Department of Politics

Professors	Matthew Green; Jakub Grygiel, Chair; Thomas W. Smith, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences; David Walsh; Andrew Yeo
Professors Emeriti	Claes G. Ryn; John Kenneth White
Associate Professors	Dorle Hellmuth; Maryann Cusimano Love
Assistant Professors	Jonathan Askonas; Sarah Gustafson; Justin Litke; Michael Promisel
Clinical Assistant Professor	Gustavo Santos
Lecturers	Lee Edwards; James Quirk

The Catholic University of America's Department of Politics offers a B.A. degree in politics. The faculty share a strong commitment to theoretical, historical, institutional, and constitutional approaches to the study of government and politics. In political theory, the department has special strengths in the history of Western political thought, American political thought, Christian political thought, culture and politics, constitutionalism, and contemporary political thought. In American government and politics, the department offers in-depth perspectives on the American presidency, Congress, the Supreme Court and constitutional law, American political development and culture, political parties and elections, and intelligence policy and institutions. In the field of world politics, the department offers broad expertise in such areas as American foreign policy, international relations, comparative government and politics, international political economy, national security in the United States, Europe and East Asia, anti-terrorism and radicalism, U.S. relations with Europe, Latin America, China, Japan, and Korea, and Latin American Politics.

Bachelor of Arts in Politics

The requirements for the major can be found at Politics - Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Each major takes at least 12 but not more than 14 courses in politics. Students are encouraged to take a broad range of courses drawn from the three concentrations offered in the department: American Government, Political Theory, and World Politics. Every concentration requires POL 111 – Introduction to American Government; POL 112 – Introduction to Comparative Politics; and POL 211 – Introduction to Political Theory. World Concentrators must take POL 212 – Introduction to International Relations. Students must declare their concentration with the department and the dean’s office and take between 4-6 courses inside the selected concentration and 3-5 courses outside the concentration for a total of 9 “politics electives.” Every student must pass a senior examination covering all three of the subfields of politics. The department also offers special programs, including a program in pre-law (see below).

Parliamentary Internships and International Studies

The department offers a variety of opportunities for internships and study abroad. These include programs in British politics in London, Irish society and politics in Dublin, and European studies in Leuven, Belgium. The British and Irish programs include internships within the respective parliaments, together with regular coursework in politics and other subjects. Internships in the European Union are included in the Leuven program. The European Studies Program focuses on European political and economic integration, comparative government, the institutions of the European Union, and European culture. There are also programs in Asian Studies, Irish Studies, Islamic World Studies, and Latin American Studies.

Washington Area Internships

Students who wish to undertake academically supervised field work in Congress, one of the executive agencies, a political party, or an association having a political impact on public life may register for an internship course (POL 495A or POL 495B). An undergraduate student may take two internships for credit, which may be applied to the 12-course concentration in politics, though not for the major’s concentrations. Students with sophomore standing or above are eligible to take an internship course. Internship courses do not count toward any of the three concentrations.

Pre-Law Track

Students planning a career in law may wish to complete the department's pre-law sequence. Alongside the regular specialization requirements in American government, world politics, or political theory, students complete a four-course sequence in public law. Each course in this sequence also counts for one of the three departmental concentrations.

Pre-law students are required to take POL 220 Introduction to Law and Politics. POL 220 should be taken first, but may be taken concurrently with another public law course. Pre-law students must also take two public law courses at the 300 or 400 level, including at least one semester of Constitutional Law (POL 323 or POL 324), and an approved 400-level seminar course, typically during the senior year. Seminar courses may include POL 405A: Constitutional Democracy, POL 407A: The Supreme Court, POL 453: Constitutional Theory and Interpretation, or other courses designated at the time of registration.

For further information, or for advice on preparing and applying for law school, contact the department's pre-law advisor, Dr. Justin Litke (litke@cua.edu).

Minor in Politics

The requirements for the minor can be found at Politics - Minor

Students who major in another discipline may also decide to pursue a minor in politics. The politics minor requires completion of the three introductory courses (POL 111, POL 112, and POL 211); two courses in one of the three concentrations (American, World Politics, or Political Theory); and one additional politics course.

For further information or to enroll in the minor, contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Justin Litke (litke@cua.edu).

Minor in Politics/Pre-Law

The requirements for the minor can be found at Politics/Prelaw - Minor

The Department of Politics offers a minor in Politics/Pre-Law to students not majoring in Politics. Pre-law minor students take any two out of the three introductory Politics courses (POL 111, POL 112, or POL 211) and POL 220 Introduction to Law and Politics. After these three, students take two law-related courses at the 300 or 400 level, including at least one semester of Constitutional Law (POL 323 and/or POL 324). Other offerings vary from year to year, and may include courses such as POL 404: Law and Morality or POL 477: Principles of the American Founding. The sixth course in the pre-law minor should be a 400-level law-related seminar, usually taken in the senior year. Please consult with Dr. Litke and the department for a current list, including from other schools or departments.

For further information, or for advice on preparing and applying for law school, contact Dr. Justin Litke (litke@cua.edu).

Certificate in Intelligence Studies

The requirements for the certificate can be found at Intelligence Studies - Certificate

The Politics Department offers an interdisciplinary Certificate in Intelligence Studies for students who seek a deeper understanding of the mysterious world of intelligence. It seeks to bridge the widely-recognized gap between what new employees in the Intelligence community should know and what they typically do know.

Students in the program must complete three intelligence courses (starting with POL 260 Introduction to American Intelligence), plus three elective intelligence-related courses, one of which must be from outside the Politics major. Students who are not Politics majors must choose one of the three introductory Politics courses (POL 111, POL 112, or POL 211) as an additional requirement for completing the Certificate (this may be completed as a Liberal Arts requirement or a general elective). Students are not allowed to undertake both the Certificate in Intelligence Studies and a Minor in Politics.

For detailed requirements or the list of current electives or for further information, contact Dr. Bianca Adair (adairb@cua.edu).