Requirements for Class of 2015
Yale College Program of Study (YCPS) provides an authoritative description of the Department’s programs and requirements. (The YCPS can be accessed 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: | 11 term courses | 12 term courses | 11 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 Seminars (at least one in senior year) | 2 Seminars (at least one in senior year) | 2 Seminars (at least one in senior year) plus PLSC 474b | |
| Substitution permitted: | Up to 3 courses in other departments* | Up to 2 courses in other departments toward distribution; plus up to 3 towards IDC* | Up to 3 courses in other departments* |
| Specific Courses Required: | None | 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 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 all courses offered (2009 - 2013) with field distributions