Politics
Office: 240 Cabell Hall
Phone: (434) 924-3604
| All courses with the prefix PLAP, PLIR or PLCP apply toward the College area requirement in Social Sciences. |
The Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics is concerned with the study of government, public law, and politics at the international, national, state, and local levels. Its course offerings are divided into four fields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. The fields are encompassed in two undergraduate majors: the government major emphasizes American politics or political theory (whichever the student chooses), while the foreign affairs major emphasizes international relations and comparative politics. Both degree programs require some study in all four of the Department’s fields, but both allow students the latitude to select courses that meet their specific interests within this broad discipline.
We expect students to acquire a background in the study of government and foreign affairs by taking several courses at the 100 and 200 levels. These courses are offered in each field and provide a solid background for the advanced 300-, 400-, and 500-level courses.
PLAP 101, PLAP 227, PLAP 266, PLCP 101, PLCP 201, PLCP 212, PLIR 101, PLIR 201, PLIR 202, PLIR 205, and PLPT 101 are all primarily lecture courses but devote some time to discussion; class size ranges from 50 to 450. 100- and 200-level courses may be used to fulfill the prerequisites for the major. Students may count a maximum of nine 100-level credits toward their major.
Courses at the 300 level and above also tend to emphasize lectures, but are more specialized; many have prerequisites. The 300-level courses may be chosen by students who believe they have sufficient background in a subject, whether they intend to major or minor in the Department or are selecting the course as an elective.
All questions regarding the major may be directed to Ms. Debbie Best in 240 Cabell Hall () or Professor John Owen in B011 Cabell Hall ().