B.A. in Political Science
Political Science
Political Science - Global Studies Concentration
Political Science - Legal Studies Concentration
Political Science
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSC 1200 | American National Government | 3 |
| In addition, students must take three of the following: | 9 | |
| Principles of Comparative Politics | ||
| Principles Of International Relations | ||
| Principles Of Political Theory | ||
| Principles of Public Policy | ||
| PSC 4950 | Capstone in Political Science | 1 |
| Complete additional courses in the department to satisfy the 31-hour requirement. PSC 3150 Research and Writing in Political Science is highly recommended. | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 31 | |
Optional Global Studies Concentration
The foundation for this specialization is a B.A. in Political Science, within which the student must have included the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSC 1200 | American National Government | 3 |
| PSC 2600 | Principles of Comparative Politics | 3 |
| PSC 2700 | Principles Of International Relations | 3 |
At least one course from the following:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSC 2800 | Principles Of Political Theory | 3 |
| PSC 3410 | Principles of Public Policy | 3 |
Departmental Electives drawn from the department’s specialized international political focus:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSC 1710 | Current International Problems | 3 |
| PSC 2400 | Topics in Political Science | 3 |
| PSC 2660 | African Politics | 3 |
| PSC 2210 | Women And Politics | 3 |
| PSC 2770 | Great Decisions: America's Foreign Policy | 1 |
| PSC 2780 | Political Science and Pop Culture | 3 |
| PSC 3150 | Research and Writing in Political Science | 3 |
| PSC 3600 | Fascism and Populism in Comparative Perspective | 3 |
| PSC 3730 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| PSC 3790 | Model United Nations/Model European Union | 1 |
| PSC 3850 | Sports, Politics and Policy | 3 |
| PSC 4340 | Environmental Policy | 3 |
| PSC 4520 | 3 | |
| PSC 4580 | 3 | |
| PSC 4640 | The European Union | 3 |
| PSC 4660 | Politics of Africa | 3 |
| PSC 4680 | Politics of Latin America | 3 |
| PSC 4720 | International Organization | 3 |
| PSC 4740 | Politics of the Middle East | 3 |
| PSC 4750 | Terrorism in International Relations | 3 |
| PSC 4770 | Human Rights | 3 |
| PSC 4810 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| PSC 4850 | 3 | |
| PSC 4900 | Politics of Asia | 3 |
| PSC 4940 | Applied Politics Internship | 3 |
| PSC 4980 | Current Topics In Political Science | 3 |
| PSC 4990 | Independent Study In Political Science | 1-3 |
The requirement of 18 related hours is to be met with the following:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GLST 2000 | Principles Of Global Studies | 3 |
| GLST 4900 | Senior Seminar In Global Studies | 3 |
Plus, 12 hours of electives from this list:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 2800 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 3850 | Peoples Of World: An Evolutionary Approach | 3 |
| ENGL 3670 | Literature of Diverse and Nonwhite Communities | 3 |
| ENGL 3660 | Latinx Literature in the U.S. | 3 |
| GEPL 2040 | World Regional Geography | 3 |
| ENGL 3770 | World Literature And Cultures | 3 |
| ENGL 4550 | Literature of the British Empire, Beginnings to 1850 | 3 |
| ENGL 4560 | Literature of the British Empire 1850 to the Present | 3 |
| GEPL 2050 | World Cities | 3 |
| GEPL 4160 | Patterns Of World Development | 3 |
| SOC 3640 | Social Inequality | 3 |
| SOC 4340 | Population And Society | 3 |
| SOC 4800 | 3 |
Optional Legal Studies Concentration
This program is designed to allow students to focus their studies on law, legal processes, and legal institutions for careers in the legal profession, for leadership in public affairs, as well as for an interesting major. This solid liberal arts specialization provides excellent preparation for law school and a subsequent career as a lawyer or judge.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration in Legal Studies | ||
| The foundation for this specialization is a B.A. in Political Science, within which the student must have included the following two courses: | ||
| PSC 1200 | American National Government | 3 |
| PSC 3500 | Principles Of Law | 3 |
| At least four courses from the department's specialized law and legal studies course offerings: | 12 | |
| Constitutional Law I | ||
| Constitutional Law and Politics II | ||
PSC 4530 | ||
| CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN LAW AND POLITICS | ||
PSC 4580 | ||
| Three courses from the following four: | 9 | |
| Principles of Comparative Politics | ||
| Principles Of International Relations | ||
| Principles Of Political Theory | ||
| Principles of Public Policy | ||
| Major Electives 1 | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
- 1
While only two additional electives within political science are required for the Legal Studies specialization, students may elect to complete additional classes in the discipline.
