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Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the questions about Political Science that are frequently asked by undergraduates. If your question is not answered here, please contact the department office or your advisor.
Where is the Political Science Department located? The Political Science Department is located in the Monteith Building (HRM) across from Manchester Hall and Mirror Lake. Political Science faculty and graduate students have offices on the 1st and 2nd floors of Monteith. The main office is in room 137. When is the department office open? The department office is open from 8:30AM -4:30PM Monday through Friday. You do not need to make an appointment to come by, but you may want to call 860 486-2440 if you want to check on individual hours. Where are the faculty mailboxes? The Political Science faculty mailboxes are located in room 137, which is open whenever the department office is open. The graduate student boxes are located in room 103. Some courses are taught by graduate students, so please check both offices if you are not sure or feel free to ask the office staff. How do I find my professor's office? A list of offices, office hours, and phone numbers can be found by clicking HERE. Office hours are also posted in the main office. I need the department head's signature for a form. How do I get it? Bring your form to the main office and the staff can help you. Most forms will be ready for pick up by the next day. How do I declare my major? Stop in at the Undergraduate Advising Office (HRM 132) and fill out the brief paperwork. What is a plan of study? A plan of study is a form that summarizes all the courses that you need to take for your major. Your final plan of study needs to be filled out, signed by your major advisor and department head, and then turned into the Degree Auditor in Wilbur Cross by the 4th week of the semester in which you expect to graduate. They are available in the main office (HRM 137) and on this website under forms. Which catalog year do I follow for my plan of study? Your catalog year is the academic year in which you declared any major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. You will need to look on your PeopleSoft transcript/ degree progress report for your "Requirement Term." If you are still not sure, check with the political science undergraduate advising office in room 132. I can't meet with my advisor during his/her regular office hours. What should I do? If you can't set up a mutual time, you are welcome to stop in at the undergraduate advising office and either advisor will be happy to assist you. The undergraduate advising office can sign off on any plan of study in place of your faculty advisor. What are the grade requirements for a major? You need to maintain a "C" average for the political science courses listed on your final plan of study. This means that some of your political science grades can be "C-", "D+", "D", or "D-" as long as your grades in other political science classes are high enough to keep your “major gpa” at a 2.0 average. TIP : If you have taken more political science classes than you need, you can list the classes with the highest grades on your final GPA to get your average up to a "C". How do I calculate my GPA? It can be rather complicated, especially if you have classes with different number of credits. The undergraduate catalog tells you how to do it in the section on grading. Click here: http://www.catalog.uconn.edu/acadm.htm Can I retake one of my political science courses to raise my GPA? Any retake of a course means that the grade received during the retake is used in the GPA calculation. Students should note that repeating a course that was previously passed can have negative consequences. For example, if a student fails a class previously passed, the student would lose credit for the first, passed, attempt and not earn credit for the second, failed, attempt. Repeating a previously passed course may also have an effect on financial aid. Students considering repeating previously passed courses should consult their advisors and Student Financial Aid Services staff. All grades received do remain on the transcript, but only the most recent grade is calculated into the GPA. What courses qualify as "related" courses? At least 12 credits in courses related to Political Science courses taken from one or more other departments. These courses must be numbered 200 or above and cannot be taken on a pass-fail basis. All 200-level courses in Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Philosophy, and Sociology will meet this requirement. Certain Inter-departmental courses and courses in other majors, such as English, Journalism, Linguistics, Psychology and Communication Science, may be approved as related courses at the discretion of your adviser.
How do I minor in Political Science? After you have completed the required courses, fill out a minor plan of study form and take it to the Political Science advising center to be signed. The form then gets handed in to the Degree Auditors in Wilbur Cross along with your final plan of study. The form is available in the main office (HRM 137) and on this website at www.polisci.uconn.edu/Pages/Undergrad/Forms.htm. Which courses do I have to take for a minor? · Students must begin preparation by taking at least one introductory 100-level course selected from among POLS 106; 121; or 132; 143; or 173. At least one additional 100-level course is recommended (It is advisable to build upon this foundation when selecting 200-level courses.) · Students must complete at least 15 credits of course work at the 200s level (or higher, with consent of instructor and minor advisor). A W or Q course may be substituted for the same numbered course. · POLS 296 and 298 may be counted toward the minor only with consent of the adviser. Political Science 297 and 299 may not be counted toward the minor. · Courses must be selected from at least three of the five disciplinary subdivisions. The minor form is available in the main office (HRM 137) and on this website at www.polisci.uconn.edu/undergrad/forms.htm. What are the grade requirements for a minor? You need to obtain a grade of "C" or better in all courses for your minor. Note: This is different than the major, which requires you to have a "C" average for all major courses. Will the minor be listed on my diploma? No, the minor will only be listed on your transcript. For more information on minoring in Political Science, click HERE
Which classes is the Political Science Department offering next semester? To see current classes, check Peoplesoft at www.studentadmin.uconn.edu. I need to overenroll in a class. Who should I talk to? You can ask the instructor of the course if you can over-enroll. Only the instructor can grant this permission. Can I take a Political Science course pass/fail? Yes you can, but you can not apply any pass/fail course to the major or general education requirements. What if I want to take more that 17 credits next semester? If you earned a 2.6 GPA in your last semester you can take 18 credits without permission. Otherwise you need an excess credit form signed by your advisor and your academic dean. You get the Dean's signature at the Academic Services Center. |
