Requirements

The Yale College Program of Study (YCPS) provides an authoritative description of the Department’s programs and requirements. Requirements were updated in December, 2021 and an explanation of these changes and who they affect are explained here.

The two most popular versions of the major are the Standard major and the Interdisciplinary Concentration major (described below).

Standard Major

Interdisciplinary Concentration Major

Intensive Major

Requirements of the Major:

12 term courses

15 term courses

Distribution of Courses:

2 courses in each of 3 fields*

2 courses in each of 2 fields* plus 7 in field of concentration**

2 courses in each of 3 fields*

2 Political Science Seminars (at least one in senior year)

2 Political Science Seminars (at least one in senior year) plus PLSC 474b

Substitution permitted:

Up to 2 courses in other departments**

Up to 3 courses in other departments**

Up to 2 courses in other departments**

Specific Courses Required:

None

PLSC 474b, PLSC 490a/493b

Senior Requirements:

Senior Essay in a seminar, or in PLSC 480 a or b, or in PLSC 490a/491b

Senior essay in PLSC 490a/493b

*There are five fields: (1) American Government, (2) Comparative Government, (3) International Relations, (4) Analytical Political Theory, and (5) Political Philosophy.
** Requires DUS approval.

List of Spring 2023 PLSC Courses

Previously course listings:

List of Spring 2019 PLSC courses (with subfields)

List of Fall 2018 PLSC courses (with subfields)

List of Spring 2018 PLSC Courses

List of Fall 2017 PLSC courses

List of Spring 2017 PLSC courses

List of Fall 2016 PLSC courses

List of all courses offered (Fall 2010 - Spring 2015) with field distributions