Undergraduate Degree

Political Science - General

Program:
Political Science - General
Plan Code:
POLSCI_BA1


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 - General

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science (General)

  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 (General).

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Political Science (General) major is met by completing the following course:  Political Science 422.  That course is referenced in item 3. a. (4) below.
  2. The requirements of the College of Social Science for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
  3. The following requirements for the major:
    a.  The following course (4 credits): 
         PLS  200 Introduction to Political Science  4
    b.  One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits): 
         PLS  201 Introduction to Methods of Political Analysis  4
         PLS  202 Introduction to Data Analytics and the Social Sciences  3
    c.  One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
         PLS  392 Special Topics in Political Science  3 to 4 
         PLS  397 Analyzing and Visualizing Data in Politics  3
    d.  One of the following courses (4 credits): 
         PLS  422 Seminar in Political Science (W)  4
         PLS  481 Undergraduate Research Seminar  4
    e.  Two of the following courses (6 credits): 
         PLS  100 Introduction to American Politics  3
         PLS  140 Introduction to Comparative Politics  3
         PLS  160 Introduction to International Relations  3
         PLS  170 Introduction to Political Philosophy  3
         These courses may also meet subfield requirements.
    f.  Complete a minimum of four courses in Political Science at the 300 -400 level (12 credits) These courses may only count toward the 300-400 level requirement if completed a second time with the exception of PLS 397. 
         PLS  392 Special Topics in Political Science  3 to 4
         PLS  397 Analyzing and Visualizing Data in Politics  3
         PLS  422 Seminar in Political Science (W)  4
         PLS  481 Undergraduate Research Seminar  4
         Only one of the following courses may count toward the 300-400 level requirement: 
         PLS  494 Field Experience in Political Science  3 to 4
         PLS  495 Independent Study  1 to 6
    g.  At least one courses is required from three of the following subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics, or Political Philosophy. These courses may meet the 300-400 level requirement. 
    American Politics 
    PLS  100 Introduction to American Politics  3
    PLS  301 American State Government  3
    PLS  302 Urban Politics  3
    PLS  304 Minority Politics  3
    PLS  310 Public Administration and Policy Making  3
    PLS  313 American Public Policy  3
    PLS  320 Judicial Politics  3
    PLS  321 Constitutional Law  3
    PLS  322 Comparative Legal Systems  3
    PLS  324 Congress  3
    PLS  325 The Presidency  3
    PLS  333 Public Opinion and Political Behavior  3
    PLS  334 Campaigns and Elections  3
        Comparative Politics 
       PLS  140 Introduction to Comparative Politics  3
        PLS  342 Comparative Political Economy  3
        PLS  344 Politics of Developing Areas  3
        PLS  345 Religion and World Politics  3
        PLS  346 Middle East Politics  3
        PLS  347 Democratic Regimes  3
        PLS  351 African Politics  3
        PLS  354 Politics of Asia  3
        PLS  356 Politics of Europe and the European Union  3
        PLS  357 Politics of English Speaking Democracies  3
        PLS  358 Politics of the U.S.S.R. and Its Successor States  3
        International Politics 
       PLS  160 Introduction to International Relations  3
        PLS  362 American Foreign Policy and National Security  3
        PLS  363 International and Domestic Political Conflict  3
        PLS  364 Politics of the United Nations and International Organizations  3
        Political Philosophy
        PLS  170 Introduction to Political Philosophy  3
        PLS  371 Classical Political Philosophy  3
        PLS  372 Modern Political Philosophy  3
        PLS  377 American Political Thought  3