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Majors and Minors

Political science is one of the most useful tools we have for examining today’s complex, ever-changing world. If you’ve ever wondered about how people, institutions and ideas shape political systems, a degree in Political Science will satisfy your curiosity – and prepare you for a high-impact professional journey.

Our curriculum begins with a comprehensive overview of American government, comparative politics, international relations and essentials of political thought. Then, we empower your ambitions with a wide range of elective classes, plus opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships at a local political office or in Washington, D.C. Our graduates enter the workforce as good global citizens dedicated to pursuing creative, responsible political action.

Majors

Political Science (BA)

The major involves 33 credits, including 15 credits in required courses: Introduction to Politics, American Government and Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Essentials of Political Thought. Students then choose 18 credits in electives from courses on topics in American Government, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Thought and Law. Among their electives, students may opt to participate in a four-credit non-paying internship in a local political office or in Washington, D.C. Students may also pursue a Political Science major with P-12 teacher certification in Social Studies.

Learn more about Political Science at Montclair State

Jurisprudence, Law and Society (BA)

Jurisprudence, Law and Society is an interdisciplinary major focusing upon law within a liberal arts framework. It is a major for students seeking an intellectually challenging experience providing an excellent educational gateway to a career in law. Through diverse dimensions of law viewed through a variety of humanistic and social science disciplinary perspectives, students will study the role of law through the contextual relationships between law and societal forces that generate statutes, case law, and regulations. Students in this major will develop and enhance their abilities to think critically, reason analytically, argue effectively, conduct scholarly research, and write with clarity and precision. The Jurisprudence Major is an alternative to the Pre-Law Minor. A student may not enroll in both the Jurisprudence Major and Pre-law Studies Minor. 33 credits.

In addition to the general criteria for admission to Montclair State University, all students must apply to and be admitted into Jurisprudence major. For entry into the program students must meet one of the following criteria:

  1. Top twenty percent of high school graduating class.
  2. An overall minimum GPA of 3.0 at the completion of a minimum of 24 credits at Montclair State University or transfer institution.
  3. An overall minimum GPA of 3.0 in the student’s first three courses in the Jurisprudence major.

Jurisprudence Course Rotation
Learn more about Jurisprudence, Law and Society and Pre-Law Studies at Montclair State

Policy Studies (BA)

Policy Studies is a truly multi-disciplinary major that prepares students for careers as policy analysts, activists, advocates, and creators. The major involves 40 credits, including 25 credits in required courses: American Government and Politics, Spreadsheet Modeling for Business Decisions, Public Policy Analysis, Applied Macroeconomics, Applied Microeconomics (Fulfills Gen Ed L Requirement), ​​Statistics for Social Research, American Public Policy, and a six credit senior capstone internship course in which students gain hands-on experience in the policy arena either locally (Seminar and Internship in Political Science) or in Washington, D.C. (Political Science Washington, D.C., Internship). Students also choose 15 credits in electives from courses in a variety of disciplines, enabling students to acquire knowledge of general policymaking principles, or to garner expertise in specific policy areas, including Earth and Environmental Studies, Economics, Child Advocacy, Public Health, or policies explored in the field of Sociology.

Minors

Minor in Political Science

The minor in Political Science offers students the opportunity to study selected aspects of Political Science in the areas of interest of American Government and Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Political Thought and Philosophy. 18 credits.

Minor in Pre-Law

The Pre-Law Studies minor at Montclair State University is designed to enhance the preparation of students planning to seek admission to law school by promoting the development of abilities which are considered to be particularly important in the study and practice of law. Pre-Law Studies is an interdisciplinary program emphasizing critical reasoning, writing and analytical skills. The Pre-Law Minor is an alternative the Jurisprudence, Law and Society Major. Students may not enroll in both programs. 21 credits.

Minor in Public Administration

The Public Administration minor provides courses to provide essential background and internship experiences for students seeking employment in state or local government, It is open to all students. 18 credits.

Minor in Global Security and Diplomacy

The Global Security and Diplomacy minor capitalizes on the major in Political Science and the expertise of the Political Science and Law faculty in diplomacy and global security affairs. This new minor leverages the synergies between the major in Political Science and Jurisprudence, Law and Society by presenting a unified educational curriculum by the Department of Political Science and Law.

Minor in Policy Studies

The minor in Policy Studies offers students the opportunity to gain understanding of the policymaking process through the study American Government and Politics, Public Policy Analysis, Applied Microeconomics (Fulfills Gen Ed L Requirement), ​​Statistics for Social Research, and American Public Policy. Students also take one three-credit elective. Requirements for the Minor: The Policy Studies Minor requires 19-22 credits, of which 16 credits (5 courses) are the required core curriculum.