Political Science Major

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College of Social and Behavioral Sciences – Department of Political Science, Law, and Global Studies

The General Education Requirements

All students must satisfy a general education requirement consisting of ten (10) courses outside of the major department. The General Education Domain III-C (Global Competency, Ethical Reasoning, and/or Human Diversity) requirement is satisfied through the completion of the Politics major.

Course Prerequisites

Courses may have specified conditions for enrollment, such as prior completion of less advanced courses, permission of the instructor, or appropriate placement test scores. Students should refer to course descriptions in the department listings for prerequisite requirements.

 

Requirements for Politics Major:                              

The Political Science major consists of twelve (12) courses and one (1) required/related general education course.

Introductory Core Courses (required):

  • POSC 110 Introduction to American Politics
  • POSC 120 Introduction to World Politics
Advanced core courses (required):
  • POSC 316 United States Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties
  • POSC 320 Comparative Political Systems
  • POSC 337 Legislative Politics and Policy
  • POSC 341 The Presidency: Politics and Administration

Required Capstone:

  • POSC 425 Seminar in Political Science

Recommended course:

  • STAT 117 Introduction to Statistics or
    • STAT 157 Probability and Statistics

POLITICAL SCIENCE CONCENTRATIONS

All Political Science majors need to select a concentration from the three (3) listed as follows:

International Politics (UPOI)

The International Politics Concentration provides students the opportunity to focus their studies on international affairs. Students acquire knowledge about the way that states and non-state actors interact with one another on the international stage, and the research skills necessary to engage in the study of international politics. Students examine the prominence of both security and non-security issues, including those generated and governed by states, along with those created by intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private actors.

Concentration Requirements (5)

Choose five (5) elective courses, at least two (2) of which must be at the 300-level or above:

  • ECON 200 The Economics of Globalization
  • POSC 200 Model United Nations
  • POSC 220 The Politics of Globalization
  • POSC 248 The Global Rise of Populism
  • POSC 269 Building Peace After Conflict
  • POSC 308 International Law, Politics, and Society
  • POSC 320 Comparative Political Systems
  • POSC 342 Formation and Conduct of United States Foreign Policy
  • POSC 360 Threats to International Security in the 21st Century
  • POSC 365 Latin American Politics
  • POSC 490 Independent Study in Political Science
  • SOCI 254 Social Conflict in Northern Ireland

Political Science General Studies (UPOG)

Concentration Requirements (5)

Intermediate Courses - Select Three (3):

  • POSC 200 Model United Nations
  • POSC 209 The American Supreme Court
  • POSC 211 Political Theory: Justice, Law, and Order
  • POSC 213 Political Parties and Interest Groups
  • POSC 216 Film and Politics
  • POSC 220 The Politics of Globalization
  • POSC 223 Bureaucratic Politics and Power
  • POSC 229 Public Policy Analysis
  • POSC 248 The Global Rise of Populism
  • POSC 250 American Legal Systems
  • POSC 269 Building Peace after Conflict
  • POSC 270 Race, Politics, and the Law
  • POSC 272 Gender, Politics, and the Law

Students majoring in Political Science should complete POSC 110 Introduction to American Politics and POSC 120 Introduction to World Politics during their freshman year. All above courses must be completed prior to the end of the sophomore year.

Advanced courses - Select Two (2):

  • POSC 300 Moot Court Symposium
  • POSC 313 American Political Thought
  • POSC 315 Judicial Politics and Policy
  • POSC 320 Comparative Political Systems
  • POSC 325 Public Management
  • POSC 327 Elections and Campaign Strategy
  • POSC 342 Formation and Conduct of United States Foreign Policy
  • POSC 350 South Park and Contemporary Political Issues
  • POSC 360 Threats to International Security in the 21st Century
  • POSC 365 Latin American Politics
  • POSC 490 Independent Study in Political Science
  • POSC 495 Internship in Political Science

Pre-Law (UPOE)

  Concentration Requirements (5)

     Choose (5) elective courses, at least two (2) of which must be at the 300-level or above:

  • CRIM 201 White Collar Crime
  • CRIM 240 Drugs, Social Control, And The Law
  • HSTA 313 Civil Rights Movement in the United States
  • POSC 206 Constitutional Law: Powers of Government
  • POSC 209 The American Supreme Court
  • POSC 211 Political Theory: Justice, Law, & Order
  • POSC 250 American Legal Systems
  • POSC 270 Race, Politics, and the Law
  • POSC 272 Gender, Politics, and the Law
  • POSC 300 Moot Court Symposium
  • POSC 315 Judicial Politics and Policy
  • SOCI 280 Aging in Society

Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science or Minor in Public Administration/Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Administration (B/MPA)

This 4+1 program provides students the opportunity to complete course work at the undergraduate and graduate level that will prepare them for a career in the public sector, including work in government and non-profit organizations, positions in the private sector who are involved with and affected by governmental activities, and careers in government at the management level. In this period of increased interdependency among the public, non-profit, and private sectors, the program is dedicated to the increased responsibilities and challenges confronting the public manager.

Applications are to be submitted at the start of the junior year through the Office of Graduate Admissions. Students must have Junior Status with an overall GPA of 3.00. Completion of an undergraduate statistics course is also required. Transfer students must be matriculated at the University before applying for this program.

4+1 Program Requirements (14 courses):
These courses are in addition to the major core requirements (8 courses).

  • POSC 223 Bureaucratic Politics and Policy
  • POSC 229 Public Policy Analysis
  • POSC 325 Public Management
  • POSC 335 Public Personnel Management

Required graduate courses (2 courses in the undergraduate senior year, which will appear as transfer coursework):

  • PADM 901 Foundations of Public Administration (Fall semester)

Choose one (1) graduate elective course from the following:

  • MGMT 904 Management and Leadership
  • PADM 929 Techniques of Policy Analysis
  • PADM 937 Techniques of Public Budgeting and Resource Management
  • QUAN 908 Quantitative Analysis for Administrators

Effective as of the 2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog