Political Science (B.A.)

Program Requirements

General Education 23 Requirements
33 credit hours33
Political Science Major Requirements (39 credit hours)
Students will select one of the following concentrations:39
All College Electives
48-51 credit hours48-51
Total Credit Hours120

General Political Science Concentration

Required Courses (18 credit hours)
PSC 101INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS3
PSC 102INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS3
PSC 203POLITICAL ANALYSIS3
PSC 204POLITICAL STATISTICS3
PSC 399RESEARCH SKILLS3
PSC 470SENIOR SEMINAR3
or PSC 488 INTERNSHIP
Political Science Distribution Requirements (12 credit hours)
Students choose one course from four of five of the distribution areas (American Government, International Relations, Comparative Government, Political Theory, Philosophy and Public Law)
American Government and Politics (3 credit hours)
Select one of the following:3
THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE
WOMEN IN AMERICAN POLITICS
AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
POLITICAL BEHAVIOR AND PUBLIC OPINION
International Relations (3 credit hours)
Select one from the following:3
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
POLITICS OF GLOBALIZATION
POLITICS AND HISTORY OF MODERN TERRORISM I
POLITICS AND HISTORY OF MODERN TERRORISM II
Comparative Government (3 credit hours)
Select one from the following:3
EUROPEAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS
GOVERNMENT, POLITICS, AND POLICIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
COMPARATIVE DEMOCRACY
POLITICS AND HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST
Political Theory and Philosophy (3 credit hours)
Select one from the following:3
HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT I
HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT II
AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
RACE, SEX, AND POLITICS OF MYTH AND STORY
CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THOUGHT
Public Law (3 credit hours)
Select one from the following:
INTRODUCTION TO LAW
U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES
CIVIL PROCEDURE
CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
DISCRIMINATION AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
MOCK TRIAL
General Electives in Political Science (9 credit hours)
Courses NOT used to fulfill Political Distribution Requirements may also be used as Political Science electives.9
URBAN GOVERNMENT
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY
COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
THE ITALIAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: POLITICS, SOCIETY, & IDENTITY
URBAN PUBLIC POLICY
SPECIAL PROJECT (1-3)
WASHINGTON SEMESTER (1-16)
INDEPENDENT STUDY (3-12)

Urban Civic Engagement Concentration

Required Courses (24 credit hours)
PSC 101INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS3
PSC 102INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS3
PSC 203POLITICAL ANALYSIS3
PSC 204POLITICAL STATISTICS3
PSC 215URBAN GOVERNMENT3
PSC 399RESEARCH SKILLS3
PSC 470SENIOR SEMINAR3
or PSC 488 INTERNSHIP
Political Science Distribution Requirements (9 credit hours)
American Government and Politics (3 credit hours)
Must take one of the following:3
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
POLITICAL BEHAVIOR AND PUBLIC OPINION
International Relations/Comparative Government (3 credit hours)
Must take one of the following:3
INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLITICS OF GLOBALIZATION
POLITICS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Political Theory and Philosophy (3 credit hours)
Must take one of the following:3
AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
RACE, SEX, AND POLITICS OF MYTH AND STORY
Electives: Urban Civic Engagement Concentration (6 credit hours)
Select two from the following:6
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES
PRACTICAL POLITICS
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY
URBAN PUBLIC POLICY
CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
DISCRIMINATION AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
CULTURAL PROFICIENCY AND PUBLIC ACHIEVEMENT
POVERTY AND PUBLIC POLICY

Public Legal Studies Concentration

Required Courses (27 credit hours)
PSC 101INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS3
PSC 102INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS3
PSC 203POLITICAL ANALYSIS3
PSC 204POLITICAL STATISTICS3
PSC 250INTRODUCTION TO LAW3
PSC 317U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW3
or PSC 320 U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES
PSC 398LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING3
PSC 399RESEARCH SKILLS3
PSC 470SENIOR SEMINAR3
or PSC 488 INTERNSHIP
Political Science Distribution Requirements (12 credit hours)
American Government and Politics (6 credit hours)
Must take one of the following:6
THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
CIVIL PROCEDURE
CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
DISCRIMINATION AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
MOCK TRIAL
International Relations/Comparative Government (3 credit hours)
Must take one of the following:3
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
COMPARATIVE DEMOCRACY
Political Theory and Philosophy (3 credit hours)
Must take one of the following:3
HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT I
AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THOUGHT

Students will:

  1. be able to select and critically evaluate existing literature in a given topic area of political science.
  2. demonstrate mastery of research report writing.
  3. demonstrate the ability to generate a scientific hypothesis in a given area of political science.
  4. be able to apply appropriate statistical techniques for a given research design.
  5. demonstrate the rudimentary skills to design and implement research to test scientific hypotheses.
  6. demonstrate the ability to apply valid conclusions based on topic area, hypothesis, review of literature, and study outcomes.
  7. demonstrate an understanding of the major historical schools of thought and approaches in political science.
  8. demonstrate global awareness and engagement skills.