FAQs for Undergraduates
Major/Minor
How do I declare the Political Science Major/Minor?
Visit the second floor of Thompson Tower and speak with an advisor. You will fill out a Change of Major form, have it signed by an advisor, and then deliver a copy to the Registrar's Office in 213 Whitmore.
What are the Major requirements?
The Department of Political Science requires its majors to complete a minimum of 11 three-credit courses in Political Science, plus the Junior Year Writing requirement. Click here for a full description of the Major Requirements.
What are the Minor requirements?
Political Science Minors must successfully complete five courses in the Department, for graded credit. For more details, visit the Minors page.
Can I get out of taking any of the Major requirements?
Nice try, but no.
Is there housing specifically for Political Science majors?
Every year, the Department of Political Science sponsors several RAPs (Residential Academic Programs) for incoming freshmen, centered around a topic related to the field. All students enrolling in the RAP live on the same floor with other like-minded students, both Majors and non-Majors. In Fall 2009, the Department-sponsored RAPs are Politics Today, Investigating Democracy and Careers in Law. (Please note that the offerings change each year.)
There are several other housing programs that group students of similar interestes, such as honors floors, wellness floors, cultural floors, and many others. The UMass Housing Office has more information on all of these options.
Advising
Why isn’t there an advisor listed on my SPIRE account?
Simply put: there are just too many advisors in the Department to fit in that little space on SPIRE. Depending on what you need help with, you'll want to see a different one of our faculty or professional advisors.
Where should I go for advice on General Education requirements?
Your academic advisors can help you with General Education requirements, and you should also visit the comprehensive GenEd website.
Where should I go for advising on the Global Education Requirements?
Your academic advisors can help you understand the Global Education requirement, and you should also visit the comprehensive Global Ed website. To declare your Global Ed option, or to get an updated list of current term Global Ed classes, visit the Global Ed office in 128 Thompson.
Who should I go to for general major/minor advising?
Your first stop for any advising related to the majors should be the Academic Advisors on the second floor of Thompson.
They are able to help you with a variety of issues, including
- Signing up for the major
- Adding or withdrawing from courses (when SPIRE is no longer an option)
- Checking on your degree progress
- Prior approval of courses to be taken abroad or at other colleges
- Final transfer of political science courses taken at other colleges
- Removing holds on your record, and other general administrative issues within the major
For more general questions you can speak with a Peer Advisor.
They are able to help you with:
- Choosing courses
- Navigating the University
- Planning a successful undergraduate career
Who should I go to for mentoring or career advice?
Faculty are your best resource for any questions or guidance related to scholarship, research and graduate school. You should direct your question to those faculty whose background and interests best match your questions. If you're not sure who to approach, take some time perusing our faculty pages to find a good match.
For more general career advice, in addition to faculty, please visit our Career pages.
Who should I go to if I need advice on course selection?
Any number of individuals can help you with course selection -- faculty members, academic advisors, and even students. Our peer advisors -- members of the student groups PSUB and Pi Sigma Alpha -- are also available to give you their candid student-to-student tips, both by email, and during their advising hours around the registration period.
Who should I go to for Pre-Law advising?
If you need advice on law school and the application process, visit or email Diane Curtis, the Director of Pre-Law Advising, in 122 Thompson Tower, or visit the comprehensive Pre-Law Advising website.
Who should I go to for internship advising?
Prof. Laura Reed (224 Thompson) can help you with all sorts of internship advice and referrals. Also, visit the Political Science internships page, and the Career Services internship resources.
Who should I go to for study abroad information?
If you need advice and information on study abroad programs, speak with Laura Reed in 224 Thompson.
You can also visit the International Programs Office office Mon-Fri from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm on the 4th floor of Hills South.
Who should I go to for Departmental Honors advising?
Prof. Jillian Schwedler is the faculty Honors Coordinator for the Department. The Honors page also provides a wealth of information about the program, as does the Commonwealth College site.
Miscellaneous
Can a class I took abroad count for one of my Political Science classes?
Yes, depending on the class. BEFORE you go abroad, bring the class syllabus to an advisor to make sure it will.
Can I receive credit for internships?
Yes you can. For more information, speak to Laura Reed and check out the Political Science internships page, and the Career Services internship resources.
Do I have to pay to receive credit for internships?
During the fall and spring semester, there is no extra charge for receiving credit for an internship.
For summer and winter internships, you will have to pay per credit.
How can I get more involved in the department?
If you have work-study, you can inquire about working in the department.
Join one of the many student groups that we have.
Wait, you don't have my question here!
How'd we miss that? Just email us and we'd be happy to help.
