Montpellier School of Political Science

Bachelor's Degree

1. OVERVIEW OF THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAM

ISO 9001-certified since 2016 (thus attesting to the program’s educational and administrative quality), the Bachelor’s Degree with a major in Political Science offers a specialized curriculum in political science from the first year (L1) through the third year (L3). Focused on understanding the contemporary world, the program aims to help students acquire:

  • the body of knowledge necessary for analyzing policy—understoodin the broad sense of “governance of societies” (general education courses in the first year, reinforced in the second year, and specialized in the third year)
  • To develop asolid general knowledge base
  • To strengthenwriting and speaking skills
  • To gain proficiency in a widerange of methodological tools that can be appliedin the various professional fields to which this program provides access (drafting all types of written documents, delivering all types of oral presentations, designing and conducting qualitative and quantitative surveys or studies, conducting literature reviews, mastering information and communication technologies, etc.)
  • To prepare for the next step (further study or entry into the workforce) throughsix academic and career support modulesfrom the first year to the third year ofundergraduatestudies

2. BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAMS

In accordance with the LMD model, which has become the standard at the European level, the Bachelor’s degree in Political Science consists of 6 semesters (two semesters per year). The program is structured around a progressive approach. The first year (L1) is devoted to acquiring the fundamentals of the discipline, combined with courses in law, history, social sciences, economics, and more. Starting in the second year and continuing into the third year, students take more specialized courses corresponding to areas of concentration that are later explored in the Master’s 2 programs. The entire program enables students to acquire a solid foundation in political science, as well as a strong command of English, general knowledge, and social science research methods. 

First Year of the Bachelor's Degree in Political Science (L1)

 Semester 1

> TU WITH REQUIRED TUTORIALS
TU to Political Sociology: The Frameworks of Political Activity (33 hours of lectures + 15 hours of tutorials)
TU : French PoliticalTU : 1789–1958 (33 hours of lectures + 15 hours of tutorials)
TU : General ConstitutionalTU (33 hours of lectures + 15 hours of tutorials)

> TU TU Without Tutorials
TU of the Social Sciences (33h-3C)
TU InternationalTU (33h-3C)
TU (C2iTU (14h, including 10.5h of tutorials and 2C)
TU for Academic Integration 1: Succeeding in Your First Year (10h-2C)
TU Institutions and American Institutions (20 hours of lectures and 2 C)

Semester 2

> TU WITH REQUIRED SEMINARS
TU to Political Sociology 2: Political Actors and Behavior (33 hours—4 lectures + 15 hours of tutorials—2 tutorials)
TU French PoliticalTU Under the Fifth Republic (33 hours—4 lectures + 15 hours of tutorials—TU tutorials)
TU ConstitutionalTU of the Fifth Republic (33 hours—4 lectures + 15 hours of tutorials—2 tutorials)

> TU TU WITHOUT TUTORIALS
TU to Documentary Research (10h-1C)
TU for Academic Integration 2: Individual Interview – Midterm Review (15h-2C)
TU PoliticalTU (22h-3C)
TU AdministrativeTU (22h-3C)
TU and Analyzing Press Articles (20h CM-3C)

Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, 2nd Year (L2) 

Semester 3

> TU with Required Tutorials
TU PoliticalTU (33 hours—4 lectures + 15 hours of tutorials—2 tutorials)
TU SocialTU andTU (33 hours—4 lectures + 15 hours of tutorials—2 tutorials)

> TU TU Without Tutorials
TU GeneralTU 1: Major Political and Social Issues (33 hours–5 credits)
TU HistoricalTU of the State (33 hours–5 credits)
TU Political and EconomicTU of Globalization (22 hours–3 credits)
TU CareerTU 1: Careers in Political Science: An Introduction (20 hours–2 credits)
TU American History (20 hours of lectures–3 credits)

