Major in International and Comparative Politics

The major in international and comparative politics is available within the political science major for students with particular career and/or advanced degree interests that would require concentrated knowledge of foreign politics and/or international politics. The concentration provides for students completing the program to receive designation of this specialization on their Permanent Record Card. The concentration is aimed at preparing students for careers in international affairs, the foreign service, developmental assistance, and international business.

International & Comparative Student Isaac Hines during a diplomatic simulation, 2002.

Students are strongly advised to incorporate study abroad into their curriculum for this major. The personal and professional gains that come from a cross-cultural, immersion experience are nearly immeasurable. Moreover, future employment or admission into graduate or law school can be greatly enhanced by having had an international experience. See the WMU Study Abroad Site.

Note: See the Advising Page for International and Comparative Politics.

This major's requirements are as follows:

Part I. Introductory and Skill Courses

• PSCI 2000 - American National Government
• PSCI 2400 - Introduction to Comparative Politics
• PSCI 2500 - International Relations
• One of the following:
  • PSCI 3660 - Scope and Methods of Political Science
  • PSCI 3950 - Quantitative Methods for Political Scientists
• Students much choose at least one course in Political Theory from the following:
  • PSCI 3600 - Introduction to the History of Political Theory I
  • PSCI 3610 - Introduction to the History of Political Theory II
  • PSCI 3620 - Theoretical and Ideological Bases of Contemporary Politics
  • PSCI 3630 - American Political Theory

• FOUR Electives from the following courses in International and Comparative Politics:
  • PSCI 3400 - European Politics
  • PSCI 3410 - The Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa
  • PSCI 3440 - Russian and Central Asian Politics
  • PSCI 3450 - Latin American Politics
  • PSCI 3460 - Women in Developing Countries
  • PSCI 3500 - American Foreign Policy
  • PSCI 4400 - The European Union
  • PSCI 4410 - Issues in Comparative Politics*
  • PSCI 4420 - Studies in Comparative Politics*
  • PSCI 5490 - Topics in Comparative Politics*
  *May be repeated if topic differs.

Part III. General elective in Political Science

• Any Political Science course at the 3000, 4000 or 5000 level.

Part IV. Capstone Seminar and Writing Requirement for the Major

• PSCI 4500 Seminar in International Comparative Politics (prerequisites: PSCI 2400, PSCI 2500, one of 34xx, 3500, or 44xx.)

• THREE Cognate courses: Complete at least three additional courses on foreign, international, or cross-national topics from at least two of the following departments: Anthropology, Economics, Science Studies, Geography, History, Languages and Linguistics, Marketing, Religion, or Sociology (prior approval from concentration adviser is required).

Student must complete two years of the same foreign language. This requirement can be met in one of four ways. First, successful completion (defined as passing) of the 2010-level course at WMU in the language of their choice. Second, successful completion of similar courses at another institution which are accepted as transfer credit by WMU. Third, passing the Foreign Language Placement Evaluation Exam in the language of their choice regularly offered by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. The student must be placed into the third year of study, which means their level of competence is in accordance with two completed years. Fourth, if the student is a foreign student whose first language is not English, the student is exempt from this requirement. Determination of eligibility for this exemption will be based on whether the student was required to take the TOEFL test for admission.