Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
The political science degree requires thirty nine additional semester hours beyond the General Education requirements and the College of Arts and Humanities foreign language requirement.
Program Requirements
In the General Education requirements, political science majors are required to take:
- HIST 2003 United States History to 1877
- HIST 2013 United States History since 1877
- HIST 1513 World History since 1500, OR HIST 1503 World History to 1500 OR GEOG 2013 Regional Geography of the World
- SOC 1003 Introductory Sociology OR PSY 2003 General Psychology OR ECON 2003 Principles of Macroeconomics
Political science majors are required to take six hours of beginning foreign language courses or obtain the appropriate waiver for high school language study.
The thirty nine semester hours required for the political science degree include
- POLS 2003 American Government
- POLS 2253 Survey of Western Political Thought
- POLS 2513 Research Design
- POLS 2403 Comparative Government
- POLS 2413 International Relations OR POLS 2153 Introduction to Strategic Studies
- POLS 4963 Senior Seminar
- Majors are also required to take 21 additional elective credits in political science, 18 of which are upper level political courses.
Program Recommendations
It is recommended students pursue one of the six career tracks below based on the types of jobs that are most appealing to them. It is also recommended students work with their advisor to do an internship within their track to give them first-hand experience in a career in their track.
Law School Track: Recommended for students interested in earning their Juris Doctorate in law. It is recommended students pursuing this track take at least 18 of their 21 political science credits from the following list of courses:
- POLS 3023 Judicial Process
- POLS 3043 Judicial Politics
- POLS 3063 Modern Political Thought
- POLS 3253 Classical Political Thought
- POLS 4043 American Constitutional Law
- POLS 4973 Internship
- POLS 4983 Political Science Seminar
Public Policy/Administration Track: Recommended for students interested in political careers in bureaucratic agencies
at the local, state or federal level of government, as well as non-profit organizations
that lobby government. It is recommended students pursuing this track take at least
18 of their 21 political science credits from the following list of courses:
- POLS 3033 American State and Local Government
- POLS 3043 Judicial Politics
- POLS 3053 Introduction to Public Administration
- POLS 3083 Political Parties and Interest Groups
- POLS 3093
- POLS 3143 The United States Presidency
- POLS 4973 Internship
- POLS 4983 Political Science Seminar
International Relations/Studies Track: Recommended for students interested in careers with non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) like the Red Cross, Amnesty International, etc.; political careers working
for or with organizations like the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary
Fund (IMF), etc.; or diplomatic careers. It is recommended students pursuing this
track take at least 18 of their 21 political science credits from the following list
of courses:
- POLS 3063 Modern Political Thought
- POLS 3423 Problems in International Affairs
- POLS 3433 United Nations
- POLS 3473 National Security Policy
- POLS 4973 Internship
- POLS 4983 Political Science Seminar
Strategic Studies Track: Recommended for students interested in military studies and careers. These courses
are very popular with students pursuing an ROTC program. It is recommended students
pursuing this track take at least 18 of their 21 political science credits from the
following list of courses:
- POLS 2153 Introduction to Strategic Studies
- POLS 3013 Recent American Foreign and Military Policy
- POLS 3063 Modern Political Thought
- POLS 3423 Problems in International Affairs
- POLS 3433 United Nations
- POLS 3473 National Security Policy
- POLS 4973 Internship
- POLS 4983 Political Science Seminar
American Politics, Campaigns & Elections Track: Recommended for students interested in careers working on political campaigns, for
political parties, for interest groups, or in any of the branches of government at
the local, state and federal level. It is recommended students pursuing this track
take at least 18 of their 21 political science credits from the following list of
courses:
- POLS 3033 American State and Local Government
- POLS 3083 Political Parties and Interest Groups
- POLS 3093
- POLS 3123 American Political Behavior
- POLS 3133 United States Congress
- POLS 3143 The United States Presidency
- POLS 3513 Research Methods (or SOC 2053 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, STAT 3153 Applied Statistics, etc.)
- POLS 4976 Internship
- POLS 4983 Political Science Seminar
Political Science Graduate School Track: Recommended for students interested in seeking a master's or doctorate's degree in
political science. It is recommended students pursuing this track take at least 18
of their 21 political science credits as follows:
- POLS 3513 Research Methods (or SOC 2053 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences for the, STAT 3153 Applied Statistics, etc.)
- AND 15 credits distributed as follows among these three blocks:
American Government Course (6 Credits):
- POLS 3023 Judicial Process
- POLS 3043 Judicial Politics
- POLS 3053 Introduction to Public Administration
- POLS 3083 Political Parties and Interest Groups
- POLS 3093
- POLS 3123 American Political Behavior
- POLS 3133 United States Congress
- POLS 3143 The United States Presidency
International Relations Course (6 credits):
- POLS 3013 Recent American Foreign and Military Policy
- POLS 3423 Problems in International Affairs
- POLS 3433 United Nations
- POLS 3473 National Security Policy
Political Theory Course (3 credits):
- POLS 3063 Modern Political Thought
- POLS 3253 Classical Political Thought
- POLS 4043 American Constitutional Law
- POLS 4973 Internship
- POLS 4983 Political Science Seminar
Curriculum
The matrix below is a sample plan for all coursework required for this program.
