A political science minor is being added “for the students who want to gain some of the insights that the major track offers without having to pursue a political science degree,” said Michael Latner, a political science professor who helped develop the minor.
Shaun Kahmann
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A new generalized political science minor is now available to students looking to diversify their credentials.
The minor requires participants to take 12 units of courses that cover broad topics, such as comparative politics, and 16 units’ worth of any 300-400 level political science classes of the student’s choosing. Unlike law and society and global politics — previously the only minors available within the department — the new minor will encompass a broader range of topics within the subject, according to political science professor Matthew Moore.
“If what you’re interested in is politics more generally, without focusing on one of those areas, the political science minor is set up for that,” Moore said.
Computer science junior Kevin Le is currently taking an American government course and heard Moore announce the minor in class. He said he felt the topic was too broad to be condensed.
“It’s probably not the best idea,” Le said. “To distill the topic down to only 28 units might skew students’ perspectives.”
Michael Latner, a political science professor who sat on the curriculum committee responsible for developing the minor last year, said it’s designed to do just the opposite. Students interested in the minor would be required to take the same core classes political science majors take, Latner said.
“It’s for the students who want to gain some of the insights that the major track offers without having to pursue a political science degree,” he said.
Students who are interested may contact Moore or stop by his office in Faculty Offices North (building 47), room 14 for more information.