theundergraduateschoo ls - Wake Forest University

Political Science (POL)
Chair Kathy B. Smith
Reynolds Professor of Latin-American Studies Luis Roniger
Worrell Professor of Anglo-American Studies David Coates
Professors Katy J. Harriger, Charles H. Kennedy, Wei-chin Lee, Kathy B. Smith
Zachary T. Smith Associate Professor John J. Dinan
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Fellow and Associate Professor Peter M. Siavelis
Associate Professors David P. Weinstein, Helga A. Welsh, Pia Wood
Assistant Professors Michaelle L. Browers, Pete Furia, Sarah Lischer, Bryan Shelly
Adjunct Professor Richard D. Sears
Senior Lecturer Yomi Durotoye
Visiting Assistant Professor Tom Brister
Visiting Instructor Alisa Kessel
Distinguished Visiting Professor Frederick Rosen
In its broadest conception, the aim of the study of political science is to understand the way in
which policy for a society is formulated and executed and to understand the moral standards
by which policy is or ought to be set. This center of interest is often described alternatively as
the study of power, of government, of the state, or of human relations in their political context.
For teaching purposes, the study of political science has been divided by the department into
the following fields: (1) American politics, (2) comparative politics, (3) political theory, and (4)
international politics. Introductory courses in these fields provide broad and flexible approaches
to studying political life.
The major in political science consists of thirty-one hours, of which, in all but exceptional
cases, at least twenty-one hours must be completed at Wake Forest. Where students take political
science courses abroad, they have to be in Wake Forest approved programs and/or must
have been certified by the department chair. The required courses for the major include the
following: (a) at least one non-seminar course in each of the four fields of political science listed
above; (b) a course in political science methods (POL 280) normally taken in the junior year; and
(c) one political science seminar course (POL 290) normally taken in the senior year.
No more than six hours may be taken toward the major from introductory courses (100level
courses). Majors may not take the introductory courses during their senior year. Highly
motivated students who would like to further expand or apply their study beyond the normal
course of offerings can undertake internships, individual studies, or directed readings if they
fulfill the minimum GPA requirements of 3.0. No more than three hours for any one or any
combination of the following courses may be counted toward the major: POL 287, 288, or 289.
Transfer hours toward the major are awarded on an individual case-by-case basis at the discretion
of the department chair. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 in all courses completed in
political science at Wake Forest is required for graduation with the major.
The senior seminar provides an opportunity for majors to experience something comparable
to a graduate seminar. As such, it is conducted more by discussion than by lecture and enables
students to read and reflect upon advanced scholarly material. The seminar also offers students
the opportunity in their final year to create a research paper of greater length and sophistication
than is customary and to develop the research and writing skills appropriate to the task.
Students who write an outstanding seminar paper may be nominated for “Honors in Political
Science” if they have a 3.3 overall grade point average and a 3.6 political science grade point
P O L I T I C A L S C I E N C E 198