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Minor in Political Science

The MIT Political Science Minor Program expands and deepens student knowledge of political economy, comparative politics, social theory and other aspects of the discipline. Students benefit from increased engagement with and understanding of emerging real-world issues that affect society's greatest challenges, including energy, globalization, health care, conflict resolution, science and technology policy, and public-private collaboration.

A Course 17 Minor consists of six subjects divided into two tiers, selected from any of the discipline's fields. The first tier consists of introductory subjects, which provide broad theoretical and/or empirical overviews of their subject matter. The second tier's upper-level subjects provide students with advanced and in-depth examination of their subject matter, including the opportunity to participate in the department's many field projects. Contact the political science minor advisor Dr. Katherine Hoss at hoss@mit.edu or Scott Schnyer at sschnyer@mit.edu for more information and to fill out an application.

The Minor is designed to allow a smooth transition from a prior Concentration in Political Science, and enable progress towards a Major in Political Science.

Requirements for the Minor in Political Science

Tier I: At least one but no more than two introductory subjects (introductory subjects are designated with two-digit numbers) from any subfield of the discipline. These introductory subjects provide broad theoretical and/or empirical overviews of their subject matter. Examples include:

  • 17.01J - Justice
  • 17.20 - Introduction to the American Political Process
  • 17.46 - US National Security Policy
  • 17.50 - Introduction to Comparative Politics

Tier II: At least four but no more than five upper level subjects. These specialized subjects provide students with advanced and in-depth examination of their subject matter. Examples include:

  • 17.263 - Electoral Politics, Public Opinion and Democracy
  • 17.473 - Nuclear Strategy and Proliferation
  • 17.561 - European Politics
  • 17.831 - Data and Politics

Examples of potential minors in Political Science

Example A

(focusing on Political Theory and US Politics and Policy with exposure to US foreign policy)

Tier I:

  • 17.01J - Justice
  • 17.41 - Introduction to International Relations

Tier II:

  • 17.031 - American Political Thought
  • 17.251 - Congress and the American Political System I
  • 17.317 - US Social Policy
  • 17.483 - US Military Power

Example B

(focusing on US politics, democracy, race, ethnic conflict)

Tier I:

  • 17.20 - Introduction to the American Political Process
  • 17.50 - Introduction to Comparative Politics

Tier II:

  • 17.449 - Electoral Politics, Public Opinion and Democracy
  • 17.269 - Race, Ethnicity, and American Politics
  • 17.391J - Human Rights in Theory and Practice
  • 17.577 - Electoral Politics in the Developing World

Example C

(focusing on technology, policy and methodology)

Tier I:

  • 17.30 - Making Public Policy
  • 17.46 - US National Security Policy

Tier II:

  • 17.449 - Emerging Technology and International Security
  • 17.473 - Nuclear Strategy and Proliferation
  • 17.831 - Data and Politics 
  • 17.835 - Machine Learning and Data Science in Politics

One of the subjects can be from another department at MIT or from another school such as Wellesley, Harvard, or transfer political science credit from another university.

General Guidelines for a HASS Minor

Of the six subjects required for the HASS Minor, at most five shall count toward satisfaction of the Institute HASS Requirement. Of these five, at most one shall count toward Distribution; and

The junior/senior pass/fail option may NOT be used in a HASS Minor program.

For more information on HASS Minor requirements visit the HASS website.