- Does my senior essay count as one of my 7 IDC courses?

Yes. Please know your senior essay will count as one of your IDCs, because it needs to be written in the field of your concentration. If you are writing a year-long senior essay, then both PLSC 490 (The Senior Colloquium) and PLSC 491 (The Senior Essay) or PLSC 493 (Senior Essay for Intensive Majors) will count toward your concentration.