Apr 11, 2025

2008-2009 Academic Catalog

2008-2009 Academic Catalog [Published Catalog]

Political Science (B.A.)

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Bachelor of Arts

Political Science at AUC is taught as a humanistic discipline with the overall objectives of fostering understanding of the contemporary world and developing knowledge about, and an appreciation of, the complex mechanisms, authoritative structures, and the allocation of values, which characterize contemporary human communities. Political Science at AUC requires students to develop abilities of comprehension and analysis, and skills for oral and written presentations. The graduate of Political Science is thus well equipped for life in the modern world, and to follow those professions and lines of work that require independence of thought, initiative, creativity in solving problems, and continuing self development. AUC graduates of Political Science are presently found in business, journalism, research, analytic writing, and public contact work. They occupy positions in public, private, development agencies, the diplomatic service, governmental ministries and agencies, and university teaching. A significant number of past graduates have subsequently completed M.A. and Ph.D. degrees.

For students to declare a major in Political Science, they must take either POLS 101 or POLS 202. POLS 101 may only be taken in the Freshman Year which will fulfill the Social Science requirement at the primary level of the Core Curriculum and will not be counted as part of the 45 credits required for the Political Science major. POLS 202 must be taken after the Freshman Year and for those who have not taken POLS 101. Students wishing to transfer from another major after their sophomore year will be considered on a case by case basis. Junior-year (300-level) courses are required in four subfields and are prerequisite to the more advanced courses and seminars (400-level). Each semester a selection of 300 and 400 level courses and seminars is offered from which students may choose courses to complete the requirements of the major.

A total of 120 credits is required for the bachelor’s degree in Political Science:

Core Curriculum (34-46 credits)
Political Science Requirements (45 credits) to be taken as follows:

if POLS 101 has already been taken in the Freshman Year:
21 credits (7 courses) in the concentration plus 24 credits (8 courses) as electives.

if POLS 101 has not been taken in the Freshman Year:
24 credits (8 courses) in the concentration plus 21 credits (7 courses) as electives.

Collateral requirements: (6 or 9 credits)
General Electives: (20-35 credits)

For all Political Science students:

Political Science concentration requirements (21 or 24 credits)

POLS 202 - Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 cr.)
This course must be taken if, and only if, POLS 101 was not taken during the Freshman year.
POLS 206 - Global Politics in the Twentieth Century (3 cr.)
POLS 301-302 - History of Political Theory (3 cr. per semester)
POLS 308 - Comparative Politics of the Middle East (3 cr.)
POLS 310 - Introduction to Development (3 cr.)
POLS 320 - International Relations (3 cr.)
POLS 350 - Introduction to Political Economy (3 cr.)
POLS 471 - International Law (3 cr.)

Collateral requirements

HIST - One Modern History course Credits: (3 cr.)
(not to be taken as an independent study) in addition to:

ECON 201 - Introduction to Macroeconomics (3 cr.)

General Electives

Students may use 15 hours of elective credit to minor in a discipline of their choice. Minoring is optional. Courses taken as collateral requirements may count towards the minor.

Students have the choice to use the 24 elective credits in Political Science (or 21 elective credits if they had to take POLS 202 to fulfill their concentration requirements) to obtain BA in Political Science in:

General field in Political Science
Specialization in International Relations
Specialization in Middle East Politics
Specialization in Political Economy
Specialization in Public and International Law

Three courses are required for each specialization as specified below. Three of the five (or four) additional required Political Science elective courses may be used for a second specialization.

1. Requirements for the General Political Science field:

Students must take seven or eight Political Science courses, including four courses at the 400 level and one of the four must be a seminar.

Collateral Requirements (6 credits)
General Electives (23-35 credits)
Depending on the number core curriculum credits taken to make up 120 credits total.

2. Requirements for the Specialization in International Relations

To specialize in International Relations, Political Science majors must, as a minimum, take the following three courses:

Requirements:

POLS 405 - International Politics in the Middle East (3 cr.)
POLS 409 - Seminar: International Organization (3 cr.)
POLS 410 - International Security (3 cr.)
or
POLS 411 - Contemporary Foreign Policies (3 cr.)

Options:

To further their understanding in this specialization, students have the option to take a number of recommended courses including:

POLS 414 - Egyptian Foreign Policy (3 cr.)
POLS 415 - U.S. Foreign Policy (3 cr.)
POLS 440 - Seminar: Special Topics in International Relations (3 cr.)

Collateral Requirements (9 credits)

ECON 201 - Introduction to Macroeconomics (3 cr.)

