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2026 Political Science Major: American Politics Curriculum


Code Short Description Description Transcript Description Req Crse Cnt Opt Crse Cnt
PAP2 Political Science: American Politics Political Science Major: American Politics Political Science: American Politics 5 8

2026 Political Science Major: American Politics Tracks

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Subject Area Description Credit Hour
Required Courses Choose 4 of 4
SS360 POL SCI RESEARCH METHODS 3.0  
SS366 COMPARATIVE POLITICS 3.0  
SS376 AMERICAN POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT 3.0  
SS386 POLITICAL THOUGHT 3.0  
AND
American Politics Electives Choose 4 of 13
SS370 MASS MEDIA & AMER POLITICS 3.0  
SS373 THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY 3.0  
SS379 LEGISLATIVE POLITICS 3.0  
SS392 POLITICS-RACE,GENDER,SEXUALITY 3.0  
SS464 HOMELAND SECURITY 3.0  
SS465 TERRORISM: NEW CHALLENGES 3.0  
SS466 COMBATING TERRORISM 3.0  
SS468 POLITICAL PARTICIPATION 3.0  
SS472 THE AM STATE & THE SOLDIER 3.0  
SS473 AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY 3.0  
SS481 POLITICS OF DEFENSE POLICY 3.0  
SS490A COLLOQUIUM (AMER POLITICS) 3.0  
SS493 SENIOR STUDIES - AMER POLITICS 3.0  
AND
International Relations and Comparative Politics Elective Choose 1 of 19
SS372 POLITICS AND GOV OF CHINA 3.0  
SS374 POL & GOV OF KOREAS & JAPAN 3.0  
SS375 GOV & POL RUSSIA & NEIGHBORS 3.0  
SS377 POLITICS & GOV OF EUROPE 3.0  
SS378 ADV INTL RELATIONS THEORY 3.0  
SS381 CULTURAL/POLIT ANTHROPOLOGY 3.0  
SS383 POLITICS & GOVT-MIDDLE EAST 3.0  
SS384 POLITICS & GOVT-LATIN AMER 3.0  
SS457 INTRODUCTION TO GRAND STRATEGY 3.0  
SS475 COMP POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS 3.0  
SS476 CIVIL WARS 3.0  
SS478 DIST PROF OF SECURITY STUD SEM 3.0  
SS483 NATIONAL SECURITY SEMINAR 3.0  
SS485 GOV & POLITICS SUB-SAHARAN AFR 3.0  
SS486 STATE BUILDING 3.0  
SS487 INT'L POLITICAL ECONOMY 3.0  
SS490B COLLOQUIUM (INTERNTL AFFAIRS) 3.0  
XH397 GRAND STRATEGY FIELD STUDY 3.0  
XH467 WINNING THE PEACE 3.0  
AND

