The senior exercise in Political Science is an examination scheduled for the Saturday one week before Spring Break (February 27, 2010). The exam will be divided into two parts. On one part, the questions will focus more on political theory and, to a lesser extent, American politics. On the other, the questions will focus more in comparative, American, and international politics. Students will choose the questions on which they will write from among six or seven choices in each part. The questions are invariably multipart, and we try to ask at least one sub-question that forces a student to link the main theme of the question to another subfield of political science. Students have the option of writing the exam as a blue-book examination or as a typed exam.

The Department will schedule meetings at which we will give students advice on how to study for the exam during the fall semester. Attendance will be required and roll will be taken. At those meetings, we will especially emphasize how to integrate the subfields of political science. In addition, we encourage the formation of study groups among students.