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Political Science Program

Political Science Program > Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degree: Traditional Track

Required Core Courses (9 cr.)

Students must complete all of the following courses:

  • Y103 Introduction to American Politics

  • Y205 Elements of Political Analysis (must be completed before taking the senior seminar)
    • Designated course for political science majors for research writing requirement

  • Y490 Senior Seminar in Political Science
300-400-Level Distribution Requirements (12 cr.)

Students must take at least one upper level course in each of the following four areas:

American Politics
(Y302, Y304, Y305, Y306, Y308, Y316, Y319, Y322, Y324, Y379, Y394, Y402, Y403, Y404)

Comparative Politics
(Y330, Y331, Y334, Y335, Y337, Y349, Y354, Y369)

International Politics
(Y343, Y350, Y360, Y366, Y374, Y376)

Political Theory
(Y384, Y392)

Recommended Courses

Political Science:
Y105 Introduction to Political Theory, Y107 Introduction to Comparative Politics, and Y109 Introduction to World Politics. Each introductory course provides excellent background for upper level courses in these areas.

Courses in other fields:
Economics, history, and sociology are academic areas that majors will find useful, especially those planning to attend graduate school or law school.

K300:
It is strongly recommended that students planning to attend graduate school complete MATH K300 Statistical Techniques.

Note: Political Science credit for internships and professional practice programs may not exceed 6 credit hours.

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Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degree: Public Service Track

The primary objective of the public service track is to prepare students with the background and skills to pursue positions in the public service, in both governmental and nongovernmental (nonprofit) organizations.

Required Core Courses (18 cr.)
  • Y103 Introduction to American Politics

  • Y205 Elements of Political Analysis

  • Y302 Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society

  • Y306 State and Local Government or Y308 Urban Politics

  • Y482 Practicum: Internship in Public Service (must serve a minimum of a 3-hour internship in an approved public or nongovernmental [nonprofit] organization)

  • Y490 Senior Seminar in Political Science
300-400 Level Public Service Courses (6 cr.)

Student must complete at least two 300-400 level courses in the public service area. These include:

  • Y402 Politics of the Budgetary Process

  • Y403 Legal Issues in Public Bureaucracy

  • Y404 Political Issues in Public Personnel Management

(Interdisciplinary concentrations in other areas may be substituted for these 300-400-level distributional requirements upon recommendation of academic advisor.)

300-400 Level Distribution Requirements (6 cr.)

Students must complete at least two other 300-400-level courses in political science from any of the following areas: comparative politics, international relations, and theory.

Recommended Courses

It is strongly recommended that students complete MATH K300 Statistical Techniques.

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Requirements for a Minor in Political Science

Minimum of 15 credit hours, including:

  • Y103 Introduction to American Politics (3 cr.)

  • One course in comparative politics

  • One course in international politics

(At least 9 credit hours of the minor must be taken on this campus.)

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