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 and written communication skills. 

2. Analyze selected primary and secondary works of Western religious, social, and political thought.        

3. Identify and make use of appropriate methodological tools to conduct political science research.

4. Examine the general development of Western political order.                 

5. Explain the general development of the Anglo-American political tradition.      

6. Analyze the formative role of Christianity in the development of Western constitutionalism and the Rule of Law.            

7. Explain the political and legal characteristics of American constitutionalism.       

8. Analyze the relation among political, economic, legal, moral, and religious institutions in a free society.          

9. Identify the main elements of the Anglo-American legal tradition that protect the principles and practice of free enterprise.  

10. Examine the origin and nature of liberal democracy and free enterprise as developed in the Western tradition.

11. Utilize key political concepts to comprehend the nature and function of major governmental institutions.

General Education Requirements - 43 Credit Hours

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

• Social Science Requirement: Politics majors must take  PLS 3113 - Methodology of Political Science  as the Social Science elective.

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 (one BIO and one other). In sum, students are required to take a minimum of 8 hours of natural science courses: two natural science courses (one biological science and one other) along with the labs associated with each. We recommend Psychology majors take BIO 1043   and BIO 1041  (lab) to fulfill one science requirement.

Required Politics Courses - 9 Credit Hours

• PLS 2113 - American Federal Government
• PLS 3313 - Political Thought
• PLS 3413 - International Relations

Politics Elective Courses - 27 Credit Hours

Student must select nine (9) elective courses from the following lists, for a total of 27 credit hours. Student must select at least one (1) course from each category.

Foreign Modern Language Requirement - 3-6 Credit Hours

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

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

Sample Degree Plan

Politics Degree Plan