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Degree Requirements 2023-2024

A C- minimum grade is required in all courses taken for the major.

Political Science Major

Ten courses:

  • POL 158 – Introduction to Political Science
  • POL 483 – Political Statistics and Methodology
  • POL 484 – Political Analysis
  • One elective from the following:
    • POL 121 – American Government and Politics
    • POL 122 – Social Justice in Urban America
    • POL 160 – World Politics
    • POL 170 – Law in the United States
  • At least five other upper division courses in four out of five Political Science areas. A seminar in one of the five areas may be counted for that area. Only one internship may count for an upper division area.
  • One other Political Science course in any area, upper or lower division

Political Science Area Courses

This is a list of commonly offered courses that fulfill the upper division area elective requirements.  Students may also satisfy the elective requirements with a variety of courses from study abroad experiences or other programs, with the permission of the department.  POL 495 can be used toward area requirements with advisor approval.  The applicable area will vary based on the topic of the course.

  • Area 1 – American Government and Politics: POL 325, 326, 342, or 421
  • Area 2 – Comparative Politics and Analysis: POL 350, 359, or 459
  • Area 3 – International Politics: POL 368, 461, or 490
  • Area 4 – Public Law: POL 370 or 371
  • Area 5 – Political Theory and Analysis: POL 380 or 381

Graduation Skills

The Critical Thinking (CT), Quantitative Reasoning (QR), and Writing (W) graduation skills are embedded throughout the offered courses and are met by completing the major. The graduation skill in Speaking (S) is met by completing one of the following courses: POL 325, POL 326, or POL 380

Transfer students must consult an advisor about potential adjustments to their course requirements to fulfill each of these skills.

Pre-Law Concentration in Political Science

11 required courses including:

  • POL 121 – American Government and Politics
  • POL 170 – Law in the United States
  • POL 483 – Political Statistics and Methodology
  • POL 484 – Political Analysis
  • Two of the following three courses:
    • No more than one of ENL 220 or ENL 223
      • ENL 220 – Critical and Analytical Writing
      • ENL 223 – Writing for Business and the Professions
    • PHI 230 – Logic
    • COM 111 – Public Speaking
  • Five Electives:
    • Three courses from the choices below:
      • POL 350 – Topics: European Politics
      • POL 370 – Constitutional Law
      • POL 371 – Topics
      • POL 380 – Western Political Thought
      • POL 381 – Topics: Democratic Theory
    • Two additional upper level courses in Political Science (can come from the list above, or be any other upper level Political Science course).

Public Policy and Political Change Concentration in Political Science

10 courses plus an internship, including:

  • One of ECO 112 or ECO 113
    • ECO 112 – Principles of Macroeconomics
    • ECO 113 – Principles of Microeconomics
  • One of POL 121 or POL 122
    • POL 121 – American Government and Politics
    • POL 122 – Social Justice in Urban America
  • One of POL 325 or POL 326
    • POL 325 – Politics and Public Policy
    • POL 326 – Political Parties and Behavior
  • One of ECO 490, POL 483, or SOC 362
    • ECO 490 – Research Methods in Econometrics
    • POL 483 – Political Statistics and Methodology
    • SOC 362 – Statistical Analysis
  • POL 484 – Political Analysis
  • One Course from the Following:
    • POL 121 – American Government and Politics
    • POL 122 – Social Justice in Urban America
    • POL 124 – American Women and Politics
    • POL 158 – Introduction to Political Science
    • POL 160 – World Politics
    • POL 170 – Law in the United States
  • Four Courses from the Following:
    • POL 241 – Environmental and River Politics
    • POL 325 – Politics and Public Policy
    • POL 326 – Political Parties and Behavior
    • POL 342 – Mass Communication in Society
    • POL 370 – Constitutional Law
    • POL 371 – Topics
    • POL 381 – Topics: Democratic Theory
    • POL 421 – Topics: American Politics
    • POL 461 – Topics: International Politics
    • SOC 381 – City and Regional Planning
    • One of ECO 312 or ECO 313
      • ECO 312 – Intermediate Macroeconomics
      • ECO 313 – Intermediate Microeconomics
  • An internship, usually taken as POL 399.

Notes

  • If both POL 121 and 122 are completed, one can count for section I and one for section II. The same course cannot fulfill requirements in both sections.
  • If both POL 325 and 326 are completed, one can count for section I and one for section III. The same course cannot fulfill requirements in both sections.
  • Only one economics course (either 312 or 313) can be counted toward the four courses required in Section III.
  • The internship can be taken for credit or not-for-credit. A student taking an internship not for credit must still have a Political Science department faculty member supervising the internship, and must fulfill certain academic requirements, which will be explained by the supervising faculty member.
  • Substitutions to the courses above can be approved by the department chair. For example, the department sometimes offers relevant topics courses under numbers not listed above.