Complementary Support Courses Choose 3 of 70
Complementary Support Courses provide cadets exposure to concepts relevant to the study of American Politics from a different disciplinary perspective. For a study-in-depth, choose three complementary support courses from within any of the focus areas (see the Department Academic Counselor for a list of the current focus areas). For a broadening study, choose any three complementary support courses from this list.
DS345 MILITARY INNOVATION 3.0  
DS370 STRATEGY AND POLICY 3.0  
DS455 COMPARATIVE DEFENSE POLICY 3.0  
DS490 SPECIAL TOPICS: STRAT STUDIES 3.0  
EN321 AMERICAN LITERATURE I 3.0  
EN322 AMERICAN LITERATURE II 3.0  
EN353 WAR LITERATURE 3.0  
EN370 SHAKESPEARE 3.0  
EV300 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 3.0  
EV365 GEOGRAPHY OF GLOBAL CULTURES 3.0  
EV390B URBAN GEOGRAPHY 3.0  
EV391A LAND USE PLAN & MGT 3.0  
EV482 MILITARY GEOGRAPHY 3.0  
EV486 ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT 3.0  
EV487 ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY 3.0  
HI344 MODERN DIPLOMACY 3.0  
HI358 POLICY, STRATEGY & GENERALSHIP 3.0  
HI365 THE ANCIENT WORLD 3.0  
HI372 US FGN RELATIONS SINCE 1898 3.0  
HI385 WAR & ITS THEORISTS 3.0  
HI391 WORLD RELIGIONS 3.0  
HI392 AMERICAN HISTORICAL MEMORY 3.0  
HI396 MAKING OF MODERN AMERICA 3.0  
HI397 COLD WAR AMERICA 3.0  
HI398 CIVIL RIGHTS IN AMER HIST 3.0  
LW472 CRIMINAL LAW 3.0  
LW473 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 3.0  
LW475 ADV CONSTITUTIONAL LAW SEM 3.0  
LW481 INTERNATIONAL LAW 3.0  
LW482 NATIONAL SECURITY LAW 3.0  
MA367 MATH FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES 3.0  
MA376 APPLIED STATISTICS 3.0  
MA394 FUNDAMENTALS/NETWORK SCIENCE 3.0  
MG381 INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT 3.0  
MG382 HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 3.0  
MG390 NEGOTIATION FOR LEADERS 3.0  
MG421 STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT 3.0  
PL361 RESEARCH METHODS I 3.0  
PL372 SOCIOLOGY OF THE FAMILY 3.0  
PL377 SOCIAL INEQUALITY 3.0  
PL383 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 3.0  
PL393 CRIMINOLOGY-CRIM JUST SYSTM 3.0  
PL398 LEADERSHIP THEORY & DEVEL 3.0  
PL479 LEADING ORGNZS THRU CHANGE 3.0  
PY305 LOGICAL REASONING 3.0  
PY310 REALITY AND KNOWLEDGE 3.0  
PY325 MILITARY ETHICS 3.0  
PY330 POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY 3.0  
PY345 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION 3.0  
PY350 PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE 3.0  
PY355 PHILOSOPHY OF MIND 3.0  
PY360 ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY 3.0  
PY369 ASIAN PHILOSOPHICAL TRADITIONS 3.0  
PY370 17TH & 18TH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY 3.0  
PY375 KANT & 19TH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY 3.0  
PY380 20TH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY 3.0  
SS364 GAME THEORY 3.0  
SS368 ECONOMETRICS I 3.0  
SS380 MANPOWER-LABOR ECONOMICS 3.0  
SS382 MICROECONOMICS 3.0  
SS385 HISTORY OF ECONOMICS 3.0  
SS387 PUBLIC FINANCE 3.0  
SS388 MACROECONOMICS 3.0  
SS394 FIRM ANALYSIS FINANCIAL STATEM 3.0  
SS462 ECON OF STABILIZATION & GROWTH 3.0  
SS469 ECONOMETRICS II 3.0  
SS470 MONEY AND BANKING 3.0  
SS477 ECONOMICS OF NATIONAL SECURITY 3.0  
SS494 PRINCIPLES OF FINANCE 3.0  
AND

Integrative Experience for the Major Choose 1 of 1
SS480 PUBLIC POLICYMAKING PROCESS 3.0  
AND
Science Depth  
Cadets in this major may choose any of the authorized courses to satisfy the Science Depth requirement.
CH102 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II 4.0  
CH275 BIOLOGY 4.0  
PH202 PHYSICS II 4.0  
PH252 ADVANCED PHYSICS II 4.0  
STEM Depth  
Cadets in this major must take CY305/355 to satisfy the STEM Depth requirement.
CY305 CYBER FOUNDATIONS 3.0  
CY355 CYBER FOUNDATIONS - COMPUTING 3.0  
AND

Curriculum Requirements  
This section describes how cadets in this major satisfy various curriculum requirements.
IT/CYBER Requirement  
Cadets in this major will satisfy the IT/CYBER requirement by successfully completing the IT/CYBER content in the core curriculum and CY305/355.
CY305 CYBER FOUNDATIONS 3.0  
CY355 CYBER FOUNDATIONS - COMPUTING 3.0  
Core Engineering Sequence  
Cadets in this major may choose any authorized engineering sequence.
Writing-in-the-Major  
Cadets in this major satisfy the West Point Writing Program requirement by successfully completing writing requirements in the core curriculum and this course in the major.
SS376 AMERICAN POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT 3.0  





2026 Political Science Major: American Politics w/ Thesis Curriculum


Code Short Description Description Transcript Description Req Crse Cnt Opt Crse Cnt
PAP2T Political Science: American Politics w/ Thesis Political Science Major: American Politics w/ Thesis Political Sci: American Politics w/ Thesis 1 0

2026 Political Science Major: American Politics w/ Thesis Tracks

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Subject Area Description Credit Hour
Program Requirements  
The American Politics major with Thesis track will consist of a two-course sequence in addition to the requirements of the major, culminating in the cadet writing a thesis and defending it in front of a thesis committee.
 
