A student watches from the balcony during a legislative session.
Undergraduate

Political Science

The Political Science program at Saint Martin's University seeks to understand the basis of power in society, how that power is organized and exercised, and its impact on people’s lives. The department seeks to help its students engage in critical analysis of society and power structures.

Why Saint Martin's University?

The Political Science Program at Saint Martin’s aims to acquaint students with the great issues of politics. The faculty is driven to develop the student's intelligent and lasting interest in society and politics, and provide him or her with an environment for learning active self-governance.

Political science students will undertake rigorous coursework as they seek to understand the significance of class, race, gender, property relations and other identities in shaping political structures and political behavior. The department will strive to promote social justice and to encourage students to be active, thoughtful members of their community.

Highlights include: 

  • Undertake rigorous coursework and seek to understand the significance of class, race, gender, property relations, and other identities in shaping political structures and political behavior.
  • Faculty promotes social justice and encourages students to be active, thoughtful members of their community.
  • Engage with active self-governance and an understanding of political structures and behaviors.
  • Close proximity to the state capitol offers exciting opportunities for internships, such as the Washington State Legislature, Washington State Historical Society, and Simpson Timber Archive.

Political Science Requirements

CORE requirements (40-46 credit hours) 

Visit the undergraduate academic catalog for a complete breakdown of CORE (general) requirements for bachelor's degrees.

Required courses (36 credit hours*) 

*Note that 27 of these credit hours must be upper-division courses.

  • PLS 150: Survey of American Government and Politics
  • PLS 152: Global Issues

American Politics (choose one):

  • PLS 151: The Politics of U.S. Public Policy
  • PLS 310: American Foreign Policy
  • PLS 320: State and Local Politics
  • PLS 322: American Political Development
  • PLS 330: Cold War
  • PLS 364: U.S. Political Participation and Opinion
  • PLS 366: Congress and the Presidency

Comparative and International Politics (choose one):

  • PLS 200: International Relations
  • PLS 205: Comparative Politics
  • GPH 210: World Regional Geography
  • PLS 315: Politics of Globalization
  • PLS 325: History of the Vietnam War
  • PLS 340: Global Environmental Politics
  • PLS 352: Asia and the World
  • PLS 371: Model United Nations
  • PLS 376: Global Food Politics
  • PLS 377: Global Poverty and Development

Power and Inequality (choose one):

  • PLS 360: Gender and Global Politics
  • PLS 362: American Exceptionalism
  • PLS 367: U.S. Labor Politics
  • PLS 368: American Political Thought
  • PLS 372: Global Human Rights and Justice Movements
  • PLS 377: Global Poverty and Development
  • PLS 379: Judicial Process
  • CJ 410: Law and Society
  • PLS 420: Philosophy of Law
  • PLS 430: Civil Liberties

History (choose 6 credit hours in History at the 300 level or above that align any of the three PLS concentrations):

  • American Politics: HIS 310, HIS 325, HIS 326, HIS 356, HIS 357, HIS 358, HIS 359, HIS 365
  • Comparative and International Politics: HIS 344, HIS 347, HIS 410, HIS 411, HIS 413, HIS 415
  • Power and Inequality: HIS 305, HIS 319, HIS 360, HIS 365, HIS 370, HIS 435

Final project requirements:

  • PLS 498: Research Methods
  • PLS 499: Senior Seminar Paper

Additionally, 9 more credit hours at the 300 level or above from within any of the three PLS concentrations (American Politics; Comparative and International Politics; Power and Inequality) or the courses listed below:

  • PLS 195/295/395: Special Topics
  • PLS 397: Directed Study
  • PLS 390: Legislative and Administrative Internship (no more than six semester hours of credit in internships will count toward the political science major)
  • PLS 490: Legislative and Administrative Internship (no more than six semester hours of credit in internships will count toward the political science major)

 

No more than six hours of credit in internships may be applied toward requirements for a political science major. 

Required courses

  • PLS 150: Survey of American Government and Politics
  • PLS 152: Global Issues
  • 3 credit hours from the above listed History courses
  • Complete 9 more credit hours from PLS courses in any of the subject areas, 6 credit hours at the 300 level or above

Required courses (9 credit hours)

  • GPH 210: World Regional Geography
  • PLS 200: International Relations  -OR-  PLS205: Comparative Politics
  • SOC 103: Cultural Anthropology

Non-western history courses (3 credit hours)

One course chosen from:

  • HIS 410: History of Modern Egypt
  • HIS 411: Modern Latin America
  • HIS 413: History of Modern Africa
  • HIS 415: History of the Modern Middle East

Elective courses (6 credit hours)

Two electives chosen from:

  • BA 420: International Business
  • PLS 315: Politics of Globalization
  • PLS 325: History of the Vietnam War
  • PLS 340: Global Environmental Politics
  • PLS 352: Asia and the World
  • PLS 360: Gender and Global Politics
  • PLS 362: American Exceptionalism
  • PLS 371: Model United Nations
  • PLS 372: Global Human Rights and Justice Movements
  • PLS 376: Global Food Politics
  • PLS 377: Global Poverty and Development
  • SOC 396: Intercultural Communication
  • Or any upper-division intercultural course with approval of the faculty advisor for Global Studies

Political Science at a Glance

Degree
Bachelor of Arts
Program Type
Major
Minor
Campus
Main (Lacey)
Saint Martin's-JBLM
Type of Instruction
In Person
School
College of Arts and Sciences
Resources
What can I do with this major?
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Transformative outcomes

Career paths

  • Federal, state and local government service
  • Activism
  • Education
  • Law
  • Foreign service
  • Journalism
  • Business
  • Mediation
  • Public affairs research analysis
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Supportive community

Faculty

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College of Arts and Sciences

Spanning the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences, and characterized by an educational environment that is both rigorous and supportive, the College of Arts and Sciences offers 20 undergraduate major programs and 20 minor programs.

Next steps

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