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Political Science

Are you interested in American politics, international affairs, domestic developments in other parts of the world and political theory? Do you want to study these subjects and pursue a career based on your interests? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you should consider the political science major at Grand View University.

The political science major provides the academic background to enter law school or will prepare you for a wide variety of professional positions.

Why Grand View?

  • You will take courses from a variety of subfields of political science that will give you an expansive and well-rounded base of legal knowledge.
  • We heavily focus on interdisciplinary thinking—our courses ask students to use what they have learned in their other social science, humanities, and natural science courses to address real-world policy problems.
  • Grand View's location in Des Moines gives you access to the State Capitol for internships, a front row seat to the Iowa Caucuses and the opportunity to work on Presidential campaigns.
  • Plus, many of our courses can be taken online during the academic year as well as in the summer, giving students more flexibility in class scheduling.

Why Choose Grand View University?

Career Options

  • Law School
  • Policy Analysis
  • Political Advertising
  • Campaign Management
  • Nonprofit Management
  • Government Agency Work
  • Teaching (with a dual major in education)
  • Criminal Justice (with a dual major in criminal justice)
  • City Planning
  • Business
  • Lobbying
  • Legislative Staff

Get involved on campus!

Get involved and join the Political Science Club! It is a nonpartisan organization and promotes student awareness of and participation in politics and the political process through various student-sponsored activities.

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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Tuition & Scholarships

At Grand View University, your tuition supports instruction delivered by knowledgeable and experienced faculty who uphold our tradition of exceptional teaching. Additionally, we are dedicated to offering a high-quality education at the most affordable cost.

Transfer Credits

No matter what major you’re thinking about, you may be able to transfer in as many as 75 credits from a community college or junior college. If you have an A.A. or A.A.S. from an Iowa community college, you will be automatically admitted at junior status.

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AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

FACULTY

Dr. Bryan McQuide • He is the winner of the Grand View 2017 Distinguished Faculty Service Award, has presented papers at several national and regional political science conferences, and has been interviewed by local and national media on political events and elections.

ALUMNI

  • One is a federal district judge in Iowa.
  • One is a U.S. district attorney.
  • A number now have successful legal careers.
  • Two recent graduates have won full scholarships to law school.
  • Graduates have gone on to law school at Drake, University of South Dakota, and University of Iowa.

WHY POLITICAL STUDIES?

As a political studies major, you will hone the writing, communications, analytical and computer skills that are critical to a liberal arts education. The courses offered at Grand View will prepare you to think critically and independently, with tolerance for others and concern for current affairs.

Political studies training also provides valuable preparation for participating in community organizations, electoral politics, movements on behalf of specific policies, and for seeking elective or administrative positions in government. While many of these are voluntary activities, participation in them develops skills and creates opportunities for career success.