Aug 17, 2025  
Fall 2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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Fall 2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Political Science

Department of Political Science, College of Arts and Sciences

Chair: Dr. Ryan Vander Wielen

Director of Undergraduate Studies: Dr. Reuben Kline
Email: reuben.kline@stonybrook.edu
Room: S-739 Social and Behavioral Sciences
Phone: (631) 632-7648

Director of Undergraduate Studies: Ashley Porcello
Email: ashley.porcello@stonybrook.edu
Room: S-705 Social and Behavioral Sciences
Phone: (631) 632-7688

Department Office Suite: S-701 Social and Behavioral Sciences
 
Political Science is the study of how societies make collective decisions through politics and government. It is subdivided into the following areas: American politics (study of American institutions and practices); comparative politics (study of foreign governments); international relations (study of war, international organization, and foreign policies); political theory (study of the bases of legitimate political authority); political behavior (study of why people vote and act as they do in political matters); and public policy (study of organizational decision-making and the consequences of government action).

Requirements for the Minor in Political Science (POL)

The minor in Political Science is organized around one of the concentrations  listed for the major.

Notes for All Areas of the Minor:

1. All courses taken to fulfill minor requirements must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher, except for those with a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading scale which must be passed with an S.
2. No more than three credits of courses with Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading may be applied to the minor.
3. Neither POL 475 nor POL 476 may be used toward the minor.
4. At least nine credits must be taken in courses offered by the Political Science Department at Stony Brook or cross-listed by the Department.
5. Only transfer courses with a grade of C or higher may be accepted toward the minor.
6. For the Concentration and Political Science Electives, all courses must be selected from courses numbered 200 or above (excluding POL 201), and at least three courses (9 credits) must be from courses numbered 300 or above.

Completion of the minor requires 21 credits organized into the areas and requirements below:

A. Introductory Courses (6 credits)

Two courses selected from the following:

B. Concentration (9 credits)

  • Three courses must be taken from courses in one of the Political Science, BA .
  • Concentration courses must meet the requirements listed in the Notes for the Minor.

C. Political Science Electives (6 credits)

  • Two courses must be taken from POL courses or courses that are crosslisted with POL.
  • Political Science Elective courses must meet the requirements listed in the Notes for the Minor.