Two additional history courses chosen from among the following:

HIST 202 - History of Modern American Civilization (3 cr.)
HIST 308 - Europe in the Age of Reason (3 cr.)
HIST 356 - Society and State in the Middle East, 1906-present (3 cr.)
HIST 401 - Selected Topics in the History of the United States (3 cr.)
(when approved by POLS department)
HIST 402 - Selected Topics in European History (3 cr.)
(when approved by POLS department)
HIST 462 - Selected Topics in the History of the Modern Middle East (3 cr.)

Electives (20-32 credits)

Depending upon the number of core curriculum credits taken.

3. Requirements for the Specialization in Middle East Politics

To specialize in Middle East Politics, Political Science majors must, as a minimum, take the following three courses:

Requirements:

Options:

To further their understanding in this specialization, students have the option to take a number of recommended courses including:

ARIC 439 - Islamic Law (3 cr.)
POLS 325 - Government and Politics of Egypt (3 cr.)
POLS 353 - Muslim Political Thought (3 cr.)
POLS 405 - International Politics in the Middle East (3 cr.)
POLS 414 - Egyptian Foreign Policy (3 cr.)
POLS 423 - Political Economy of North Africa (3 cr.)
POLS 424 - Political Economy of the Middle East (3 cr.)
POLS 430 - Seminar: Special Topics in Political Science (3 cr.)
(If topic is applicable to the ME)
POLS 472 - International Law in the Middle East (3 cr.)
POLS 475 - Egyptian Law (3 cr.)
POLS 477 - Law and Development (3 cr.)

Collateral Requirements (6 credits)

Modern Middle East History at 300 or 400 level Credits: (3 cr.)

ECON 201 - Introduction to Macroeconomics (3 cr.)

General Electives (23-35 credits)

Depending on the number of core curriculum credits taken.

4. Requirements for the Specialization in Political Economy

To specialize in Political Economy, Political Science majors must, as a minimum, take the following three courses:

Requirements:

POLS 351 - Theory and History of Political Economy (3 cr.)
POLS 424 - Political Economy of the Middle East (3 cr.)
POLS 425 - Global Political Economy (3 cr.)

Options:

To further their understanding in this specialization, students have the option to take a number of recommended courses including:

POLS 402 - Seminar: Special Topics in Development/Political Economy (3 cr.)
POLS 413 - International Financial Institutions (3 cr.)
POLS 423 - Political Economy of North Africa (3 cr.)
POLS 442 - Environmental Politics (3 cr.)

Collateral Requirements (6 credits)

One Modern History course (not to be taken as an independent study)
in addition to:

ECON 201 - Introduction to Macroeconomics (3 cr.)

General Electives (23-35 credits)

Depending on the number of core curriculum credits taken.

5. Requirements for the Specialization in Public & International Law

To specialize in Public and International Law, Political Science majors must, as a minimum, take the following three courses:

Requirements:

POLS 472 - International Law in the Middle East (3 cr.)
POLS 475 - Egyptian Law (3 cr.)
POLS 477 - Law and Development (3 cr.)

Options:

To further their understanding in this specialization, students have the option to take a number of recommended courses including:

A number of Special Topics courses that are taught each academic year under course number POLS 473 (Special Topics in Public Law) and POLS 474 (Special Topics in International Law), and/or a choice of one course at the graduate level in the specialization International Human Rights Law-among which are included:

ARIC 439 - Islamic Law (3 cr.)
IHRL 510 - Introduction to International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (3 cr.)
IHRL 516 - Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (3 cr.)
*
IHRL 517 - Human Rights and Identity Groups (3 cr.)
*
IHRL 518 - International Refugee Law (3 cr.)
*

Note:

* IHRL 516 and 517 require the permission of the IHRL department; IHRL 518 requires the permission of the instructor.

Collateral Requirements (6 credits)

One Modern History course (not to be taken as an independent study) in addition to:

ECON 201 - Introduction to Macroeconomics (3 cr.)

General Electives (23-35 credits)

Depending upon number of core curriculum credits taken.

AUC New Cairo Campus

AUC Tahrir Square Campus

New York

Political Science (B.A.)

Bachelor of Arts

For all Political Science students:

Political Science concentration requirements (21 or 24 credits)

Collateral requirements

General Electives

1. Requirements for the General Political Science field:

2. Requirements for the Specialization in International Relations

Requirements:

Options:

Collateral Requirements (9 credits)

Two additional history courses chosen from among the following:

Electives (20-32 credits)

3. Requirements for the Specialization in Middle East Politics

Requirements:

Options:

Collateral Requirements (6 credits)

General Electives (23-35 credits)

4. Requirements for the Specialization in Political Economy

Requirements:

Options:

Collateral Requirements (6 credits)

General Electives (23-35 credits)

5. Requirements for the Specialization in Public & International Law

Requirements:

Options:

Note:

Collateral Requirements (6 credits)

General Electives (23-35 credits)