Program Details
The Interdisciplinary major in Political Science provides students with the academic background to enter law school or prepares them for a wide variety of professional positions in areas such as government, civil service, domestic or international business, the diplomatic service, or further study in graduate or professional programs.
Course Requirements (43-49 credits plus 3-5 prerequisite credits) |
Prerequisites for courses for the major:
MATH 095 or
MATH 096 or
MATH 105 with a C- or above
|
Intermediate Algebra or
Introductory & Intermediate Algebra or
Contemporary Mathematical Literacy
|
3 credits or
5 credits or
4 credits |
These courses will not be counted in computing the GPA for the major.
Requirements for the Major:
SOCS 101
|
Introduction to Sociology
|
3 credits
|
POLS 110
|
National Government
|
3 credits
|
POLS 120
|
State and Local Government
|
3 credits
|
STAT 241 or
STAT 239
|
Principles of Statistics or
Statistics for the Social Sciences
|
4 credits or
3 credits
|
PHIL/POLS 312
|
Modern Philosophers
|
3 credits
|
POLS 322
|
Public Policy
|
3 credits
|
POLS/SOCS 350
|
Social Science Research Methods
|
3 credits
|
POLS 361
|
Comparative Politics
|
3 credits
|
POLS 370
|
International Relations
|
3 credits
|
POLS 399
|
Internship
|
1-6 credits |
POLS 450
|
Senior Seminar
|
3 credits
|
Take 12 additional credits from one of the following concentrations:
Public Administration and Policy Concentration:
POLS 310
|
Political Advocacy
|
3 credits
|
POLS 315
|
Introduction to Public Administration
|
3 credits
|
Choose 2 courses from: |
|
POLS 280
|
Environmental Policy and Politics
|
3 credits
|
SOCS 315
|
Social Problems
|
3 credits
|
HIST/POLS 215
|
The Presidency
|
3 credits
|
HIST 111
|
Colonial and Revolutionary America
|
3 credits
|
HIST 112
|
The U.S.: Republic to Empire, 1789-1898
|
3 credits
|
HIST 113
|
The American Century Since 1898
|
3 credits
|
Pre-Law Concentration:
POLS 340
|
American Constitutional Law and Development I
|
3 credits
|
POLS 341
|
American Constitutional Law and Development II
|
3 credits
|
Choose 2 courses from:
|
|
BSAD 340
|
Business Law I
|
3 credits
|
BSAD 341
|
Business Law II
|
3 credits
|
BSAD 343
|
Sport Law
|
3 credits
|
PSYC/SOCS 310
|
Social Psychology
|
3 credits
|
SOCS 360
|
Police and the Courts
|
3 credits
|
PSYC/SOCS 361
|
Family Law
|
3 credits
|
SOCS 318
|
Criminological Theory
|
3 credits
|
Additional recommended electives include:
ENGL 309
|
Writing for Business
|
3 credits
|
BSAD 310
|
Principles of Management |
3 credits |
BSAD/SOCS 410
|
Organizational Behavior
|
3 credits |
ECON 101
|
Principles of Macro Economics
|
3 credits
|
HIST 105
|
The West in the Modern World
|
4 credits |
HIST 113
|
The American Century Since 1898
|
3 credits |
Students completing the concentration in Public Administration and Policy should consider additional majors in History and/or Criminal Justice.
Students completing the concentration in Pre-Law should consider additional majors in Criminal Justice, History, and/or English.
Minors that complement a major in Political Science include Sociology, History, English, General Business, Philosophy, Theology, and Statistics.
|
Political Science Minor
A minor in political science is designed for students who want to improve their ability to deal intelligently and critically with issues and ideas about government and politics. Questions concerning world peace, government policies aimed at achieving economic stability and growth, the management of environmental quality, control over political competition, the possibility of using law to affect social and political change, and the gap between the rich and poor in the U.S. and abroad are all on the research agenda of contemporary political scientists.
The general purpose of the minor is to address these and other issues systematically, and, simultaneously, to raise the broad theoretical questions which can help students relate today’s political debates to those debates about politics which have kept a theoretical tradition alive for over 2,000 years.
Degree Fit |
This program could be a good fit if you:
- Want to improve your ability to deal intelligently and critically with issues and ideas about government and politics.
|
Career Options |
With this minor, you may become a/an:
- Policy Analyst
- Legislative Assistant
- Public Relations Specialist
- Social Media Manager
- Marketing Research Analyst
- Political Consultant
- Attorney
- Intelligence Analyst
- Political Campaign Staff
- College Student Leadership / Activities Officer
|
Course Requirements (18 credits) |
POLS 110
|
National Government
|
3 credits |
POLS 120
|
State and Local Government
|
3 credits
|
POLS 315
|
Introduction to Public Administration
|
3 credits
|
POLS 340
|
American Constitutional Law and Development I
|
3 credits
|
Six additional credits in Political Science, three of which must be at the 300/400 level.
|
6 credits
|
|
Global Studies Minor
The Global Studies minor provides opportunities for students to study how evolving global connections affect the well-being of people throughout the world. Students in the program develop an understanding and appreciation of how and why interactions across national and ethnic borders are shaped by language, culture, politics, economic development, and conflict.
The Global Studies minor can complement any major.
Degree Fit |
This program could be a good fit if you:
- Have strong critical thinking, communication, and logical analysis skills.
- Are interested in how evolving global connections affect the well-being of people throughout the world.
- Have an appreciation for language, cultural, political, and economic development differences.
|
Career Options |
With this minor, you may become a/an:
- Civil Service Worker
- Congressional Aide
- Consular/Embassy Assistant
- Consultant
- Diplomat
- FBI Agent
- Foreign Correspondent
- Foreign Service Officer
- Global Human Resources Manager
- Higher Education Professional
- Humanitarian Relief Worker
- Import/Export Agent
- Intelligence Officer
- International Account Executive
- International Business Consultant
- International Development Consultant
- International Financial Planner
- International Relations Specialist
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Legal Assistant
- Lobbyist
- Market Research Analyst
- Policy Analyst
- Professor
- Program Manager
- Public Affairs Coordinator
- Public Relations Manager
- Social Worker
- Teacher
- Trade Specialist
- Travel Agent
- United Nations Officer
- World Health Organization Officer
|
Course Requirements (23 credits) |
BSAD 331 |
International Management |
3 credits |
ECON 415 |
International Finance |
3 credits |
POLS 370 |
International Politics |
3 credits |
Take 6 Credits of Upper-Level Non-U.S. History
|
6 credits |
Take 8 credits of foreign language from:
FREN 101 and
FREN 102 |
French I and
French II |
4 credits each |
SPAN 101 and
SPAN 102 |
Spanish I and
Spanish II |
4 credits each |
Two semesters in another approved foreign language |
8 credits |
|
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