Overview
A major in political science comprises 33 political science semester hours with the requirement that the student complete:
- a minimum of two courses in American Government
- a minimum of two courses from Comparative Government and International Relations
- one Political Thought course
- a capstone course
This degree may be earned in eight semesters if students enroll in 16 hours per semester.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Core Competencies | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| Mathematics Requirement | 3 | |
| Knowledge Domains | ||
| Arts and Humanities (6 s.h.) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) (6-7 s.h.) | 7 | |
| Social Science (6 s.h.) | ||
| 3 s.h. are fulfilled with POL 1560 (required for the major) | ||
| Social Science elective | 3 | |
| Social and Personal Awareness (6 s.h.) | 6 | |
| First-Year Experience | ||
| LASS 1510 | Exploring Critical Questions in LASS | 3 |
| Foreign Language Requirement | ||
| FNLG 1550 | Elementary Foreign Language | 4 |
| FNLG 2600 | Intermediate Foreign Language | 4 |
| Major Requirements | ||
| POL 1560 | American Government | 3 |
| Optional Class | ||
| Introduction to Political Science (Social Science/Social and Personal Awareness) | ||
| American Government | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| American Presidency | ||
| American Legislative Process | ||
| Law and Society | ||
| American Constitutional Law | ||
| American Political Parties and Elections | ||
| Moot Court 1 | ||
| African-American Politics | ||
| Political Behavior | ||
| American Public Opinion | ||
| Health Care Policy | ||
| American Public Policy and Policy Analysis | ||
| Public Management | ||
| Urban Government | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Public Budgeting | ||
| Individualized Study | ||
| Aging and Social Policy | ||
| Public Administration and the Political Process | ||
| Sustainability, Climate Change, and Society | ||
| Select Problems, American Government | ||
| Public Human Resource Management | ||
| Political Thought | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Political Thought 1 | ||
| Political Thought 2 | ||
| Political Thought 3 | ||
| Select Problems, Political Thought | ||
| Contemporary and International | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Contemporary World Governments (Social Science/Social and Personal Awareness) | ||
| International Relations | ||
| Model United Nations | ||
| Russia and China: From Revolution to Reform | ||
| Political Development and Political Regimes | ||
| European Politics | ||
| Latin American Politics | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| United States Foreign Policy | ||
| International Law | ||
| International Organizations | ||
| Asian Politics | ||
| International Conflict | ||
| Select Problems of Global Affairs | ||
| Global Environmental Policy and Law | ||
| Capstone Course | ||
| POL 4801 | Senior Research Seminar | 3 |
| Additional Required Hours | ||
| Select a minimum of 15 s.h. (total 33 s.h. in Political Science). | 15 | |
| Electives 24-29 s.h. | 24 | |
| Minor Requirements | 18 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-121 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| POL 1560 | American Government | 3 |
| LASS 1510 | Exploring Critical Questions in LASS | 3 |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| MATH 2623 | Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| FNLG 1550 | Elementary Foreign Language | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| POL 2640 | Contemporary World Governments | 3 |
| POL 2660 | International Relations | 3 |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| FNLG 2600 | Intermediate Foreign Language | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| POL 37XX Domestic Politics | 3 | |
| POL 37XX Dom. or Intl. | 3 | |
| Minor 15XX/26XX | 3 | |
| Natural Sience 15XX/26XX | 3 | |
| Social Science 15XX/26XX | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POL 37XX Dom. or Intl | 3 | |
| POL 37XX Dom. or Intl | 3 | |
| Minor 15XX/26XX | 3 | |
| Natural Science + Lab 15XX/2600 | 4 | |
| Social and Personal Awareness 15XX/26XX | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| POL 3785 | Political Thought 1 or Political Thought 2 or Political Thought 3 | 3 |
| POL 37XX Dom. or Intl | 3 | |
| Minor 37XX | 3 | |
| Minor 37XX | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities 15XX/26XX | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POL 37XX Dom or Intl | 3 | |
| POL 37XX Dom on Intl | 3 | |
| Minor 37XX | 3 | |
| Minor 37XX | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities 15XX/26XX | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| POL 37XX | 3 | |
| Minor 37XX | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POL 4801 | Senior Research Seminar | 3 |
| Minor 37XX | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 12 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-121 | |
Learning Outcomes
The department's learning outcomes for political science majors are as follows:
- Students will be able to summarize fundamental components of knowledge that have developed in relation to areas of political theory, American government, comparative politics, and international relations.
- Students will recognize and explain the fundamental ideas and constitutional principles that have shaped the American Republic, as well as the institutions and behaviors that provide the setting and substance of American politics.
- Students will recognize and explain the basic ideas, problems and processes of comparative politics and international relations relative to issues of Western and non-Western political development, different forms of national government, and foreign policy behaviors relative to a global economy.
- Students will use and apply the Style Manual of the American Political Science Association (APSA) in conjunction with their research and writing skills associated with the creation of credible political science projects.