Cadets aspiring to graduate with a thesis will take SS489A in the fall and SS498A in the spring of their Firstie year as part of a two-course thesis sequence. Throughout the year, cadets will prepare and write an in-depth research paper that brings together theoretical perspectives acquired during their earlier studies. In SS489A, Thesis students will complete the literature review, an annotated bibliography, and a prospectus for their theses.
Choose 1 of 1
SS498A: Senior Thesis in American Politics consists of independent study and weekly meetings between individual cadets and their thesis advisors. Cadets will be responsible for coordinating meetings with their advisor. Course requirements will include an approximately 30-50 page thesis and a defense of the thesis before their entire committee on Projects Day. Upon completion of the thesis and defense, the thesis committee recommends a final grade to the thesis advisor.
SS498A SENIOR THESIS IN AMER POLITICS 3.0  
AND
Grade Requirements  
Complete the requirements of the major as shown above, and attain an APSC of at least 3.0 in the core curriculum and an APSC of at least 3.5 in the major.





2026 Political Science Major: American Politics w/ Thesis (Honors) Curriculum


Code Short Description Description Transcript Description Req Crse Cnt Opt Crse Cnt
PAP2H Political Sci: Am Politics w/ Thesis (Honors) Political Science Major: American Politics w/ Thesis (Honors) Political Sci: Am Pol w/ Thesis (Honors) 1 1

2026 Political Science Major: American Politics w/ Thesis (Honors) Tracks

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Subject Area Description Credit Hour
Program Requirements  
The American Politics with Thesis (Honors) Program is open to cadets who demonstrate exceptional academic aptitude in the American politics major. Cadets aspiring to graduate with an American Politics major with Honors must complete all requirements of the American Politics with Thesis track and satisfy additional course and grade requirements. Honors cadets must complete all the course requirements for the American Politics major, complete a thesis by taking SS489A and SS498A their Firstie year, and take one additional American Politics Elective to increase the depth of study in their major. The additional elective will normally be taken in the cadet's Cow year.
Additional American Politics Elective Choose 1 of 13
SS370 MASS MEDIA & AMER POLITICS 3.0  
SS373 THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY 3.0  
SS379 UNITED STATES CONGRESS 3.0  
SS392 POLITICS-RACE,GENDER,SEXUALITY 3.0  
SS464 HOMELAND SECURITY 3.0  
SS465 TERRORISM: NEW CHALLENGES 3.0  
SS466 COMBATING TERRORISM 3.0  
SS468 POLITICAL PARTICIPATION 3.0  
SS472 SOLDIER & STATE: AM CIV-MIL RE 3.0  
SS473 AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY 3.0  
SS481 POLITICS OF DEFENSE POLICY 3.0  
SS490A COLLOQUIUM (AMER POLITICS) 3.0  
SS493 SENIOR STUDIES - AMER POLITICS 3.0  
AND
Choose 1 of 1
Honors students will continue work on their theses in SS498A Senior Thesis in American Politics, taken in the spring of the first class year when they will finish writing and defend their theses. SS498A Senior Thesis in American Politics consists of independent study and weekly meetings between individual cadets and their thesis advisors. Cadets will be responsible for coordinating meetings with their advisor. Course requirements will include a 30-50 page thesis submitted NLT lesson 35, and a defense of the thesis before their entire committee during the final two weeks of classes. Upon completion of the thesis and defense, the thesis committee recommends a final grade to the thesis advisor.
SS498A SENIOR THESIS IN AMER POLITICS 3.0  
AND
Grade Requirements  
Complete the requirements of the major as shown above, and attain an APSC of at least 3.0 in the core curriculum and an APSC of at least 3.5 in the major.