The American Politics minor examines how power, institutions, and ideas shape governance and public life in the United States. Students study enduring foundations such as federalism, separation of powers, and the Constitution, while also engaging with judicial politics, social justice, women in politics, and energy and environmental policy. Contemporary perspectives on media and culture further highlight how politics permeates everyday experience. By situating politics in the American context, the minor enables students to connect their primary fields of study to enduring debates and pressing issues in US governance.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Describe and analyze the key components of American government including federalism, separation of powers, and democratic representation
• Identify the key institutions in American government and how they operate
• Analyze political behavior at both the electorate and elite levels
• Use foundational and recent political science research to understand current events in the United States

About Academic Minors
Farmingdale State College students are invited to enhance their studies with an "Academic Minor." A minor is a cluster of thematically related courses drawn from one or more departments. In addition to department based minors (e.g. computer programming & info systems), interdisciplinary minors are also available (e.g. legal studies).

Academic minors are approved by the College-Wide Curriculum Committee and the Provost. Students must make application for an academic minor through the department offering the minor in conjunction with the Registrar's Office Specific course work must be determined in consultation with a faculty member in the department offering the minor. A statement of successful completion of the academic minor will appear on the student's transcript at the time of graduation.

A minor is considered to be an optional supplement to a student's major program of study.
Completion of a minor is not a graduation requirement and is subject to the availability of the courses selected. However, if the requirements for a minor are not completed prior to certification of graduation in the major, it will be assumed that the minor has been dropped. Consequently, the student will only be certified for graduation in their primary major.
Only students in 4 year baccalaureate programs can apply for a minor.
A minor should consist of 15 to 21 credits.
At least 12 credits must be in courses at the 200 level or higher.
At least 9 credits must be residency credits.
Specific requirements for each minor are determined by the department granting the minor. 
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in their minor.  Some minors may require a higher GPA.
Students are prohibited from declaring a minor in the same discipline as their major (e.g. one cannot combine an applied math minor with an applied math major). Academic minors may not apply to all curricula.
Students are permitted to double-count courses.
Students are only permitted to take more than one minor with appropriate written approval of their department chair or curriculum Dean.