Lang’s General Degree Requirements
In addition to the requirements outlined here, Lang has specific requirements, including a minimum number of credits in liberal arts courses as well as college residency requirements. All students should read Lang’s General Degree Requirements and consult with both their Student Success advisor and their Departmental Faculty Advisor each semester to ensure that they are on track to graduate.
Degree Works
To be sure your Degree Works account reflects the information in this worksheet, students should forward any approved exemptions from the following requirements to their Student Success advisor.
Bachelor’s-Master’s Program
Undergraduates in the BA-MA program can earn up to 18 credits (depending on the master's program) in New School master's courses and apply those graduate credits to both their BA and their MA. Submission of the Bachelor’s-Master’s application is required (members of the direct-entry cohort do not have to submit an application but do have to declare the Bachelor's-Master's combination they wish to pursue). Students should consult their Departmental Faculty Advisor and their Student Success advisor if they are pursuing a BA/MA, including those offered in Politics:
- BA Politics – MA Politics
Requirements for the BA in Politics
As of fall 2020, students declaring the major in Politics must take 12 courses, outlined as follows. Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses to meet the requirements for the major in Politics. Declare your major by following the process outlined in Declaring Your Major. Students who have declared the major in Politics before fall 2020 but wish to follow the fall 2020 curriculum can consult their Student Success advisor about submitting a Change of Catalog Year request. Only specific courses satisfy the major requirements, including electives. Courses should be chosen carefully, in consultation with the Departmental Faculty Advisor and your Student Success advisor. Track your progress using the program worksheet (below). See the university course catalog for spring 2021 Politics courses that fulfill these requirements. For updated course listings that meet the requirements below, email langpolitics@newschool.edu.
Major Requirements
Introductory courses:
- 3 LPOL Introductory courses. 1 of these may be fulfilled with a ULEC or Freshman Seminar taught by a Politics professor. (9-12 credits)
Other required courses:
- 2 interdisciplinary and experiential courses.* At least 1 must be an internship, study abroad experience, or civic engagement course. (6-8 credits)
- 6 LPOL electives (18-24 credits)
Senior Capstone:
- LPOL 4030 Politics Senior Capstone Seminar. (Prerequisite: Declared major, Senior standing, minimum GPA, and instructor permission) (3-4 credits) Students write a senior thesis published in UnderPol.
The capstone seminar offers students an opportunity to produce original work that may include research, political intervention, education, or institution building. While in the capstone, students are encouraged to seek out Politics faculty for help in conceptualizing, researching, and writing original scholarly work in politics. Reflecting on the political knowledge acquired in previous courses, students design a unique project with the guidance of the capstone instructor and feedback from their peers. The shape and substance of the projects will vary depending on student inspiration, interests, and expertise, as well as the political context and the questions it gives rise to in a given year. You can read capstone theses from the recent graduating class in UnderPol, Volume 3 (PDF), a journal written and edited by 2018 Politics seniors.
Total credits: 36-48
Sample courses fulfilling the interdisciplinary requirement (email langpolitics@newschool.edu for updated lists by semester):
- LANT 2815 The Politics of Giving
- LCST 3782 Feminist and Queer Affect Studies
- LECO 3011 Poverty and Inequality
- LEDU 3101 Refugees, Immigrants, and Education
- LHIS 2844/2854 History, Authority, and Power
- LINA 3150 Organizing for Freedom: Community Mobilizing Through Art and Education
- LMUS 3104 How Race Defines American Music
- LREL 3069 Buddhism and Human Rights
- LSOC 3095 "The Ghetto"
- LURB 3040 Social Justice and the City
- UENV 4520 Urban Food Systems
- UGLB 2110 (Dis)Order and (In)Justice