2016-2017 Department of History & Political Science

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

The political science degree requires thirty nine additional semester hours beyond the General Education requirements and the College of Arts and Humanities foreign language requirement.

In the General Education requirements, political science majors are required to take

• HIST 2003 United States History to 1877,
• HIST 2013 United States History since 1877,
• HIST 1513 World History since 1500, or HIST 1503 World History to 1500 or GEOG 2013 Regional Geography of the World
• SOC 1003 Introductory Sociology OR  PSY 2003 General Psychology OR  ECON 2003 Principles of Economics I

Political science majors are required to take six hours of beginning foreign language courses or obtain the appropriate waiver for high school language study.

The thirty nine semester hours required for the political science degree include

• POLS 2003 American Government
• POLS 2253 Survey of Western Political Thought
• POLS 2513 Research Design
• POLS 2403 Comparative GovernmentORPOLS 2413 International Relations

Majors also choose one course from three of the four political science blocks: Research Methods, Political Theory, and International Relations, and two courses from the fourth political science block: American Politics.

Nine semester hours of electives, six of which must be 3000-4000 level, and POLS 4963 Senior Seminar complete the major requirements.

Curriculum

The matrix below is a sample plan for all coursework required for this program.

•  Freshman

  Fall		Spring
  ENGL 1013 Composition I1	3	ENGL 1013 Composition II1	3
  Fine Arts & Humanities1	3	Science with Lab1	4
  Mathematics1	3	HIST 2003 United States History to 1877	3
  HIST 1503  World History to 1500, HIST 1513 World History since 1500 or GEOG 2013 Regional Geography of the World	3	POLS 2003 American Government	3
  SOC 1003 Introductory Sociology, PSY 2003 General Psychology, or ECON 2003 Principles of Economics I	3	Elective2	3
  TECH 1001 Orientation of the University	1
  Total Hours	16	Total Hours	16

•  Sophomore

  Fall		Spring
  HIST 2013 United States History since 1877	3	Fine Arts & Humanities1	3
  Science with Lab1	4	Research Methods Block3	3
  Beginning Language I7	3	Beginning Language II7	3
  POLS 2253 Survey of Western Political Thought	3	POLS Elective	3
  POLS 2513 Research Design	3	Elective2	3
  Total Hours	16	Total Hours	15

•  Junior

  Fall		Spring
  Political Theory Block4	3	International Relations Block5	3
  POLS 2403 Comparative Government or POLS 2413 International Relations	3	American Politics Block6	3
  Elective2	9	Elective2	9
  Total Hours	15	Total Hours	15

•  Senior

  Fall		Spring
  American Politics Block6	3	POLS 4963 Senior Seminar	3
  POLS Elective (3000-4000 level)	6	Elective2	9
  Elective2	6
  Total Hours	15	Total Hours	12

¹See appropriate alternatives or substitutions in "General Education Requirements".
²At least 40 of the total hours required for graduation must be 3000 - 4000 level courses.
³The Research Methods choices include: POLS 3513 Research Methods; or grade of C or better in any FL 2023 course; or appropriate methodology course approved by Department Head.
⁴The Political Theory choices include POLS 3063 Modern Political Thought; or POLS 3253 Classical Political Thought; or appropriate political theory or philosophy course approved by Department Head.
⁵The International Relations choices include POLS 3013 Recent American Foreign and Military Policy; or POLS 3433 United Nations; or POLS 3473 National Security Policy; or appropriate international relations or comparative government course approved by Department Head.
⁶The American Politics choices include POLS 3023 Judicial Process; or POLS 3033 American State and Local Government; or POLS 3053 Introduction to Public Administration; or POLS 3083 Political Parties and Interest Groups; or POLS 3123 American Political Behavior; or POLS 3133 United States Congress; or POLS 3143 The United States Presidency; or POLS 4043 American Constitutional Law; or appropriate American politics course approved by Department Head.
⁷Students may waive three hours of language requirement for every one year of language study in high school with grades of "C" or better.