Political Science (B.A.)
The curriculum for a B.A. in political science exposes majors to the key areas of the discipline— American politics and institutions, comparative politics and international relations with a special emphasis on African Politics, Political Theory and Philosophy, and Research Methods.
Goals of the B.A. Program in Political Science
- To develop in students a substantive body of knowledge about the history and evolution of the discipline including its various approaches and methods.
- To nurture in students a specialized and thorough knowledge of American Politics, Area Studies, International Affairs, or Legal Studies.
- To help students acquire the capacity to gather and analyze primary and secondary political data, critique extant studies, to construct creative research proposals, and to craft original research.
- To encourage students to participate in service learning activities–local, national, and international–that permit access to early job placements and an appreciation for the practice of citizenship.
Major Concentrations
The Department of Political Science offers a bachelor of arts degree in political science with two possible concentrations. Students may choose among curricula related to those concentrations or they can choose the basic curriculum for maximum flexibility.
- Basic Curriculum
- Legal Studies Curriculum
- Paralegal Studies Curriculum
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PS 134 | INTRO TO POLIT SCIENCE | 3 |
| PS 135 | AMERICAN GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| PS 136 | STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| PS 238 | INTRO TO COMPAR POLITICS | 3 |
| PS 236 | POLITICAL STATISTICS | 3 |
| PS 341 | African American Politics | 3 |
| PS 343 | POLITICAL PHILOSPHY | 3 |
| PS 347 | Judicial Politics | 3 |
| PS 350 | AME POLIT PARTIES & PRES | 3 |
| PS 351 | THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY | 3 |
| PS 431 | AFRICIAN INTERNAT RELATI | 3 |
| PS 446 | SCOPE AND METHODS | 3 |
| PS 447 | SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR | 3 |
| PS 473 | LEGISLATIVE POLITICS | 3 |
| PS 450 | URBAN POLITICS | 3 |
| Total Hours | 45 | |
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| ENG 104 |
COMPOSITION I or English Composition I with Co-requisite Support or COMPOSITION & LITERATURE FOR L |
3 |
| HIST 201 | UNITED STATES HISTORY I | 3 |
| PS 134 | INTRO TO POLIT SCIENCE | 3 |
| UNIV 100 | UNIVERSITY SUCCESS | 2 |
| Mathematics Option | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 105 or ENG 112 |
COMPOSITION II or COMPOSITION |
3 |
| HIST 202 | UNITED STATES HISTORY II | 3 |
| PS 135 | AMERICAN GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| Natural Science Option | 3 | |
| Pathway Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| PS 136 | STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| PS 238 | INTRO TO COMPAR POLITICS | 3 |
| Humanities & Fine Arts Option | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Science Option | 3 | |
| Pathway Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEOG 105 | INTRO TO CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | 1 |
| Speech Option | 3 | |
| Humanities & Fine Arts Option | 3 | |
| Natural Science Option | 3 | |
| Pathway Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECO 211 | PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS | 3 |
| PS 236 | POLITICAL STATISTICS | 3 |
| PS 347 | Judicial Politics | 3 |
| PS 473 | LEGISLATIVE POLITICS | 3 |
| Political Science Elective | 3 | |
| Philosophy Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECO 212 | PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS | 3 |
| PS 341 | African American Politics | 3 |
| PS 343 | POLITICAL PHILOSPHY | 3 |
| PS 446 | SCOPE AND METHODS | 3 |
| PS 450 | URBAN POLITICS | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PS 351 | THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY | 3 |
| PS 447 | SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR | 3 |
| Political Science Elective | 3 | |
| Political Science Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PS 350 | AME POLIT PARTIES & PRES | 3 |
| Political Science Option | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 123 | |
Notes:
- Candidates that transfer 12 or more hours of college credit are exempt from UNIV 100 UNIVERSITY SUCCESS; however, the student must take 2 hours of general electives to replace the UNIV course.
- Online Graduation Clearance (to be completed during the graduating semester only).
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will learn how national, state, local and international governments operate in a democracy.
- Students will learn about the principles of state and local governments in the democratic system.
- Students will learn the fundamentals of state, local, and international governments.