The College of New Jersey Logo

Apply     Visit     Give     |     Alumni     Parents     Offices     TCNJ Today     Three Bar Menu

Political Science Minor

The Political Science Department offers a minor in political science with five-course units. Two-course units for the minor must be at the 300 or 400 level. A minimum of 2.5 course units (one-half of the courses required for the minor) must be completed at TCNJ or through a prior approved course exchange program.

Political Science Minor Advisor: Dr. Sarah Chartock, chartock@tcnj.edu

Requirements as of Spring 2025

Core (1 course unit)

Select one course:

  • POL 110: American Government
  • POL 130: International Relations
  • POL 150: Comparative Politics

Students may take all three courses. Doing so would fulfill three (3) of the five (5) required units for the minor.

International Relations (1 course unit)

Select one international relations option:

  • POL 130: International Relations
  • POL 330: US Foreign Policy
  • POL 335: International Organization
  • POL 337: International Law
  • POL 345: Human Rights in International Relations
  • POL 355: Political Economy of Natural Resources
  • POL 380: International Political Economy
  • INT 200: International Studies: Processes, Themes and Issues

Comparative Politics (1 course unit)

Select one course in comparative politics:

  • POL 150: Introduction to Comparative Politics
  • POL 250: Politics and Society in Developing Countries
  • POL 350: Politics in Europe
  • POL 351: Politics of the European Union
  • POL 352: Comparative Political Economy of Development
  • POL 357: Middle East Politics
  • POL 358: Latin American Politics
  • POL 361: The Middle East Through Literature and Film
  • POL 362: Islam and Politics

American Politics (1 course unit)

Select one course in American Politics: 

  • POL 110: American Government
  • POL 207: Citizen Democracy
  • POL 215: Gender and Politics
  • POL 218: Race and American Democracy
  • POL 220: Judicial Politics & Process
  • POL 300: Politics and Public Management
  • POL 305: American Public Policy
  • POL 307: Environmental Policy
  • POL 311: The Presidency and Congress
  • POL 315: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and the Media
  • POL 316: Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections
  • POL 318: Politics of Community Change
  • POL 320: Law and Society
  • POL 321: Constitutional Law I: Institutions and Powers
  • POL 322: Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties
  • POL 328: State and Local Government in New Jersey

Political Science Elective (1 course unit)

Select one political science elective (any POL course)

Requirements prior to Spring 2025

Core (1 course unit)

Select one course:

  • POL 110: American Government
  • POL 130: International Relations

Comparative Politics (1 course unit)

Select one course in comparative politics:

  • POL 150: Introduction to Comparative Politics
  • POL 250: Politics and Society in Developing Countries
  • POL 350: Politics in Europe
  • POL 351: Politics of the European Union
  • POL 352: Comparative Political Economy of Development
  • POL 357: Middle East Politics
  • POL 358: Latin American Politics
  • POL 361: The Middle East Through Literature and Film
  • POL 362: Islam and Politics

Political Theory (1 course unit)

Select one course in political theory: 

  • POL 275: Western Political Philosophy
  • POL 365: Origins of the U.S. Constitution
  • POL 372: History of American Political Ideas

Political Science Option (1 course unit)

Select one political science option:

  • POL 215: Gender and Politics
  • POL 220: Judicial Politics & Process
  • POL 300: Politics and Public Management
  • POL 305: American Public Policy
  • POL 307: Environmental Policy
  • POL 311: The Presidency and Congress
  • POL 315: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and the Media
  • POL 316: Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections
  • POL 318: Politics of Community Change
  • POL 320: Law and Society
  • POL 321: Constitutional Law I: Institutions and Powers
  • POL 322: Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties
  • POL 328: State and Local Government in New Jersey

International Relations (1 course unit)

Select one international relations option:

  • POL 330: US Foreign Policy
  • POL 335: International Organization
  • POL 337: International Law
  • POL 345: Human Rights in International Relations
  • POL 355: Political Economy of Natural Resources
  • POL 380: International Political Economy