OTOH, why you'd need it in a polisci environment--you got me there.
When your major is Poli Sci the assumption is that you are going to continue on into Law School therefore it is a recommended class.
IIRC, it depends on how the curriculum is set up.
At my campus, there's a pre-law option--and that's required for the option. As far as I can tell with regard to the other options, such a class is optional...