A degree in political science provides students with the ability to think critically about challenges facing the world today. Students develop research, writing and analytical skills to prepare them for careers in fields such as:
- Government
- Civil service
- Journalism
- Business management
- Legislative analysis
- Criminology
- City planning
- Population studies
Students can combine the major with credentials to teach government, political science and civics in secondary schools. If a student plans to go on to the graduate level, the political science minor is an excellent complement to fields such as law, economics and a number of other social science disciplines.
Career Services offers a number of programs and services designed to help political science students plan their career, including workshops, internships and placement services after graduation.
Requirements
Program Requirements
Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the required courses listed below. Total credit hours required in Political Science courses: 42 credit hours, including 24 upper-division credit hours.
No courses for the PSCI major may be taken pass/fail, and a student must have a grade of C- or better in all 42 required credit hours in political science, and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in political science courses.
No more than 45 credit hours in political science credit will count toward the Arts and Sciences graduation requirement of 120 credit hours. This may be exceeded by 6 credit hours (for a total of 51 credit hours), provided that the excess credit hours are taken in PSCI 4715 and PSCI 4725 (honors thesis credit).
Required Courses and Credit Hours
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSCI Lower-division Distribution | ||
| PSCI 1101 | Introduction to American Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 2012 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 2223 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| PSCI 2004 | Survey of Western Political Thought | 3 |
| Empirical Theory and Research Methodology | ||
| PSCI 2075 | Quantitative Research Methods | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Applied Political Science Research | ||
| Designing Social Inquiry: An Introduction to Analyzing Political Phenomena | ||
| Survey Design and Analysis | ||
| Undergraduate Research Experience | ||
| Strategy and Politics | ||
| PSCI Upper-division Distribution | ||
| Select one course in four of the following six primary fields: | 12 | |
American | ||
Comparative | ||
International Relations | ||
Political Theory | ||
Empirical Theory and Research Methodology 1 | ||
Public Policy | ||
| Political Science Electives | ||
| Three upper-division PSCI elective courses | 9 | |
| One lower or upper-division PSCI elective course | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 42 | |
| 1 | Note that the second Empirical Theory and Research Methodology course taken in sequence, PSCI 3075, PSCI 3105, PSCI 3155, PSCI 3205 or PSCI 3225, will not count toward the upper-division distribution requirement for the Empirical Theory/Research Methodology field. |
Graduating in Four Years
Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility. The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress in political science, students should meet the following requirements:
- By the end of the second semester, declare the major.
- By the end of the third semester, complete PSCI 1101 and two of the following required courses: PSCI 2012, PSCI 2223, PSCI 2004 or PSCI 2075.
- By the end of the fourth semester, complete the remaining lower-division political science courses.
- By the end of the sixth semester, complete 12 upper-division credit hours of political science courses, including at least one course in three of the following fields: American, comparative, international relations, methodology, policy and theory. In addition, complete three upper-division or lower-division political science elective credit hours.
- During the seventh and eighth semesters, complete 12 credit hours of political science courses, including at least 9 upper-division political science elective credit hours and all remaining upper-division field distribution requirements.
Recommended Four-Year Plan of Study
Through the required coursework for the major, students will complete all 12 credits of the the Social Sciences area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement, as well as the QRMS component of the Gen Ed Skills Requirement. Depending on the courses selected in the major, students can also potentially complete the U.S. Perspective component of the Gen Ed Diversity Requirement.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours | |
| PSCI 1101 | Introduction to American Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 2012 or PSCI 2223 | Introduction to Comparative Politics or Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences with Lab) | 4 | |
| Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Lower-division Written Communication) | 3 | |
| Elective or MAPS (If needed) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PSCI 2223 or PSCI 2012 | Introduction to International Relations or Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 2004 | Survey of Western Political Thought | 3 |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) | 3 | |
| Elective or MAPS | 3 | |
| Elective or MAPS | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PSCI 2075 | Quantitative Research Methods | 3 |
| PSCI Required Upper-Division course (Four Area courses required) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Arts & Humanities/US Perspective) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PSCI 3105 | Designing Social Inquiry: An Introduction to Analyzing Political Phenomena or Applied Political Science Research or Strategy and Politics or Survey Design and Analysis or Undergraduate Research Experience | 3 |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Arts & Humanities/Global Perspective) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PSCI Required Upper-Division course (Four Area courses required) | 3 | |
| PSCI Required Upper-Division course (Four Area courses required) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Upper-division Written Communication) | 3 | |
| Elective (Upper-Division) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PSCI Required Upper-Division course (Four Area courses required) | 3 | |
| PSCI Required Upper-Division Elective (Twelve elective credits required) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Natural Sciences) | 3 | |
| Elective (Upper-Division) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PSCI Upper-Division Elective (Twelve elective credits required) | 3 | |
| PSCI Upper-Division Elective (Twelve elective credits required) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities) | 3 | |
| Elective (Upper-Division) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PSCI Elective Lower or Upper-division (Twelve elective credits required) | 3 | |
| Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities) | 3 | |
| Elective (Upper-Division) | 3 | |
| Elective (Upper-Division) | 3 | |
| Elective (Upper-Division, if needed) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 121 | |
Learning Outcomes
Upon successfully completing the program, students will be able to:
- Communicate political science concepts clearly, both orally and in writing.
- Locate the evidence necessary to evaluate arguments in political science research and the current political world.
- Create well-designed arguments using relevant theories of political science.
- Answer research questions using logical inference from quantitative and qualitative evidence.
- Understand political dynamics at the subnational, national and international levels.
- Develop an appreciation for various ideological perspectives and for the complex political environment around them.
- Acquire a sense of efficacy for changing the political environment.