Politics, B.A.

Program Learning Outcomes

“Expected student learning outcomes specify the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes students are expected to attain in courses or in a program.” Page 69. Resource Manual for the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), 2018.

1.   Demonstrate effective verbal communication skills. 

2.   Demonstrate effective written communication skills.

3.   Use appropriate methodological tools to conduct political science research.

4.   Analyze primary and secondary works of political thought.  

5.   Demonstrate knowledge of Christian perspectives on politics and government.

6.   Analyze the role of Christianity in the development of Western political institutions.     

7.   Demonstrate knowledge of the main elements of the Anglo-American legal and political tradition.

8.   Demonstrate knowledge of America’s founding ideas.

9.   Explain the political and legal characteristics of the American system of government.

10, Explain the nature and function of major international political institutions.

11.  Compare liberal democracy to alernate forms of government.

12.  Compare the governmental institutions found in modern nations.

General Education Requirements - 43 Credit Hours

Politics majors must meet the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements  as set out in the General Education Program .

School of Arts and Sciences Additional Natural Science Requirements - 5 Credit Hours

Students in the School of Arts and Sciences must take five additional hours of natural science: 1 lab to accompany the course taken for general education [BIO 1043 , BIO 1023 , ESC 1043 , OCY 1043 , FOR 1003  , PHY 1033 , PHY 1063 , or PHY 2113  and one additional natural science course and accompanying lab. The two natural sciences must be in different areas (both cannot be in biological sciences). In sum, students are required to take a minimum of 8 hours of natural science courses: two natural science courses (in two different areas) along with the labs associated with each. 

Required Politics Courses - 21 Credit Hours

• PLS 2113 - American Federal Government
• PLS 3033 - The Founders’ Constitution
• PLS 3093 - Western Order: The Christian Contribution
• PLS 3313 - Political Thought
• PLS 3323 - Classical and Christian Political Thought
• PLS 3423 - International Relations and World Politics
• PLS 3263 - Comparative Government and Politics

Politics Elective Courses - 18 Credit Hours

StudentS must select six (6) elective courses from the following lists, for a total of 18 credit hours. Student must select at least one (1) course from each category.

Modern Language Requirement - 3-6 Credit Hours

Politics majors are required to successfully complete (with a final grade of C- or higher):

• one intermediate modern language course (3 Credit Hours), OR
• two elementary modern language courses (6 Credit Hours), OR
• one elementary and one intermediate modern language course (6 Credit Hours).

Politics majors who choose another major or minor with its own language requirements may elect to use the language requirement of that major or minor as a substitute for their Politics modern language requirement.

Note: No CLEP, AP, IB, or transient study credits may be used to fulfill this requirement. These credits must be fulfilled at PBA.

Minor Requirement - 15-30 Credit Hours

Politics majors are required to complete a minor or a second major in a discipline of their choice.

Note:

Students wishing to teach Political Science, grades 6 – 12, should complete a state-approved Professional Training Option (PTO). See Secondary Education Minor (Professional Training Option)  for details.

Pre-Law as a Second Major - 24 Credit Hours

Politics students may earn a second major in Pre-Law by completing all of the General Education Credits (43 hours).  Additional Natural Science Credits (5 hours), Modern Language Credits (3-6 hours), Required Politics Courses (21 hours), and Politics Electives Courses (18 hours) as shown above and:

• PLS 3253 - Principles of International Law
• PLS 4133 - American Constitutionalism: Structures of Government
• PLS 4143 - American Constitutionalism: Rights and Liberties
• HIS 2213 - U.S. History I
• HIS 2223 - U.S. History II
• PHL 3133 - Formal Logic Systems
• PHL 3233 - Philosophy of Law
• ENG 3193 - Advanced Composition

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  For students pursuing a Politics and Pre-Law double major, no course listed above may be counted toward the Politics Electives Courses requirement.  Pre-Law majors have certain additional requirements that musrt be met - see “Additional Requirements” under the Pre-Law Degree for details.

Sample Degree Plan

Politics Degree Plan