Semester 4

> TU WITH REQUIRED SECTION SESSIONS
TU of Public Organizations (33 hours - 4 lectures + 15 hours of section sessions - 2 section sessions)
TU : ComparativeTU 1: Western Democracies (33 hours – 4 lectures + 15 hours tutorials – 2 lectures)
> TU TU WITHOUT TUTORIALS
TU GeneralTU 2: Current Events Lectures (33 hours – 5 lectures)
TU of Political Ideas (22 hours – 3 lectures) (sharedTU
TU Contemporary PoliticalTU (22 hours – 4 lectures)
TU C2i (14 hours, including 10.5 hours of tutorials and 1 credit)
TU Career TransitionTU 2: Individual Interview on Career Plans (15 hours, 2 credits)
TU Political Speeches (20 hours of lectures, 3 credits)

Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, 3rd Year (L3)

Semester 5

> TU TU WITH REQUIRED SECTIONTU
TU to Qualitative Methods (33 hours—3 lectures + 15 hours of section sessions—TU section sessions)
TU 2: Dictatorships (33 hours—3 lectures + 15 hours of section sessions—TU section sessions)
TU to Public Policy (33 hours—3 lectures + 15 hours of section sessions—2 section sessions)

> TU Without Tutorials
TU of European Integration (33 hours, 3 credits)
TU International Issues (33 hours, 4 credits)
TU to Local Governments (33 hours, 3 credits)
TU : Personal CareerTU 1: Defining Your Career Path (22 hours, 2 credits)
TU European Union (20 hours of tutorials, 3 credits)

Semester 6

> TU with Required Tutorials (TD)
TU to Quantitative Methods (33 hours—4 lectures + 15 hours of tutorials—2 tutorials)
TU European UnionTU (33 hours—4 lectures + 15 hours of tutorials—2 tutorials)
TU Great Classics of Sociology (33 hours—4 lectures + 15 hours of tutorials—2 tutorials)

> TU WITHOUTTU
TU Figures in Economics (33h-4C)
TU in Europe (22h-3C)
TU Personal CareerTU 2: Development and Management of a Group Project, Internship, or Teaching Methodology (22h-2C)
TU , Equality, and Social Justice (20 hours TD-3C)

3. INTERNSHIPS, SUPERVISED PROJECTS

As part ofTU ProfessionalTU (Semester 6), students may choose either a Three-Week TU or a Personal and Professional TU .

4. EXPECTATIONS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

Interest in political and social issues

An interest in political and social issues and, more broadly, in the functioning of contemporary societies is essential for admission to the Bachelor’s degree program in political science. Political science programs include the study of political life and institutions, as well as courses in sociology, international relations, and political theory. The Bachelor’s degree in political science is multidisciplinary, and courses in law and economics are also offered. The curriculum includes a significant European and international component. Students are therefore also expected to demonstrate an interest in transnational issues as well as in the diversity of political and social systems.

A particular interest in the social sciences and humanities during one's academic career (particularly history, geography, and economics and social sciences) and civic engagement may be assets.

Written and oral communication skills

This requirement underscores the importance, for the political science program, of proficiency in the French language, both written and spoken. In university political science programs, the assignments given to students in seminars and exams include presentations, analyses of various texts and documents, and essays. It is therefore important to master the fundamentals of the language (spelling, grammar, syntax, etc.), which are essential for constructing well-reasoned analyses.

Ability to understand and analyze documents

This requirement underscores the importance, for the political science program, of the candidate’s ability to “understand” and interpret documents from various sources.

The Bachelor’s degree program in political science is based on the combined analysis of a variety of documents (including academic texts, as well as official documents, political speeches, administrative reports, media coverage, etc.), which students must be able to understand, contextualize, and critique using scientific reasoning. Political science programs aim not only to impart disciplinary knowledge and skills but also to foster scientific analytical skills and critical thinking.

Ability to work independently and organize one's work

This requirement underscores the importance, for the political science program, of the ability to work independently. Like many university programs, the political science bachelor’s degree program places a substantial emphasis on self-organization and independent work. Students also engage in group projects.