FAQs

Go to the Online Schedule of Classes, select Undergraduate, and click on Submit.

You should begin by reviewing the requirements for completion of the major and taking the required distribution of 100 level courses. You must have completed two introductory level courses with a grade of C or better to declare the major.

Majors/minors are declared by completing the major/minor declaration form and submitting it to one of the four SAS Advising Centers. For information, go to http://sasundergrad.rutgers.edu.

The Political Science Department does not assign students to specific faculty advisors. Different faculty members are appointed each academic year to serve as faculty advisors. Click here here for information about the current advisor(s).

Register for the section that fits your overall course schedule. Intro. courses have 3 meeting times. The first two meeting times (e.g. MTh2) are large lectures. The third meeting time (e.g W3) is a smaller recitation section. A sequence of two lectures one week and one lecture and one recitation the next will continue throughout the semester.

Undergraduate students wanting to register for a graduate level course must complete the Graduate Course Request Form Students will then be given a Special Permission Number from the Graduate Office to enroll in the course.

790:491/492 Advanced Independent Study and Research The purpose of an Independent Study is to supplement, not substitute for, our classroom offerings and should only be embarked on when a student has already taken a course with the professor and wished to further explore some specific topic which is not covered in any of our other courses. Independent Studies require the same time and commitment as a regular classroom course.  Once a student has found a faculty supervisor, the student must provide written approval from the faculty member to the undergraduate office (Hickman 510). Only then will you receive a special permission number to register for 790:491/492.

Political Science Departmental honors and the designation of Paul Robeson Scholar are awarded to senior Political Science (790) majors who enroll in the courses, Honors Thesis 790:495/496, and successfully complete a Political Science honors thesis. In order to be eligible for departmental honors, a Political Science (790) major will have successfully completed at least 15 credits in Political Science courses with a grade point average 3.4 or better in these courses and have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better at the beginning of the Fall semester of senior year. 

-790:481/482 "Internship in Political Science." (3 credits): The Political Science Department offers internships in New Brunswick and throughout the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area. Students can earn three academic credits by working at the internship closely related to Political Science with the prior approval of the director of the internship program. For more information, click here.                                       
-790:397/494 Washington Internship/Washington Research (15 credits): Students from all majors may spend a semester in Washington, D.C. Juniors and Seniors who have at least a 3.0 G.P.A., and 12 credits in Political Science (including 6 in American Government-related courses), may choose to spend a semester enrolled in the Rutgers Washington Internship Program for full academic credit. For information about the Washington Internship/Research, click here.

The Political Science Department does not have pre-law advisors. However, the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) recommends you contact:
Professor Milton Heumann
Fellows Room
Milledoler Hall CAC
Thursday 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Call for appointment
848-932-7865

Students must complete the preapproval form, then submit it to the Transfer Office BEFORE taking the course. The TC will then return the form to the student so they understand how and (if) the credits will transfer, and transfer as a RU equivalent.. To view all transfer credit policies and fill out the preapproval form, go here.

For those wishing to transfer credits into the PoliSci major or minor, No more than four Political Science courses (12 credits) taken outside the Rutgers-New Brunswick/Piscataway Political Science Department may be applied to the major and no more than two Political Science courses (6 credits) for the minor. No winter session courses from any Rutgers campus or another university/college may be applied toward the major.

Students only take one 790:395 seminar during their undergraduate career.  

Any Rutgers student may choose to focus on foreign and international politics and take Introduction to International Relations to  acquire a basic grounding. Political Science majors can pursie the Global Politics Certificate, offered only to declared majors. You can review the certificate program here.

Each semester, honors courses of three kinds are available for members of the SAS Honors Program: Honors Colloquium offered through the Honors Program, interdisciplinary Honors Seminars offered through the Honors Program, and honors courses offered through academic departments. Available courses and their descriptions are listed each semester on the SAS Honors web page; see http://www.sashonors.rutgers.edu.

Students who are not enrolled in the Department Honors Program and wish to take SAS honors courses should contact the SAS Honors Program at . Note: Interdisciplinary honors seminars cannot be applied towards the major or the minor. Be sure to check with the department regarding any specific course.

Pi Sigma Alpha is the national Political Science honor society. Juniors and seniors, who have declared Political Science as their major before the end of the Fall semester, must meet certain scholastic criteria in order to be invited to join during the Spring semester. Click here for more information.

A political science degree opens up a wide range of career opportunities across various sectors. Political science graduates are valued for their analytical, research, and communication skills, which are highly transferable to many fields¹ Here are some common paths you might consider:

Government and Public Service 
Policy Analyst: Analyze and develop policies for government agencies.
Legislative Assistant: Support lawmakers by researching and drafting legislation.
Public Affairs Specialist: Manage communications between government agencies and the public.
Business and Consulting
Consultant: Provide strategic advice to businesses and organizations.
Market Research Analyst: Use data to help companies understand market trends and consumer behavior.
Media and Communication
Journalist: Report on political events and issues.
Public Relations Specialist: Manage the public image of organizations or individuals.
Law
Lawyer: Many political science graduates go on to law school.
Paralegal: Assist lawyers by conducting research and preparing legal documents.
Nonprofit and Advocacy
Nonprofit Program Coordinator: Manage programs and initiatives for nonprofit organizations.
Advocacy Specialist: Work on campaigns to influence public policy and opinion.
Education and Research
Professor: Teach political science at the college or university level.
Research Analyst: Conduct research and analyze data for think tanks or research institutions.
International Relations
Diplomat: Represent your country abroad and manage international relations.
Foreign Service Officer: Work in embassies and consulates around the world.
Urban Planning: Develop plans and programs for land use in urban areas.