Political Science Courses

Find course information and syllabi for courses offered through Saint Louis University's Department of Political Science.

Course Syllabi

Undergraduate Classes

Graduate Classes

Undergraduate Rules for Picking Classes

You should take at least one class in each the subfields before you explore more classes in a single subfield. Saint Louis University’s Department of Political Science’s four main subfields are American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political thought.

Classes in American politics have a "1," "2," or "3" as the second digit from the left of the course number: e.g., 1100, 2100, 2200, 3300.

Classes in comparative politics have a "5" as the second digit from the left of the course number: e.g.,1510, 2530, 3570.

Classes in international relations have a "6" as the second digit from the left of the course number: e.g., 1600, 2610, 3610, 4620.

Classes in political thought have a "7" as the second digit from the left of the course number: e.g., 1700, 3710, 3720, 4750.

If a class has a 2930, 3930, 4930 or 5930 designation, it has a "special topics" number. The only way to know what subfield these courses are in is to ask your department mentor. Courses with an "8" as the second digit from the left may fulfill more than one subfield, though only one will count for the major distribution requirements. Again, you'll need to ask your department mentor.

1000 and 2000-level classes are appropriate for beginning political science students. For most people, it is better not to take 3000-level or higher courses until after you have taken two or three 1000 and 2000-level courses.

You should take two or three introductory classes in a variety of subfields before you take methods.

You should try to take methods in your sophomore year. If that doesn't work out, you should definitely take methods the first semester of your junior year.

If your schedule has you taking four or five upper-level political science classes in the same semester, be prepared for a lot of reading or try to arrange your schedule differently.

Before you can take a 4000-level seminar, you must first take a methods course and another course within the same subfield as the seminar. Ideally, you would have taken the introductory course in the subfield as well as one or two others related to the topic of the seminar.

Internships do not count as seminars.

Before you start an honors thesis, if you choose that option, you must first take a methods class and you must have had a few classes relevant to the area that you want to research. You may not start an honors thesis on a topic in which you have little background.