Majors & Minors

Majors

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

The Major involves 33 credits, including 15 credits in required courses: Introduction to Politics, American Government and Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Development of Political Thought to Machiavelli. Students then choose 18 credits in electives from a list of more than 30 courses on topics in American Government, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Thought, and Law. Among their electives, students may opt to participate in a 4 credit non-paying internship in a local political office or in Washington, D.C.

What is Political Science?

The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) once said that Political Science was the most important subject to study because it teaches us how and why people join together in communities and make the choices they do. This remains true today as we struggle to understand how to cope with many difficult problems in our society and in other countries. Political Science also helps us to understand how our choices affect the world around us.

Why Study Political Science?

Students who major or minor in Political Science will learn about the institutions, groups, leaders, policies and ideas that shape the American political system and the governments of foreign countries.

• Understand the American political process
• Find out how our public policies are developed
• Learn about the role of law in U.S. society and internationally
• Discover the philosophies that shape political ideas
• Examine different political systems in foreign countries
• Analyze key issues in foreign policy
• Be a more informed citizen

The Political Science Major

The Minor enables students to take 12 credits from a selection of courses in four core areas of the field: American Government, Comparative Politics, International Relations and Political Thought. Students also take another 6 credits in electives from any of the department’s course listings.

Life After Political Science

Our students find that their work in Political Science leads them to variety of job options. Many of our students pursue careers in law. Others work in public service as policy analysts in federal and state governments, or as city managers or administrators. Some graduates choose to engage in politics more directly and serve as policy advocates in public interest groups, or work in non-profit organizations. Still other graduates find that their knowledge of politics and skill at analyzing complex institutions offer an excellent preparation for a career in journalism, business, or social studies education.

Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence

Jurisprudence is an interdisciplinary major focusing upon law within a liberal arts framework. It is a major for students seeking an intellectually challenging experience providing an excellent educational gateway to a career in law. Through diverse dimensions of law viewed through a variety of humanistic and social science disciplinary perspectives, students will study the role of law through the contextual relationships between law and societal forces that generate statutes, case law, and regulations. Through the major, students will develop and enhance their abilities to think critically, reason analytically, argue effectively, conduct scholarly research, and write with clarity and precision. The Jurisprudence Major is an alternative the Pre-Law Minor. A student may not enroll in both programs. 33 credits.

In addition to the general criteria for admission to Montclair State University, all students must apply to and be admitted into Jurisprudence major. For entry into the program students must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Top twenty percent of high school graduating class.
2. An overall minimum GPA of 3.0 at the completion of a minimum of 24 credits at Montclair State University or transfer institution.
3. An overall minimum GPA of 3.0 in the student's first three courses in the Jurisprudence major.

Minors

Political Science

The minor in Political Science offers student the opportunity to study selected aspects of Political Science in the areas of interest of American Government and Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Political Thought and Philosophy. 18 credits.

Pre-Law

The Pre-Law Studies Minor at Montclair State University is designed to enhance the preparation of students planning to seek admission to law school by promoting the development of abilities which are considered to be particularly important in the study and practice of law. Pre-Law Studies is an interdisciplinary program emphasizing critical reasoning, writing and analytical skills. The Pre-Law Minor is an alternative the Jurisprudence Major. Students may not enroll in both programs. 21 credits.

Public Administration

The Public Administration Minor provides courses to provide essential background and internship experiences for students seeking employment in state or local government, It is open to all students. 18 credits.

What is Public Administration?

You may wonder what our public officials actually do. Perhaps you’re thinking about a career in public service but don’t know what that would involve. Public Administration provides a hands-on insider’s view of government by teaching students how public organizations function.

Why Study Public Administration?

Gain hands-on experience with government and other organizations from the inside
Public administration will teach you about all the public programs and agencies that affect your daily life, your community, and our country.

You will discover:

• how government organizations are organized and managed
• how they design programs that we rely upon for our economy, social services, and national security
• how our states, cities, and towns work with the federal government to achieve their goals
• how the federal government creates and changes public policy programs to respond to the needs and interests of communities

What does the Public Administration Minor Involve?

Taking courses that explain how government organizations work

At MSU, Public Administration is a minor, which may be combined with many majors, to enhance career prospects in the public sector. The minor requires 18 credits. Students take 2 required courses (3 credits each) and 12 credits in electives, which may include optional internships.

Students will learn about the policy process as well as specific government functions such as budgeting and personnel. Elective courses address the particular problems of state and local government, the politics of the federal bureaucracy, urban administration, and legal research.

Working one day a week in a 4-credit internship in a government office

To reinforce the insights they gain from their coursework, students may opt to work one day week in a government office. The 4-credit internship can be taken as an elective for up to two semesters.

At the end of the semester, students write a paper about their experience. Some students have worked on particular projects, including pre-trial intervention programs, downtown revitalization, and price-fixing of government programs. Other students prefer to work in a variety of different departments. All acquire valuable knowledge about government organizations and make a contribution to their communities.

Earning valuable job experience

The Public Administration minor helps students acquire the knowledge and skills they need to plan, implement and evaluate public programs. Students go on to work in local, state or federal government, as well as in nonprofit organizations and the private sector.

Department of Political Science and Law
Montclair State University
204 Dickson Hall
Montclair, New Jersey 07043
973-655-4238