Jun 22, 2025  
Undergraduate Catalog 2016-2017 
    
Undergraduate Catalog 2016-2017 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Minor in Political Theory


The Political Theory Minor provides a concentration of study for students interested in political, social, and legal philosophy or thought, often related to public discourses, practices, and laws.  It recognizes the interdisciplinary character of political theory, which operates at the intersection of the humanities and social sciences.  It focuses on critical issues of ethics and power in history and the present, along with major authors in the traditions of political philosophy and thought.

The minor program consists of at least 15 credits taken from the courses listed below, or others as approved by the minor program advisor. Students must take at least 6 credits in philosophy and 6 credits in political science, including PHILO 10600  (or another 100-level PHILO course, with permission of the Advisor) and POLSC 20000 .  At least 3 credits must be taken at the 300-level, and one course must be taken from each of the three Minor categories (listed below).  No more than six credits that count towards the student’s major may be used to fulfill this Minor.

1. Required Courses


2. Current Courses That Count Towards the Political Theory Minor


Minor courses are to be selected from the following list of regularly taught courses or special topics courses in Philosophy or Political Science that pertain to the Minor but are irregularly taught (those interested in the latter should check with the advisor to verify that they may count toward the minor).  In addition, one course, with significant theoretical content, offered in, e.g., Anthropology, Classics, Geography, History, Religion, or Sociology, may count toward the Minor, upon approval of the Political Theory Adviser.

History of Political Philosophy and Thought


One Course on figures in, or periods of, political theory, eg., courses in the PHILO 38000 Major Figures in Philosophy (W)  topic series:

Basic Concepts and Themes


One course on theoretical or conceptual tendencies in political theory

Theoretical Dimensions of Contemporary Controversies


One course on problems or issues in political theory