Undergraduate Course Catalog 2008-2009
University of New Hampshire at Manchester
» http://www.unhm.unh.edu
Politics and Society
» http://www.unhm.unh.edu/course-catalog/bachelor.html
Associate Professor: Michael Contarino
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics and Society provides an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Politics. The program emphasizes the many ways in which politics shapes, and is shaped by, social, cultural, economic and historical context. The program explores such issues as the historical context of political processes and ideas, how economics and politics impact one another, and how political ideas are framed, legitimized, de-legitimized and manipulated in different social contexts.
Politics and Society majors develop critical thinking, communication, and research skills essential for careers in government, politics, journalism, diplomacy, and business. Graduates of the program also will be well-prepared for graduate studies in law, political science, sociology, public policy, public administration, business administration, journalism, diplomacy, international relations, and history.
As the University’s urban campus, UNH Manchester is well-positioned to connect students to local, state, and national politics through coursework, research, internships. Students will have opportunities to work on local and national political campaigns, in local government, and with community organizations for credit as a part of this Senior Capstone project.
The Politics and Society program is designed to meet the needs of the region’s diverse student population including traditional-age and older students. Students will fulfill the University’s general education and major requirements by attending classes either full or part time. Transfer students are encouraged to apply.
Program of Study
Students must complete 128 credits to graduate, including 56 credits in the Politics and Society major.
Students must maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0, and a cumulative GPA in the major of 2.0. No credit
toward the major will be given for any course in which the student receives a grade of less than C-. Students
also must fulfill the UNH general education requirements. Up to three courses may be used toward both the
Politics and Society major and the UNH general education requirements. Transfer students must take at least
28 credits in the major at UNH Manchester.
Program Requirements
The Politics and Society major includes:
7 introductory courses in five social science disciplines and history
3 interdisciplinary core courses at the 500/600 level
3 500/600/700-level courses in Political Science and/or Sociology
A 700-level community-based capstone project and interdisciplinary seminar
Students will complete all lower-level courses before beginning their upper-level program, except by permission of the Politics and Society program coordinator. Substitutions may be approved with permission of the Politics and Society program coordinator. Writing-Intensive (“W”) courses are included at all levels, and will be offered all semesters. Students are encouraged to take a course in statistics and an Inquiry course in a related area.
Required Courses
Seven 400-level courses
All of the following:
POLT 401, Politics and Society
SOC 400, Introductory Sociology
ECN 411, Introduction to Macroeconomics
One of the following:
HIST 410, Historical Survey of American Civilization
HIST 422, World History in the Modern Era
HIST 435/436, Western Civilization
One of the following:
POLT 402, Introduction to American Politics
POLT 403, U.S. and World Affairs
POLT 407, Law and Society
One of the following:
ANTH 411, Global Perspectives on the Human Condition
ANTH 450, Race, Class and Power
One of the following:
CMN 456, Propaganda and Persuasion
CMN 455, Mass Communication
Seven 500/600/700-level courses
Three of the following interdisciplinary “PS” courses:
PS 501, Social and Political Economic Theory
PS 502, The Sociology and Psychology of Political Opinion, Identity and Belief
PS 503, Political Theory and Historical and Social Context
PS 651, Selected Topics in Politics and Society
Three 500/600/700-level “PS-approved” courses in POLT or SOC. Courses are listed in the UNH catalog. Courses must include at least one POLT course and one SOC course, except by permission of the Politics and Society program coordinator. At least one course must be at the 700-level.
One capstone 700-level PS course
PS 701W, Senior Project and Interdisciplinary Senior Seminar in Politics and Society
For complete program requirements including course descriptions, contact Michael Contarino, Ph.D., program director, (603) 641-4138, e-mail mc1@cisunix.unh.edu.
