Department of Political Science
The Department of Political Science offers courses in all major parts of the discipline (American politics, political theory, comparative politics, international relations, public administration) and offers the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and political behavior/policy and pre-law options in the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. The graduate program section of this catalog has information on the Master of Public Administration degree.
A political science degree is a pathway to law school, graduate school, or employment with government agencies or private sector organizations (businesses, interest groups, research organizations). While no specific undergraduate major is required for law school, the political science program addresses the communication skills, critical understanding of institutions, behaviors and values, and analytical thinking recommended for the study of law.
Expected Outcomes
Political Science graduates will:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the discipline of political science in terms of its history, content, purpose and methodologies
- Demonstrate knowledge of the sub-fields of political science (American politics, political theory, comparative politics, international relations, public administration), specific to their selected option (BA; BS political behavior/policy; BS pre-law)
- Demonstrate the ability to analyze materials (e.g. data, texts), and to think critically.
- Demonstrate the effective ability to communicate orally
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in writing
- Be prepared to achieve their personal goals with regard to intellectual and social skills
- Be prepared to achieve their personal goals with regard to governmental employment, private employment, graduate and/or professional school
Course Requirements
BA Political Science
Areas A-E and Wellness Courses - Required Hours: 45
Area F - Courses Related to Major - Required Hours: 18
- ECON 2105 Principles of Macroeconomics
- POLS 2101 Introduction to Political Science
- Foreign Language 1002
- Foreign Language 2001
- Select two 1000/2000-level courses from the following group, no more than one from
each discipline:
- ECON/GEOG/HIST/PHIL/PSYC/SOCI
Area G - Program Requirements - Required Hours: 27
- POLS 2201 State and Local Government
- POLS 3115 Methods of Political Analysis
- POLS 3135 History of Political Thought to 1500s
- POLS 3136 History of Political Thought from the 1500s to Marx
- POLS 3137 American Political Thought
- POLS Elective - Area A (American Politics)
- POLS Elective - Area C (Comparative/International)
- POLS Elective - Area D (Public Administration)
- POLS 4795 Senior Seminar in the American Political Process
- POLS 4796 Senior Seminar in Global Affairs
- POLS 4797 Senior Seminar in Public Policy
Area H - Program Electives - Required Hours: 18
- POLS Electives - 3000-4000 level
Area I - General Electives - Required Hours: 15
- Non-POLS electives - 1000-4000 level
Total Hours Required 123
BS Political Science - Political Behavior/Policy Option
Areas A-E and Wellness Courses - Required Hours: 45
Area F - Courses Related to Major - Required Hours: 18
- ECON 2105 Principles of Macroeconomics
- MATH 1165 Computer-Assisted Problem Solving
- MATH 1127 Introductory Statistics
- POLS 2101 Introduction to Political Science
- Select two 1000/2000-level courses from the following group, no more than one from
each discipline:
- CRJU/GEOG/HIST/PHIL/PSYC/SOCI
Area G - Program Requirements - Required Hours: 27
- POLS 2201 State and Local Government
- POLS 3115 Methods of Political Analysis
- POLS 3126 Political Parties and Interest Groups
- POLS 3137 American Political Thought
- POLS 4175 Public Policy
- POLS 4176 American Foreign Policy
- POLS Elective - Area C (Comparative/International)
- POLS Elective - Area D (Public Administration)
- POLS 4795 Senior Seminar in the American Political Process
- POLS 4796 Senior Seminar in Global Affairs
- POLS 4797 Senior Seminar in Public Policy
Area H - Program Electives - Required Hours: 18
- POLS Electives - 3000-4000 level
Area I - General Electives - Required Hours: 15
- Non-POLS electives - 1000-4000 level
Total Hours Required 123
BS Political Science - Pre-Law
Areas A-E and Wellness Courses - Required Hours: 45
Area F - Courses Related to Major - Required Hours: 18
- ECON 2105 Principles of Macroeconomics
- MATH 1165 Computer-Assisted Problem Solving
- MATH 1127 Introductory Statistics
- POLS 2101 Introduction to Political Science
- Select two 1000/2000-level courses from the following group, no more than one from
each discipline:
- CRJU/GEOG/HIST/PHIL/PSYC/SOCI
Area G - Program Requirements - Required Hours: 27
- POLS 2201 State and Local Government
- POLS 3115 Methods of Political Analysis
- POLS 3128 The Legislative Process
- POLS 3129 Judicial Process
- POLS 3137 American Political Thought
- POLS 3161 American Constitutional Law 1
- POLS 3162 American Constitutional Law 2
- POLS 4175 Public Policy
- POLS 4795 Senior Seminar in the American Political Process
- POLS 4796 Senior Seminar in Global Affairs
- POLS 4797 Senior Seminar in Public Policy
Area H - Program Electives - Required Hours: 18
- POLS Electives - 3000-4000 level
Area I - General Electives - Required Hours: 15
- Non-POLS electives - 1000-4000 level
Total Hours Required: 123
