Political Science, B.A.

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The Bachelor of Arts in Political Science prepares students for fulfilling careers as civic leaders and contributors to democratic societies.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the American Constitutional government system
2. Compare political systems
3. Demonstrate ability to write effectively about political phenomena
4. Demonstrate the ability to speak effectively about political phenomena
5. Demonstrate the ability to recognize when information is needed to understand and evaluate political phenomena
6. Construct research designs to investigate systematically political phenomena
7. Illustrate the effective collection and use of information related to political phenomena
8. Produce evidence of application of political science knowledge to political phenomena
9. Provide evidence of being an informed citizen, including the understanding of and/or participation in civic communities - locally, regionally, nationally, and globally
10. Apply interdisciplinary approaches to political phenomena
11. Interpret the effects of public policy on citizens in a democratic society
12. Analyze political issues and phenomena using political science concepts, theories, and methods
13. Synthesize solutions to political issues through examination, investigation, formulation and construction in scholarship and/or engagement
14. Construct theories of political phenomena using intercultural and/or interlingusitic competency

Requirement

Core Areas A, B, C, D, and E: 42 Hours

Core Curriculum

Core Area F-I: 18 Hours

(Foundations of Social Science)

Required: 6 Hours

Foreign Language 2001 and 2002 *

Required for Major: 6 Hours

POLS 2101 - Introduction to Political Science 3 Credit Hours
POLS 2601 - Introduction to Political Science Inquiry 3 Credit Hours

Choose two courses from the following: 6 Hours

ANTH 1102 - Introduction to Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
BUSA 2106 - Legal and Ethical Environment of Business 3 Credit Hours
HIST 1111 - Survey of World History/Civilization I 3 Credit Hours
HIST 1112 - Survey of World History/Civilization II 3 Credit Hours
HIST 2111 - U S History I (to 1865) 3 Credit Hours (or)
HIST 2112 - U S History II (since 1865) 3 Credit Hours if not taken in Area E (3 hrs. only)
MATH 1401 - Elementary Statistics 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 2010 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 2020 - Critical Thinking 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 2030 - Introduction to Ethics 3 Credit Hours
XIDS 2100 - Arts and Ideas: Special Topics 3 Credit Hours
XIDS 2300 - Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Sciences 3 Credit Hours
XIDS 2301 - Introduction to Global Studies 3 Credit Hours
Any 2000 level course in ACCT, CISM, CRIM, ECON, ENGL, GEOG, POLS, or SOCI
Any 1000 or 2000 level course in CS or PSYC

Major Courses: 27 Hours

Nine upper division political science courses, including at least 3 hrs. in each of the following subfields:

Political theory **
American politics
Comparative politics
International politics

All majors must complete the senior seminar (POLS 4984 ). No more than 3 hours of directed readings or independent study may count toward the major, and none can be used to satisfy the political science subfield requirements listed above. No POLS course in which the student receives a grade lower than a “C” may count toward the major.

Minor: 15-18 Hours

Electives: 15-18 Hours

Internships (POLS 4186 ), if taken, may count only as electives.

Total: 120 Hours

* Foreign language proficiency as demonstrated by successfully completing a 2002 course or by passing an exemption exam is required.

** PHIL 4115 may be selected to satisfy this requirement.