Political Science, B.A.

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120 Credit Hours

*must include a minor or an additional major

General Education Requirements - 43 Credit Hours

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

Global Studies and Social Science Requirements

One course must be selected from each of the following lists of Global Studies courses and Social Science courses.

Global Studies Menu Options - 3 Credit Hours

ART 2813 - Art History I 3 Credit Hour(s)
BIO 2203 - Environment and Society 3 Credit Hour(s)
BUI 3633 - Global Business 3 Credit Hour(s)
CCS 3503 - World Religions 3 Credit Hour(s)
CCS 4043 - Experiential Learning Abroad 3 Credit Hour(s)
ENG 2023 - World Literature through Film 3 Credit Hour(s)
ESC 2123 - World Regional Geography 3 Credit Hour(s)
FRN 1113 - Elementary French I 3 Credit Hour(s)
GRN 1113 - Elementary German I 3 Credit Hour(s)
SPN 1113 - Elementary Spanish I 3 Credit Hour(s)
HIS 2013 - Modern Terrorism 3 Credit Hour(s) (if you have not taken Politics of Developing Nations)
HIS 3713 - Latin-American History 3 Credit Hour(s) (if you have not taken Latin American Politics)
HIS 4433 - History of Modern Russia 3 Credit Hour(s) (if you have not taken Comparative Government: Eastern Europe & Russia)

Social Science Menu Options - 3 Credit Hours

BUS 2343 - Principles of Macroeconomics 3 Credit Hour(s)
BUS 2353 - Principles of Microeconomics 3 Credit Hour(s)
ESC 2123 - World Regional Geography 3 Credit Hour(s)
PHL 1103 - Foundations of Social Science 3 Credit Hour(s)
PSY 2133 - General Psychology 3 Credit Hour(s)

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 , PHY 1033 or PHY 1063 ], 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 Political Science/History Courses - 12 Credit Hours

PLS 2113 - American Federal Government 3 Credit Hour(s)
PLS 3113 - Methodology of Political Science 3 Credit Hour(s)
PLS 3313 - Political Thought 3 Credit Hour(s)
PLS 3413 - International Relations 3 Credit Hour(s)

Practical Political Science Courses - 6 Credit Hours

(Select two)

PLS 3013 - State & Local Government 3 Credit Hour(s)
PLS 4113 - American Constitutional Law 3 Credit Hour(s)
PLS 4213 - Principles of Public Administration 3 Credit Hour(s)

Comparative Political Science Courses - 6 Credit Hours

(Select two)

PLS 3213 - Comparative Government: Western Europe 3 Credit Hour(s)
PLS 3223 - Latin-American Politics 3 Credit Hour(s)
PLS 3233 - Comparative Government: Eastern Europe & Russia 3 Credit Hour(s)
PLS 3243 - Politics of Developing Nations 3 Credit Hour(s)

Political Science Electives - 6 Credit Hours

Select two upper level (3000 or 4000 level) courses with the PLS prefix

*Additional Required - 45-46 Credit Hours

This meets the 120-credit-hour requirement and the 42-upper-level requirement.

Note:

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

Sample Degree Plan

Political Science Degree Plan