Program Description
The Political Science major at NYU Abu Dhabi attracts students who are interested in the many important political questions—conceptual, empirical, policy-oriented—that societies everywhere face today. How do different political systems affect policy-making? What are the intrinsic and instrumental virtues of democracy?
How could its functioning improve? Why do dictatorships survive in many countries, but evolve into democracies in others? Why do countries go to war? What are the connections between internal conflicts (such as civil war) and political or economic development? What are the main characteristics and causes of economic underdevelopment? Why are prosperity and stagnation distributed so unequally, both across countries and within them?
The student with a passion for questions such as these finds the Political Science major most rewarding. The philosophy underlying the courses has several distinctive features. First, the major has a strong analytical focus, with two required courses that introduce students to statistics and models of political behavior and institutions. These courses provide an introduction to the kinds of tools used by social scientists to conduct a deep analysis of these questions and to test the analysis using quantitative data. Second, the major offers many substantive courses, wherein these analytical tools are applied to important policy questions of considerable current interest. Third, the courses in the major include discussions of classic texts that illuminate both the intellectual history and the broader dimensions of these policy questions. Finally, the major offers several courses jointly with programs in Economics, Psychology, and Philosophy, providing students with exciting interdisciplinary opportunities.
Study Away
The study away pathway for the Political Science major can be found on the NYUAD Student Portal at students.nyuad.nyu.edu/pathways. Students with questions should contact the Office of Global Education.
Admissions
New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU. For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply.
Program Requirements
Majors in Political Science take four required Foundations of Social Science courses (Introduction to Political Thinking; Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences; Global Economic, Political, and Social Development since 1500; Social, Political, and Economic Thought), two introductory electives, two methods electives, one breadth elective, and two electives from any of the following areas: Political Theory and Institutions; Comparative Politics; and International Politics. During their senior year, every student majoring in Political Science takes a two-course sequence of seminars, culminating in the production of a Capstone in Political Science. During the first semester, students in Capstone Seminar 1 develop a research question, construct a research design that allow them to test potential answers to that question, and collect relevant data. During the second semester, in Capstone Seminar 2, students implement their proposed research designs, analyze the results, and write their senior theses.
Electives
Introductory Electives
Course List (Per Attribute)
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| CSTS-UH 1095J | Space and the Future of Humankind | 4 |
| POLSC-UH 1111 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 4 |
| POLSC-UH 1112 | Introduction to International Politics | 4 |
Methods Electives
Area Electives
Breadth Electives
Social, Political, and Economic Thought (SPET)
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the NYU Abu Dhabi Political Science degree, all graduates are expected to be able to demonstrate:
- Capacity to engage the professional literature and acquire familiarity with analytical concepts and principles that are essential for political thinking and understanding of political phenomena.
- Ability to compare and analyze political systems, the structure of political institutions, and the role of political actors in shaping political life.
- Ability to use the central concepts and methods to analyze international relations and patterns of conflict and cooperation in international affairs as well as ability to describe strategic interactions of states, international organizations, and non-state actors across a variety of substantive domains, including war, terrorism, trade, finance, environment, and human rights.
- Distinguish systematic normative inquiry from other kinds of inquiry within the discipline of political science and ability to apply abstract theory to concrete problems by using the ideas of political theorists to address contemporary social issues such as affirmative action and capital punishment.
- Information technology skills to collect data, present, and document empirical regularities in a wide range of social phenomena, with a particular emphasis on politics.
- Ability to analyze data and employ qualitative and quantitative methods including research design to conduct rigorous investigation and analysis of a wide range of social phenomena, with a particular emphasis on politics.
Policies
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
NYU Abu Dhabi Policies
A full list of relevant policies can be found on NYU Abu Dhabi's undergraduate academic policies page.