103 - Judicial Politics | 3 |
| POLS 106 - State and Local Government | 3 |
| POLS 115 - Presidential Nomination Process | 3 |
| POLS 119 - Contemporary Debates in Institutional Design | 3 |
| POLS xxx - Introduction to the Public Administration | 3 |
| POLS 135 - Supreme Courts and Elections | 3 |
| POLS 137 - Politics and Parliaments | 3 |
| Public Policy Debates - Select two courses from the following | |
| ENG 071 - Rhetorics of Race | 3 |
| ENG 167 - Rhetoric and War | 3 |
| LPS 133 - Drugs, Law, and Society | 3 |
| LPS 137 - American Indian Law and Politics | 3 |
| LPS 138 - Reproductive Law and Policy in the United States | 3 |
| LPS 146 - Urbanization and Social Justice | 3 |
| POLS 112 - Women in Politics | 3 |
| POLS 117 - Race and American Politics | 3 |
| POLS 152 - Transnational Justice | 3 |
| POLS 154 - Human Trafficking | 3 |
| POLS 155 - Global Migration | 3 |
| POLS 156 - Global Health | 3 |
| POLS 162 - Gender and War | 3 |
| POLS 177 - Political Economy of Globalization | 3 |
| POLS 178 - International Law | 3 |
| SOC 105 - Race, Gender, and Poverty | 3 |
| SOC 140 - Youth and Crime | 3 |
| SOC 145 - Food and Society | 3 |
| SOC 154 - Poverty and Society | 3 |
| Political Behavior - Select one course from the following | |
| POLS 113 - American Electoral Process | 3 |
| POLS 114 - Public Opinion | 3 |
| POLS 116 - Media and Modern Politics | 3 |
| POLS 134 - Comparative Political Parties and Interest Groups | 3 |
| Professional Development/Practical Politics | 9 |
|
All students majoring in American Politics will complete 9 credits in related professional skills. Students may complete this requirement with a double major in Strategic Political Communication or Data Analytics. Students may complete this requirement with internship credit but no more than 6 credits may be awarded through internships. |
|
| POLS 193 - Internship POLS | 1-3 |
| POLS 194 - Internship POLS | 1-3 |
The information in this catalog does not constitute a contract between the university and the student. The university reserves the right to make changes in curricula, admission policies and processes, tuition and financial aid, academic standards and guidelines, student services and any other regulations or policies set forth in this catalog without giving prior notice.