Program Overview

Program Overview

The Political Science, B.A. program offers students a comprehensive education in political science, with a general focus or a concentration in either Public Policy and Management or Pre-law.

Degree Requirements

The program requires a total of 120 hours, consisting of:

• True Blue Core (TBC) requirements: 41 hours
• Major Requirements: 37 hours
• Foreign Language: 6 hours
• Minor: 15-18 hours
• Electives: 12-24 hours

True Blue Core (TBC) Requirements

The TBC requirements include courses in the Foundational Skills areas of:

• Written Communication (WC)
• Information Literacy (Info Lit)
• Non-Written Communication (NWC)
• Quantitative Literacy (Quant Lit) The Knowledge Domains include:
• Human Society and Social Relationships (HSSR)
• Scientific Literacy (Sci Lit)
• Creativity and Cultural Expression (CCE)
• History and Civic Learning (HCL) Students must choose at least one course from each Discovery category.

Major Requirements

The major in Political Science requires a 2.00 GPA and includes the following courses:

• PS 1005: Introduction to American Politics
• PS 1010: Introduction to Global Politics
• PS 2000: Political Science and International Relations as a Profession
• PS 3001: Research Methods in Political Science
• PS 4800: Senior Seminar
• American Politics (3 hours)
• Comparative/International Relations (3 hours)
• Political Theory (3 hours)
• Political Science electives (15 hours)

Concentrations

Students can choose a concentration in either:

• Public Policy and Management
• Pre-law

Foreign Language Requirement

B.A. students must successfully complete 2010 and 2020 or any courses numbered above the 2000 level in a single foreign language.

Minor

The program requires a minor of 15-18 hours.

Electives

The program requires 12-24 hours of electives.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Political Science, B.A. program is as follows:

Freshman

• Written Communication: 3 credit hours
• Information Literacy: 3 credit hours
• Quantitative Literacy: 3 credit hours
• Creativity and Cultural Expression: 3 credit hours
• Scientific Literacy: 4 credit hours
• Human Society and Social Relationships/General elective: 3 credit hours
• Foreign language: 6 credit hours
• PS 1005: Introduction to American Politics (HSSR)
• PS 1010: Introduction to Global Politics (HSSR)
• Subtotal: 32 Hours

Sophomore

• Creativity and Cultural Expression Literature: 3 credit hours
• Non-Written Communication/General elective: 3 credit hours
• Scientific Literacy: 4 credit hours
• Human Society and Social Relationships/General elective: 3 credit hours
• Creativity and Cultural Expression: 3 credit hours
• Minor course: 3 credit hours
• History and Civic Learning: 6 credit hours
• PS 3210: International Relations OR PS 3220: Comparative Politics
• PS 3050: The U.S. Presidency OR PS 3060: The U.S. Congress OR PS 3250: Public Management OR PS 3330: Political Parties OR PS 3370: American Constitutional Law I: Government Powers
• Subtotal: 31 Hours

Junior

• PS 3001: Research Methods in Political Science
• Minor courses: 6 credit hours
• PS electives: 9 credit hours
• General elective: 3 credit hours
• Foreign language: 6 credit hours
• PS 4230: Classical Political Theory OR PS 4700: American Political Thought OR PS 4920: Modern Political Theory OR PS 4930: Introduction to Contemporary Political Philosophy
• Subtotal: 30 Hours

Senior

• PS 4800: Senior Seminar
• PS electives: 6 credit hours
• General electives: 9 credit hours
• Minor courses: 6 credit hours
• Minor course/General elective: 3 credit hours
• Subtotal: 27 Hours