Political Science - B.S.
Purpose
The Political Science major, offered by the Department of History and Political Science, enables students to develop skills in both theoretical and practical analysis, understanding, and evaluation of the changing nature, form, and function of governing arrangements, political processes, and the civil-social order. The major is designed to prepare students for one of the numerous careers in government service and political organizations. Additionally, the Political Science major offers preparation toward teaching, research and graduate study for advanced degrees in political science and law (see Political Science Pre-law section). (Political Science majors desiring to teach in secondary schools need to take a double major in Political Science and Social Studies Education.) The Political Science major often serves as a companion double major with Business, Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, English, History, Intercultural Studies, International Relations, Mathematics, Psychology, Philosophy and Theology, Social Studies, Social Work, or Writing.
General Education Competencies
Please refer to the general education requirements and competencies section under the Division of Social Sciences.
Requirements
The Political Science major consists of 38 hours in political science and a cognate area of 10-12 hours. The core of the program consists of required courses focusing on fundamental political science concepts and skill formation. Political science electives are selected by students to enhance their preparation given substantive interests and career goals unique to each individual. A concentration or cognate should be chosen by the student according to his or her professional objectives.
Requirements (48-50 credits)
Division Foundational Course (2 credits)
| SOS-180 | Introduction to the Social Sciences | 2 |
Fundamentals in Political Science (21 credits)
Required Courses: (15 credits)
| POL-100 | American Government | 3 |
| MAT-112 | General Statistics | 3 |
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| or | |
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| Equivalent | 3 |
| POL-215 | Foundations of Political Science | 3 |
| POL-322 | Research Design and Methods in Political Science and Economics | 3 |
| POL-471 | Political Science Research Seminar | 3 |
Choose any two of the following: (6 credits)
Political Science Electives (15 credits)
Students should complete any three of the following:
And at least six credit hours of the following not already taken:
| POL-200 | State and Local Government and Politics | 3 |
| GEO-202 | Political and Cultural Geography | 3 |
| MAT-204 | Applied Statistics I | 3 |
| ECO-213 | Macroeconomics | 3 |
| POL-220 | Issues in Political Science | 3 |
| POL-230 | World Politics | 3 |
| POL-232 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POL-240 | Public Policy Processes | 3 |
| HST-250 | Contemporary Affairs | 1 |
| ECO-270 | Comparative Economic Systems | 3 |
| HST-300 | Western/American Intellectual and Social History | 3 |
| HST-301 | American Foreign Relations | 3 |
| HST-302 | American Political Parties | 3 |
| MAT-304 | Applied Statistics II | 3 |
| INR-332 | International Peace and Security | 3 |
| ECO-340 | Globalization and Economic Development | 3 |
| ECO-315 | Urban Economics and Policy | 3 |
| POL-350 | Political Science Practicum | 1 to 3 |
| POL-354 | Foreign Governments | 3 |
| POL-365 | Religion and Politics | 3 |
| ECO-365 | Public Administration and Finance | 3 |
| POL-367 | Political Thought | 3 |
| POL-371 | International Studies | 3 |
| INR-375 | Foreign Policy Analysis | 3 |
| POL-399H | Honors College Thesis-Political Science | 3 |
| HST-400 | American Constitutional History | 3 |
| POL-401 | Political Science Travel Seminar | 3 |
| POL-420 | American Institutions | 3 |
| POL-425 | Federalism and Public Policy | 3 |
| INR-432 | Global Governance | 3 |
| INR-470 | International Relations Capstone | 3 |
| POL-475 | Independent Learning in Political Science | 1 to 3 |
Concentration or Cognate (10-12 credits)
Students should complete a 10-12 hour concentration or cognate in a field consistent with their vocational goals. Suggested concentrations include additional hours in political science or courses in history, international relations or economics. The cognate may be 10 hours from any one of the following areas: accounting, addictions counseling, biology, business administration, communication studies, computer information systems, criminal justice, economics, English, finance, geography, history, intercultural studies, management, marketing, mathematics, psychology, philosophy and theology, social studies, social work, writing, or as directed by the department.
Declaring and Maintaining a Political Science Major
In order to pursue Political Science as a first or second major, students need to consult with the coordinator of the Department of History and Political Science and then declare a Political Science major in the Registrar's Office. Students majoring in Political Science need to achieve no less than a 2.5 GPA in the major to graduate with a Political Science degree.
