General university degree requirements stipulate that 1) at least four units of the major or three units of the minor be taken in residence at Puget Sound; 2) students earn at least a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in courses taken for the major or the minor; and 3) all courses taken for a major or minor must be taken for graded credit. Any exceptions to these stipulations are indicated in the major and minor degree requirements listed below.
Requirements for the Major in Politics and Government (BA)
- Completion of a minimum of eleven units in the Department of Politics and Government to include:
- Four 100-level courses (PG 101, 102, 103, and 104).
- PG 200. Students must earn a C- or better for PG 200 to count towards the major. Students may only retake PG 200 more than twice with approval of the chair of the Department of Politics and Government.
- Five 300-level courses, chosen in consultation with a Politics and Government faculty advisor.
- PG 400, the senior capstone course.
- At least five units of the total must be completed at Puget Sound.
- Any deviation from these requirements requires written approval by the chair of the Politics and Government Department.
Requirements for the Minor in Politics and Government
- Completion of a minimum of five units in the Department of Politics and Government to include
- Two 100-level courses (PG 101, 102, 103, or 104);
- Three units at the 300 level. One course may be at the 400 level;
- Any deviation from these requirements requires written approval by the Chair of the Politics and Government Department.
Notes for the major and minor
- Students who study abroad may apply one approved course toward a minor or two approved courses toward their Politics and Government Major.
- One unit of PG 498 may apply toward the major.
- Independent study courses may count toward the major with prior approval of the department.
- The Politics and Government Department will determine on a case-by-case basis the acceptability of courses that may be applied to a major or minor based on the age of the course.
- Students wishing to write a senior thesis can apply for entry into PG 490 (Thesis in Politics and Government) in the semester prior.