University of New England

Degree: Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science

College: Arts and Sciences

Department: Political Science

Contact: Dr. Ali Abdullatif Ahmida (Chair) aahmida@une.edu

Our mission is to recruit professors whose research and teaching interests cross the traditional boundaries that divide many political science departments into separate groups. Our goal to to provide students with a holistic approach to political science that gives full attention to studies in American government, international relations, political theory, and comparative politics. 

Political science is the study of government, individual and institutional behavior in the public sector, relations among nation-states, and theories of politics. Political science addresses the fundamental issues confronting modern society - globalization, war, inequity, poverty, the environment - and seeks to evaluate the processes, policies, and theories that have been devised to deal with them. The Political Science program provides basic courses in theory, methods and case studies within the four sub-fields of political theory, comparative politics, international relations and American politics.  The political science major is an excellent choice in and of itself.  It is also an excellent choice for students wishing to study political science or law at the graduate level.

Pre-Law Emphasis
The pre-law emphasis allows students interested in studying law to receive special advising and to develop a liberal arts program of study appropriate as preparation for admission to law school and success in the legal profession. The study of law involves many aspects of social life and integrates many fields of study. Judges and lawyers are expected to handle different litigations, ranging from social to medical, environmental and other applications. Thus, law schools encourage students to have diverse undergraduate majors. UNE students who are majoring in any department can take advantage of the pre-law program.

Although the choice of major is open, law schools expect students to have acquired skills that enable them to think critically, reason logically, and speak and write effectively. The Pre-law Advising Committee will help students build their interdisciplinary program of study that includes not only humanities courses, but also courses in biology, environmental studies, psychology, and management.

See Undergraduate Admissions 

Minor in Political Science
A student with a major in another department may minor in Political Science with the approval of the Political Science Department Chair. Eighteen hours of approved course work is required. PSC 105 Intro to Political Science and two (2) 100-200 level courses and three (3) 300-400 level courses.

Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog

This Catalog documents the academic programs, policies, and activities of the University of New England for the 2008-2009 academic year. The information contained herein is accurate as of date of publication August 1, 2008.

The University of New England reserves the right in its sole judgment to make changes of any nature in its programs, calendar, or academic schedule whenever it is deemed necessary or desirable, including changes in course content, the rescheduling of classes with or without extending the academic term, canceling of scheduled classes or other academic activities, in any such case giving such notice thereof as is reasonably practicable under the circumstances.

While each student may work closely with an academic advisor, he or she must retain individual responsibility for meeting requirements in this catalog and for being aware of any changes in provisions or requirements.