| Spring | Credits |
|---|---|
| ENGL 1023 Composition II 1 |
3 |
| SCIL 1XXX Science with Laboratory 1 |
4 |
| HIST 2003 United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| POLS 2003 American Government | 3 |
| Elective 2 |
3 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
| Fall | Credits |
|---|---|
| HIST 2013 United States History since 1877 | 3 |
| SCIL 1XXX Science with Laboratory 1 |
4 |
| Beginning Language I 3 |
3 |
| POLS 2253 Survey of Western Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 2513 Research Design | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
| Spring | Credits |
|---|---|
| FAH 1XXX Fine Arts and Humanities Courses 1 |
3 |
| Beginning Language II 3 |
3 |
| POLS Elective 4 |
6 |
| Elective 2 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
| Fall | Credits |
|---|---|
| POLS 2403 Comparative Government | 3 |
| POLS Elective 4 |
3 |
| Elective 2 |
9 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
| Spring | Credits |
|---|---|
| POLS 2413 International Relations or POLS 2153 Introduction to Strategic Studies | 3 |
| POLS Elective 4 |
3 |
| Elective 2 |
9 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
| Fall | Credits |
|---|---|
| POLS Elective 4 |
9 |
| Elective 2 |
6 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
| Spring | Credits |
|---|---|
| POLS 4963 Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Elective 2 |
9 |
| Total Hours | 12 |
1See appropriate alternatives or substitutions in "General Education Requirements".
2At least 40 of the total hours required for graduation must be 3000 - 4000 level courses.
3Must be in one language. Students may waive three hours of language requirement for
every one year of language study in high school with grades of "C" or better.
4Majors are also required to take 21 additional elective credits in political science,
18 of which are upper level political courses. It is recommended students pursue one
of the six career tracks below based on the types of jobs that are most appealing
to them:
*Law School Track: Recommended for students interested in earning their Juris Doctorate in law. It is
recommended students pursuing this track take at least 18 of their 21 political science
credits from the following list of courses: POLS 3023 Judicial Process, POLS 3043 Judicial Politics, POLS 3063 Modern Political Thought, POLS 3253 Classical Political Thought, POLS 4043 American Constitutional Law, POLS 4973 Internship, POLS 4983 Political Science Seminar.
*Public Policy/Administration Track: Recommended for students interested in political careers in bureaucratic agencies
at the local, state or federal level of government, as well as non-profit organizations
that lobby government. It is recommended students pursuing this track take at least
18 of their 21 political science credits from the following list of courses: POLS 3033 American State and Local Government, POLS 3043 Judicial Politics, POLS 3053 Introduction to Public Administration, POLS 3083 Political Parties and Interest Groups, POLS 3093 , POLS 3143 The United States Presidency, POLS 4973 Internship, POLS 4983 Political Science Seminar.
*International Relations/Studies Track: Recommended for students interested in careers with non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) like the Red Cross, Amnesty International, etc.; political careers working
for or with organizations like the United Nations, World Ban, International Monetary
Fund (IMF), etc.; or diplomatic career. It is recommended students pursuing this track
take at least 18 of their 21 political science credits from the following list of
courses: POLS 3063 Modern Political Thought, POLS 3423 Problems in International Affairs, POLS 3433 United Nations, POLS 3473 National Security Policy, POLS 4973 Internship, POLS 4983 Political Science Seminar.
*Strategic Studies Track: Recommended for students interested in military studies and careers. These courses
are very popular with students pursuing an ROTC program. It is recommended students
pursuing this track take at least 18 of their 21 political science credits from the
following list of courses: POLS 2153 Introduction to Strategic Studies, POLS 3013 Recent American Foreign and Military Policy, POLS 3063 Modern Political Thought, POLS 3423 Problems in International Affairs, POLS 3433 United Nations, POLS 3473 National Security Policy, POLS 4973 Internship, POLS 4983 Political Science Seminar.
*American Politics, Campaigns & Elections Track: Recommended for students interested in careers working on political campaigns, for
political parties, for interest groups, or in any of the branches of government at
the local, state and federal level. It is recommended students pursuing this track
take at least 18 of their 21 political science credits from the following list of
courses: POLS 3033 American State and Local Government, POLS 3083 Political Parties and Interest Groups, POLS 3093 , POLS 3123 American Political Behavior, POLS 3133 United States Congress, POLS 3143 The United States Presidency, POLS 3513 Research Methods (or SOC 2053 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, STAT 3153 Applied Statistics, etc.), POLS 4976 Internship, POLS 4983 Political Science Seminar.
*Political Science Graduate School Track: Recommended for students interested in seeking a master's or doctorate's degree in
political science. It is recommended students pursuing this track take at least 18
of their 21 political science credits as follows: POLS 3513 Research Methods (or SOC 2053 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, STAT 3153 Applied Statistics, etc.), AND 15 credits distributed as follows among these three blocks:
American Government Course (6 Credits): POLS 3023 Judicial Process, POLS 3043 Judicial Politics, POLS 3053 Introduction to Public Administration, POLS 3083 Political Parties and Interest Groups, POLS 3093 , POLS 3123 American Political Behavior, POLS 3133 United States Congress, POLS 3143 The United States Presidency.
International Relations Course(6 credits):POLS 3013 Recent American Foreign and Military Policy, POLS 3423 Problems in International Affairs, POLS 3433 United Nations, POLS 3473 National Security Policy.
Political Theory Course (3 credits):POLS 3063 Modern Political Thought, POLS 3253 Classical Political Thought, POLS 4043 American Constitutional Law, POLS 4973 Internship, POLS 4983 Political Science Seminar.