Program Overview

Political Science BA

Overview

A degree in Political Science is the perfect choice for students who want to change the world. Our students gain knowledge about politics and policy, and develop sought-after skills--such as information-gathering and processing, analysis, research, decision making, and oral and written communication--that are transferable to many career paths after graduation. Areas of concentration include American politics, international and comparative politics, urban politics, public law, public policy and administration, and gender and politics. In addition to formal course work, internships are available in which the student can apply classroom learning and gain practical field experience.

Career Outlook

Our graduates work in a variety of settings, as lawyers in the legal system, staff for government agencies, legislatures, and political campaigns, managers of public, private and nonprofit organizations, and advocates for a wide variety of social, environmental, and economic organizations. The variety of skills students develop, coupled with internship experience, make our graduates strong candidates on the job market. Early and mid-career Political Science graduates enjoy higher average salaries than those in Business Management and other fields. Political Science is also a path to graduate school and the top major of law school applicants.

General Education Requirements

Majors must satisfy the university and college general education requirements. Political science courses may be used to satisfy the social sciences requirement. The foreign language requirement for the B.A. degree may be satisfied in any language.

Degree Requirements

All majors must complete at least 36, but no more than 51, hours of political science. All students are required to take the following core curriculum:

• POL SCI 1100: Introduction to American Politics (MOTR POSC 101) - 3 hours
• POL SCI 1500: Introduction to Comparative Politics (MOTR POSC 202) - 3 hours
• POL SCI 1800: Introduction to International Politics (MOTR POSC 201) - 3 hours
• POL SCI 3000: Political Analysis - 3 hours
• POL SCI 4950: Senior Seminar in Political Science - 3 hours Total Hours: 15

Majors are urged to take POL SCI 1100, POL SCI 1500, and POL SCI 1800 as early as possible since these courses are designed to provide a substantive foundation as well as conceptual and analytical tools for subsequent course work. Because the seminar topics in POL SCI 4950 change from semester to semester, the course can be repeated as an elective. All majors must take at least one Seminar in Political Science.

Students also must complete at least one course in four of the following political science areas:

• Public Law (chosen from among courses listed in bulletin at the 1000, 2000, or 3000 or 4000 level)
• American Politics (chosen from among courses listed in bulletin at the 1000, 2000, or 3000 or 4000 level)
• Public Policy and Administration (chosen from among courses listed in bulletin at the 1000, 2000, or 3000 or 4000 level)
• Comparative Politics (chosen from among courses listed in bulletin at the 1000, 2000, or 3000 or 4000 level)
• International Relations (chosen from among courses listed in bulletin at the 1000, 2000, or 3000 or 4000 level)

At least 15 hours of political science course work must be at the 3000 or 4000 level, including POL SCI 4950 Senior Seminar. B.A. degree students may take a maximum of 3 hours of political science on a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory basis; this can include any course except the required courses in the core curriculum.

Departmental Honors

The department awards honors to students having a grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 in the major, an overall GPA of 3.2 (except in extraordinary circumstances), and successfully completed an honors thesis, project, or report.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Explain the history, characteristics, and impact of legal, economic, and political institutions and systems, including international, national, state, and local governance.
• Apply various methods, tools, and sources applicable to the discipline of political science to answer important policy and political questions.
• Compare and contrast different ideologies, theories, and interpretations of politics.
• Assess political issues, formulate evidence-based recommendations, and communicate them with clarity and coherence.
• Plan, execute, and defend a major research project.

Sample Four Year Plan

First Year

• Fall:
  • INTDSC 1003 - 1 hour
  • POL SCI 1100 - 3 hours
  • ENGL 1100 - 3 hours
  • FGN LANG 1001: Language and Culture I - 5 hours
  • Elective or minor - 3 hours Total Hours: 12
• Spring:
  • POL SCI 1500 - 3 hours
  • FGN LANG 1002: Language and Culture II - 3 hours
  • CORE - Communication Proficiency - 3 hours
  • EXPLORE - Humanities & Fine Arts - 3 hours
  • Elective or minor - 3 hours Total Hours: 15

Second Year

• Fall:
  • POL SCI 1800 - 3 hours
  • FGN LANG 2101: Language and Culture III - 3 hours
  • CORE - Information Literacy - 3 hours
  • EXPLORE - Humanities & Fine Arts - 3 hours
  • EXPLORE - Mathematics and Life/Natural Sciences - 3 hours Total Hours: 15
• Spring:
  • POL SCI XXXX Political Science Course - 3 hours
  • POL SCI XXXX Political Science Course - 3 hours
  • Global Perspectives Requirement - 3 hours
  • EXPLORE - Mathematics and Life/Natural Sciences - 3 hours
  • Elective or minor - 1 hour Total Hours: 13

Third Year

• Fall:
  • POL SCI 3000 - 3 hours
  • POL SCI XXXX Political Science Course - 3 hours
  • Foreign Language 2101 - 3 hours
  • Elective or minor - 3 hours
  • Elective or minor - 3 hours Total Hours: 15
• Spring:
  • ENGL 3100 - 3 hours
  • POL SCI XXXX Political Science Course - 3 hours
  • POL SCI 3000+ level course - 3 hours
  • Elective or minor - 3 hours
  • EXPLORE - Humanities and Fine Arts - 3 hours Total Hours: 18

Fourth Year

• Fall:
  • POL SCI 3000+ level course - 3 hours
  • POL SCI XXXX Political Science Course - 3 hours
  • Elective or minor - 3 hours
  • Elective or minor - 3 hours
  • Elective or minor - 3 hours Total Hours: 15
• Spring:
  • POL SCI 4950 - 3 hours
  • POL SCI 3000+ level course - 3 hours
  • Elective or minor - 3 hours
  • Elective or minor - 3 hours
  • Elective or minor - 3 hours Total Hours: 15 Total Hours: 118

Teacher Certification

B.S. Ed. in Secondary Education with Emphasis in Social Studies

The B.S. Ed. is a professional education degree designed for students who wish to pursue a teaching career in secondary schools. Much of the discipline-specific coursework parallels the B.A. degree in the discipline; however, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires specific coursework for teacher certification. Therefore, students interested in the B.S. Ed. should contact the advising office (OASIS) in the College of Education for discipline-specific requirements. Note: To obtain teaching certification, DESE requires a 3.0 GPA in the discipline and professional education coursework, as well as a 2.75 GPA overall.

B.A. in Political Science with Master’s Level Coursework for Secondary Teacher Certification

In addition to the B.S. Ed., students may opt to complete a B.A. degree in their discipline as an undergraduate, followed by admission to the Graduate School for Master’s level teaching certification. The College of Education has a one-year accelerated program for post-graduate certification called Teach in 12, or students can choose a traditional path to certification. Graduate coursework for certification can apply towards a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education, with additional coursework. Students interested in Master’s Level teacher certification should contact the advising office (OASIS) in the College of Education. Note: To obtain teaching certification, DESE requires a 3.0 GPA in the discipline and professional education coursework, as well as a 2.75 GPA overall.