WELCOME
CLASS
of
2019
Political Science Department
Key Take-Aways
1. Political Science challenges you to think
critically and communicate clearly.
2. Political Science majors serve in every service
and branch.
3. Political Science majors have excellent
opportunities for internships, graduate
education.
4. The FPS matrix requires 4 intro courses, a
capstone, and 6 electives.
What is Political Science?
• The study of patterns in political
behavior
• The exploration of theories to explain
these patterns
• A normative discussion of political
behavior and institutions
How do you “do” Political Science?
• Political science requires systematic testing,
analysis, and theory
• Empirical testing involves sophisticated,
theory-relevant statistical and qualitative
methods
• Political Science requires expertise about realworld phenomena that motivate theoretical and
empirical analyses
Poli Sci and Service Selection
USNA Political Science
• World Class Faculty
– 15 full time civilian faculty
– 11 military faculty, including 2 PMP and 2 JPMP
– 3 distinguished visiting professors
• Rigorous “core” in sub-fields of American,
Comparative, and International Relations, and
quantitative methods
• Diverse range of upper level elective courses in
all sub-fields of political science
• Capstone course in your 1/C year
Political Science Coursework
• 4 Required Survey Courses
–
–
–
–
American Politics
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Quantitative Methods
• 6 Electives
– 60 elective sections offered each year
– 30 different elective courses each year
• Capstone Course in 1/C year
• Political Science Honors sequence
– Selections in Fall 2/C year
– Reduces electives to 5, no capstone course
Political Science (FPS) Matrix
3/c Fall
3/c Spring
MAJOR
DIVISION
CORE
NN210
2-1-2
Basic Navigation
SP211
3-2-4
General Physics I
SP212
3-2-4
General Physics II
SM223
4-0-4
Calculus III with
Optimization
NE203
3-0-3
Ethics and Moral
Reasoning
SM219
3-0-3
Probability and
Statistics
2/c Fall
2/ Spring
1/c Fall
1/c Spring
NN310
2-1-2
Advanced Navigation
NL310
3-0-3
Leadership: Theory and
Application
NL400
2-0-2
Law for the Junior Officer
NS43X
2-1-2
Junior Officer Practicum
EC310
2-2-3
Cyber Security II
EE301
3-2-4
Electrical Fundamentals and
Applications
EM300
3-2-4
Principles of Propulsion
ES300
3-0-3
Naval Weapons Systems
ES360
0-2-1
Control Systems
Laboratory
EA/N4XY
3-2-4
3-0-3
HUM/SS Elective 1
3-0-3
HUM/SS Elective 2
Free Elective
3-0-3
FL101
3-0-3
Basic Language I
HH2XY
3-0-3
History in the
Pre-modern World
FL102
3-0-3
Basic Language II
HH216
3-0-3
The West in the
Modern World
FL201
3-0-3
Intermediate Language I
FP210
FP230
FP220
3-0-3
International
Relations
3-0-3
Comparative
Politics
3-0-3
Major Elective 1
FL202
3-0-3
Intermediate Language II
3-0-3
Political Science
Methods
3-0-3
3-0-3
Major Elective 2
Major Elective 4
3-0-3
Major Elective 5
FP471X
3-0-3
Capstone
Seminar
3-0-3
Major Elective 6
3-0-3
Major Elective 2
19
19
17
17
17
16
Poli Sci Opportunities at USNA
Poli Sci Graduate Education
• VGEP at Georgetown
– Begin in your 8th semester at USNA, finish in December
after you graduate from USNA
– Navy pays part of total cost
• IGEP
– Student locates/proposes program
– Student locates 50% scholarship, pays the balance
• UK scholarships
– Two year scholarships to study in UK
– Rhodes, Marshall, Gates, Mitchell ….
– Extremely competitive
USNA Political Science
• Focused on meeting the vision of USNA:
developing future naval officers from across the
nation to serve and lead in an increasingly
interdependent and volatile world.
Where to find more about poli sci?
• Ask any of the faculty
• Poli Sci web presence
– www.usna.edu/polisci
 Course listings
 Faculty contact information
– www.facebook.com/USNAPoliSci
 Upcoming events, speakers
 Midshipman and faculty achievements
– www.usna.edu/NAFAC
 Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference