Undergraduate Degree

Political Science - Public Policy

Program:
Political Science - Public Policy
Plan Code:
PSPUBL_BA1
Program Level:
Undergraduate
Award Type:
Bachelor of Arts
College:
College of Social Science
Department:
Political Science


Excerpt from the official Academic Programs Catalog:

Listed below are the approved requirements for the program from the official Academic Programs Catalog.
Students must consult their advisors to learn which specific requirements apply to their degree programs.


College of Social Science

Department of Political Science

Undergraduate Programs
Political Science - Public Policy

The Political Science-Public Policy major is designed to prepare students for careers in public service, advocacy, and analysis. It aims at a broad understanding of the goals and problems of public policy, the political process that leads to policy development, and the implementation and evaluation of public policy. The major is valuable preparation for those who intend to engage in research for public agencies, non-profits, or voluntary associations interested in the problems of government. A master’s degree program concentrating in public policy is also available for advanced work in preparation for an executive career in these fields.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science-Public Policy

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science-Public Policy.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Political Science-Public Policy major is met by completing Political Science 422. That course is referenced in item 3. below.
  2. The requirements of the College of Social Science for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
  3. The following requirements for the major:
    1. a. All of the following courses (33 credits):
      1. (1) All of the following courses (9 credits):
      2. PLS 100 Introduction to American Politics (3)
      3. PLS 200 Introduction to Political Science (3)
      4. PLS 494 Field Experience in Political Science (3)
      6. (2) One of the following courses (3 credits):
      7. PLS 201 Introduction to Methods of Political Analysis (3)
      8. PLS 202 Introduction to Data Analytics and the Social Sciences (3)
      10. (3) One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
      11. PLS 392 Special Topics in Political Science  (3 or 4)
      12. PLS 397 Analyzing and Visualizing Data in Politics (3)
      14. (4) One of the following courses (3 credits):
      15. PLS 310 Public Administration and Policy Making (3)
      16. PLS 313 American Public Policy (3)
      17. The course used to fulfill this requirement may not be used to fulfill requirement (5) below.
      19. (5) Complete a minimum of four of the following courses (12 credits):
      20. PLS 301 American State Government (3)
      21. PLS 302 Urban Politics (3)
      22. PLS 310 Public Administration and Policy Making (3)
      23. PLS 313 American Public Policy (3)
      24. PLS 324 Congress (3)
      25. PLS 325 The Presidency (3)
      26. PLS 342 Comparative Political Economy (3)
      27. PLS 363 International and Domestic Political Conflict (3)
      28. PLS 364 Politics of the United Nations and International Organizations (3)
      30. (6) One of the following courses (3 credits):
      31. PLS 422 Seminar in Political Science (W) (3)
      32. PLS 481 Undergraduate Research Seminar (W) (3)