Political Science Areas

  1. American Government and Politics
  2. Comparative Politics and Analysis
  3. International Politics
  4. Public Law
  5. Political Theory and Analysis.

Any course listed in more than one area may be counted in only one area toward major or minor requirements.

Departmental Honors

The honors major in Political Science includes the requirements listed above, plus the following:

The student’s GPA must be 3.50 in Political Science courses and 3.00 overall; the student must take an honors independent study (to work on the thesis) and a seminar (usually POL 484), and must submit an honors thesis to be defended before a faculty committee. Students may work with any member of the department on their honors thesis. For specific requirements, consult the department chair.

For a student to be eligible for departmental honors, all courses in the major must be taken with traditional grading (not P/LP/N). Exceptions may be made in extraordinary circumstances.

Political Science Minor

Five courses, including:

  • POL 158 – Introduction to Political Science
  • One of the following lower division electives:
    • POL 121 – American Government and Politics
    • POL 122 – Social Justice in Urban America
    • POL 160 – World Politics
    • POL 170 – Law in the United States
    • POL 241 – Environmental and River Politics
    • POL 282 – Asian American Politics
  • At least three upper-division courses in three out of five political science areas

POL 483 may not usually be used for a minor.

Pre-Law Minor

  • POL 121 – American Government and Politics
  • POL 170 – Law in the United States
  • Two of the following:
    • No more than one of ENL 220 or ENL 223
      • ENL 220 – Critical and Analytical Writing
      • ENL 223 – Writing for Business and the Professions
    • PHI 230 – Logic
    • COM 111 – Public Speaking
  • Two electives from the following:
    • POL 350 – Topics: European Politics
    • POL 370 – Constitutional Law
    • POL 371 – Topics
    • POL 380 – Western Political Thought

When necessary, substitutions can be approved by the chair (e.g. if a required course has to be canceled).

Public Policy and Political Change Minor

  • One of POL 121 or POL 122
    • POL 121 – American Government and Politics
    • POL 122 – Social Justice in Urban America
  • One of POL 325 or POL 326
    • POL 325 – Politics and Public Policy
    • POL 326 – Political Parties and Behavior
  • POL 399 – Internship
  • Three of the following:
    • POL 241 – Environmental and River Politics
    • POL 325 – Politics and Public Policy
    • POL 326 – Political Parties and Behavior
    • POL 342 – Mass Communication in Society
    • POL 381 – Topics in Democratic Theory
    • POL 421 – Topics in American Politics
    • POL 461 – Topics in International Politics
    • SOC 381 – City and Regional Planning
    • No more than one of ECO 312 or ECO 313
      • ECO 312 – Intermediate Macroeconomics
      • ECO 313 – Intermediate Microeconomics

Notes

  • If both POL 325 and 326 are completed, one can count for section I and one for section II. The same course cannot fulfill requirements in both sections.
  • Only one Economics course (either 312 or 313) can be counted toward the three courses required in Section II.

Teaching Major in Political Science and Economics

Total of 12 courses required: five courses in economics, five courses in political science, and two courses in education. ECO 112 or 113 and POL 121 also fulfill requirements for the social studies core; education courses also fulfill licensure requirements for secondary education.

  • Economics Courses:
    • ECO 112 – Principles of Macroeconomics (elective for social science core)
    • ECO 113 – Principles of Microeconomics (elective for social science core)
    • One of ECO 312 or ECO 315
      • ECO 312 – Intermediate Macroeconomics
      • ECO 315 – Money and Banking
    • ECO 313 – Intermediate Microeconomics
    • One other upper division Economics course
  • Education Courses:
    • EDC 200 – Critical Histories and Philosophies of Education (required for licensure)
    • ESE 310 – 5-12 Methods: Social Studies (Capstone course) (required for licensure)
  • Political Science Courses:
    • POL 121 – American Government (social science core course)
    • Two upper-level political science courses (must be in two different areas)
    • Two other Political Science courses

In addition, in order to graduate with this major, a student must have been admitted into the Department of Education. To be licensed in social studies, additional education courses and the social studies core are required.

Note: Students interested in secondary education may take a Political Science major or the teaching major in Economics and Political Science. Either option requires that the student also take courses required for the social studies core. For more information, see the department chair.


For a complete list of courses and descriptions, see the Course Description Search.