401: Research and PS 405: Reading

Political Science 401 and 405 are self-directed courses designed to allow students to explore an area of interest outside of the courses offered through the department. Because students' interests are so varied, topics have run the gamut from New Zealand Politics, to theories of evolutionary psychology. Students are responsible for finding their own faculty sponsor, arranging the details of their required work, and meeting all deadlines established by their contract/approval form.

Research and Reading courses are an excellent way to earn credit for work already being done on a thesis project! If you are interested in registering for PS 401 or PS 405 you must:

1. Print the Proposal and Approval Form or obtain one from the Political Science office, 936 PLC.
2. Find a faculty sponsor who specializes in or has knowledge of your topic area (usually this is a professor whom you have known previously or have taken at least one course from).
3. Determine, with your faculty sponsor, the exact requirements you must meet in order to obtain credit. Pay special attention to the number of credits you will earn, how your work will be evaluated, what texts will be required, and how you will keep in contact with your sponsor regarding your progress.
4. Return the completed Proposal and Approval Form to the Political Science Office. Make sure that you have included a Research/Reading title, the number of credits and a CRN (available in the Class Schedule).
5. After submitting the form, you must register for the class using Duck Web. Please allow the Undergraduate Coordinator 24 hours to process your form before you attempt to register.
You will need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader to view files designated with . The reader is available off of the Duckware CD-ROM.