Mar 29, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science, B.A.


Minimum number of credits required to graduate:  124

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate:  2.0

Minimum number of credits to complete the major:  42

 

Political Science is a dynamic, exciting major that prepares students for a range of careers. Students in Political Science learn to analyze and research politics from a range of perspectives. Students explore vital and contemporary questions about law, government, and justice and learn about political systems and leaders, policies, and domestic and international conflicts. Our students develop their writing, analytical and critical thinking skills across a range of courses and topical areas. Many of our students combine their Political Science major with a double major or minor to further enrich their college experience and training. Students in Political Science have the opportunity for hands-on learning in internships, research projects, service learning, or spending a semester studying abroad or in Washington, D.C.. Political Science graduates have gone on to hold a range of jobs in public service, non-profit work, local, state, and federal government, K-12 education, higher education, research, and business. Many students also further their education in graduate or law school.

Political Science majors must take eleven total courses. This includes four required courses and seven elective courses. Elective courses must include at least two courses in US politics and government and at least two courses in global politics. All majors must also take at least one Writing Intensive course in the major.

Major Requirements


This bachelor’s degree program requires a minimum of 124 credits. As part of the overall 124 credit minimum, satisfying the requirements for the major in Political Science includes completing a minimum of 11 courses (42+ credits - accounting for possible transfer courses) in the major.  

The following courses are required of all Political Science majors:

Political Science Writing Intensive Requirement


Beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year, all Political Science majors are required to take a Writing Intensive course within the discipline.  Please note: POL2000 is no longer writing intensive.  Political Science Writing Intensive courses will rotate among a selection of upper division courses.

 

World Outside the United States


At least two courses are to deal with the world outside the United States and are to be selected from the following:

Remaining Courses


The remaining three courses may be taken from either of the two areas listed above, or qualified students may take some or all of them from the following:

Political Science Major Notes


  • Only two (2) Political Science courses may be double-counted between a Political Science major and a Pre-law, Public Policy or Cyber Security minor.
  • Only three (3) Political Science courses may be double-counted between a Political Science major and an International Studies major (POL1500, POL2000 and POL4800).  However, one (1) additional Political Science course must taken due to the third overlapping course.

Major GPA


Political Science majors must achieve a final grade point average of 2.00 or better in the major.  The GPA for the Political Science major will be calculated by taking the average of courses designated POL.