Political theory
1–2Political theory trains the habits political science depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
A political science curriculum is a sequence, not a shopping list. Early courses build shared vocabulary; middle years introduce methods; the final stretch demands a project that can fail in public.
Elective freedom varies: some systems lock professional accreditation hours; others allow wide minors. The courses below are the common spine, not every university's catalogue.
Core courses
Comparative politics
1–2Comparative politics trains the habits political science depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
International relations
1–2International relations trains the habits political science depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Public policy
2–3Public policy trains the habits political science depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Research methods
2–3Research methods trains the habits political science depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Political economy
2–3Political economy trains the habits political science depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Elections
3–4Elections trains the habits political science depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Bureaucracy
3–4Bureaucracy trains the habits political science depends on — not trivia for exams, but reusable technique for later studios, labs or clinics.
Common tracks
Theory
A theory emphasis usually appears after foundations, when students choose seminars, labs or studios that deepen one problem family inside political science.
Comparative
A comparative emphasis usually appears after foundations, when students choose seminars, labs or studios that deepen one problem family inside political science.
Policy
A policy emphasis usually appears after foundations, when students choose seminars, labs or studios that deepen one problem family inside political science.
IR
A ir emphasis usually appears after foundations, when students choose seminars, labs or studios that deepen one problem family inside political science.
Skill map
Institutional analysis86
Policy writing84
Quantitative methods70
Debate82
Source criticism80
Field interviewing68
Institutional analysis
Institutional analysis is practised weekly in political science programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Policy writing
Policy writing is practised weekly in political science programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Quantitative methods
Quantitative methods is practised weekly in political science programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Debate
Debate is practised weekly in political science programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Source criticism
Source criticism is practised weekly in political science programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
Field interviewing
Field interviewing is practised weekly in political science programmes; the percentage is relative strength among skills on this page, not a grade.
How you learn
Lectures & readings
Large-group framing plus primary texts or problem sets that define the week's vocabulary.
Labs / studios / clinics
Supervised practice where mistakes are expected and feedback is specific.
Seminars
Small-group argument; silence is expensive because the group notices.
Capstone / thesis
A public synthesis — defence, exhibition, clinic portfolio or engineered prototype.
Treat the catalogue as a map of practised skills, not a brand promise. The department that grades hard and returns work fast usually teaches more than the one that advertises prestige alone.
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