Students who wish to pursue a career in the field of law often major in Political Science. This major requires 30 credits for the bachelor of arts degree, including one core course in each of the following four areas; American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations and Political Theory. Courses in political history and other cognate fields are also recommended. The Department of Political Science recommends that students planning to enroll in law school also complete a suggested 12-credit pre-law sequence in addition to the major. For more information on preparing for law school, visit the pre-law advisement page on the Touro website.

Required Courses (15 credits)

  • POL 101 American Politics 3
  • POL 102 Comparative Politics 3
  • POL 103 International Relations 3
  • POL 201 Introduction to Political Theory 3
  • POL 493 Advanced Topics in Social Science 3

Five electives from the following: (15 credits)

  • MAT 261 Statistics for Social Science Majors 3
  • POL 204 Great Powers in International Politics 3
  • POL 212 International Organizations 3
  • POL 222 International Law 3
  • POL 231 Democracy 3
  • POL 241 The Presidency 3
  • POL 242 Congress and the Legislative Process 3
  • POL 244 American Political Parties 3
  • POL 261 Government and Politics of Israel 3
  • POL 302 Modern Political Theory 3
  • POL 303 Contemporary Political Theory 3
  • POL 304 The Politics of the Middle East 3
  • POL 305 Third World in International Politics 3
  • POL 310 The Supreme Court and the Constitution 3
  • POL 311 Introduction to Legal Principles 3
  • POL 315 American Foreign Policy 3
  • POL 320 Public Policy 3
  • POL 325 Public Opinion, The Media and American Democracy 3
  • POL 341 State and Local Government 3
  • POL 351 Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union 3
  • POL 352 Politics of Eastern Europe 3
  • POL 361 Politics of Asia 3
  • POL 411 Seminar: Problems of Modernization and Political Development 3
  • POL 481 Independent Study 3
  • POL 482 Independent Study 3
  • POL 493 Advanced Topics in Social Science 3
  • POL 494 Senior Honors Project in Political Science 3Any Other Political Science Courses Approved by the Department Chairperson or Dean 3

Total Credits in Program 30

Suggested Additional Credits

  • POL 485 Legislative Internship 3
  • POL 486 Communal Internship 3
  • POL 487 Governmental Internship 3

Pre-Law Studies

The American Bar Association advises prospective law students to select courses and a major that can help them to develop analytic and problem solving skills, critical reading abilities, writing skills, oral communication and listening abilities, general research skills, task organization and management skills, and the values of serving faithfully the interests of others while also promoting justice. Political science may be advantageous in the sense that it contains the largest number of courses recommended by the American Bar Association. The Lander College for Men offers two recommended sets of pre-law courses, one appropriate for political science majors, another designed for majors in other fields. Following is a sample of the courses that Lander College advises prospective law students to take, irrespective of major. Please consult the Pre-Law Advisor for details.

  • POL 101 American Politics 3
  • POL 201 Introduction to Political Theory 3
  • POL 310 The Supreme Court and the Constitution 3
  • EBA 102 Principles of Microeconomics 3
  • EBA 101 Principles of Accounting I 3
  • EBA 102 Principles of Accounting II 3
  • PHIL 101 Logic 3
  • PSY 102 Social Psychology 3

Honors Political Science

To graduate with an Honors Major in Political Science, the student must take

Required courses  (18 Credits):

  • POL 101 American
  • POL 102 Comparative
  • POL 103 International Relations
  • POL  201 Introduction to Political Theory
  • POL  493 Advanced Topics in Social Science
  • POL  494 Senior Honors Project in Political Science

Six Electives (which does not include internships)  (18 credits)

Total credits: 36

At least five of the student’s courses in political science must come from among those designated “Honors Courses.”   To receive this designation, a course has to require one or more of the following elements, beyond the traditional requirements like a final examination,

  • a 15-page research paper
  • one or more assigned class presentations
  • class participation worth 20 percent of the course grade and graded upon the basis of demonstrated knowledge of the readings assigned for class sessions.

The student must also

  • take Senior Honors Seminar (no credit) the semester before he takes Senior Honors Project (POL 494) and defend his Honors Thesis before a panel of faculty members.
  • Maintain a 3.5 average in the major.

In order to take political science honors-major courses, a student does not need to be admitted to the LCM Honors Program or in any other Touro College Honors Program, though members of those programs are welcome to take the Honors Major in Political Science.

A student does not need to make a special application to have an honors major in political science.  Upon completion of the necessary credits, honors-designated courses, Honors Project and Seminar, and maintenance of at least a 3.5 average in the major, the student will graduate with an Honors Major in Political Science.