Political Science
Political Science - Global Studies Concentration
Political Science - Legal Studies Concentration
Below is a sample plan of study. Consult your degree audit for your program requirements.
| First Term | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| AR 1000 | First Year Orientation | 1 |
| ENGL 1110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| MATH 1180 | Reasoning With Mathematics | 3 |
| PSC 1200 | American National Government | 3 |
| Elementary Foreign Language I | 4 | |
| HIST 1010-1200 Arts/Humanities Core (History) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Term | ||
| ENGL 1130 | College Composition II: Academic Disciplines And Discourse | 3 |
| Elementary Foreign Language II | 4 | |
| PSC 2700 | Principles Of International Relations | 3 |
| Natural Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences Core (Lab) | 1 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Third Term | ||
| PSC 2600 | Principles of Comparative Politics | 3 |
| PSC 2800 | Principles Of Political Theory (WAC) | 3 |
| Intermediate Foreign Language I or approved culture course | 3 | |
| ENGL 2710-2800 Arts/Humanities Core (English Lit) | 3 | |
| Arts/Humanities Core (Fine Art) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| PSC 3410 | Principles of Public Policy | 3 |
| Intermediate Foreign Language II or approved culture course | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Social Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| PSC Major Elective | 6 | |
| Related or Minor course (WAC) | 3 | |
| Related or Minor course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sixth Term | ||
| PSC Major Elective | 3 | |
| PSC Major Elective | 3 | |
| Related or Minor course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Diversity of US | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Seventh Term | ||
| PSC Major Elective | 6 | |
| Non-US Diversity | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Related or Minor course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Eighth Term | ||
| PSC 4950 | Capstone in Political Science | 1 |
| Elective | 10 | |
| Related or Minor course | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Optional Global Studies Concentration
| First Term | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| AR 1000 | First Year Orientation | 1 |
| ENGL 1110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| MATH 1180 | Reasoning With Mathematics | 3 |
| PSC 1200 | American National Government | 3 |
| Elementary Foreign Language I | 4 | |
| HIST 1010-1200 Arts/Humanities Core (History) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Term | ||
| ENGL 1130 | College Composition II: Academic Disciplines And Discourse | 3 |
| Elementary Foreign Language II | 4 | |
| Natural Science Core | 3 | |
| Natural Science Core Lab | 1 | |
| PSC 2700 | Principles Of International Relations | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Third Term | ||
| PSC 2600 | Principles of Comparative Politics | 3 |
| GLST 2000 | Principles Of Global Studies | 3 |
| Intermediate Foreign Language I or approved culture course | 3 | |
| ENGL 2710-2800 Arts/Humanities Core (English Lit) | 3 | |
| Arts/Humanities Core (Fine Art) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| PSC 2800- Principles of Political Theory OR PSC 3410- Principles of Public Policy | 3 | |
| Intermediate Foreign Language II or approved culture course | 3 | |
| Natural Science Core | 3 | |
| Social Science Core | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| PSC International Elective | 3 | |
| PSC International Elective | 3 | |
| Related Field Course (WAC) | 3 | |
| Related Field Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sixth Term | ||
| PSC International Elective | 3 | |
| PSC International Elective | 3 | |
| Related Field Course | 3 | |
| Related Field Course (WAC) | 3 | |
| Diversity US Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Seventh Term | ||
| PSC International Elective | 3 | |
| PSC International Elective | 3 | |
| Related Field Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Eighth Term | ||
| GLST 4900 | Senior Seminar In Global Studies | 3 |
| PSC 4950 | Capstone in Political Science | 1 |
| Related Field Course | 3 | |
| Electives | 7 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Optional Legal Studies Concentration
| First Term | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| AR 1000 | First Year Orientation | 1 |
| ENGL 1110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| MATH 1180 | Reasoning With Mathematics | 3 |
| PSC 1200 | American National Government | 3 |
| Elementary Foreign Language I | 4 | |
| HIST 1010-1200 Arts/Humanities Core (History) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Term | ||
| ENGL 1130 | College Composition II: Academic Disciplines And Discourse | 3 |
| Elementary Foreign Language II | 4 | |
| PSC 2700 | Principles Of International Relations | 3 |
| Natural Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences Core (Lab) | 1 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Third Term | ||
| PSC 2600 | Principles of Comparative Politics | 3 |
| PSC 2800 | Principles Of Political Theory (WAC) | 3 |
| Intermediate Foreign Language I or approved culture course | 3 | |
| ENGL 2710-2800 Arts/Humanities Core (English Lit) | 3 | |
| Arts/Humanities Core (Fine Art) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| PSC 3410 | Principles of Public Policy | 3 |
| Intermediate Foreign Language II or approved culture course | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Social Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| PSC Major Elective | 6 | |
| Related or Minor course (WAC) | 3 | |
| Related or Minor course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sixth Term | ||
| PSC Major Elective | 3 | |
| PSC Major Elective | 3 | |
| Related or Minor course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Diversity of US | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Seventh Term | ||
| PSC Major Elective | 6 | |
| Non-US Diversity | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Related or Minor course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Eighth Term | ||
| PSC 4950 | Capstone in Political Science | 1 |
| Elective | 10 | |
| Related or Minor course | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- PLO 1: recognize political phenomena and political lacuna worthy of investigation using the methods of political science
- PLO 2: describe and critique the essential concepts in four of five subfields of political science: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and public administration
- PLO 3: develop descriptive inferences about political phenomena by applying the foundational concepts of political science and known facts
- PLO 4: interpret and evaluate the significance and dynamics of political events and governmental processes that affect citizens lives
- PLO 5: analyze political, administrative, and policy issues using empirical methods including formulating hypotheses and organizing information to test those hypotheses
- PLO 6: normatively evaluate political, administrative, and policy issues and justify students normative conclusions