Program Description
The political science program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to provide students with broad knowledge and understanding of the political science subfields of American Government and Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, Law and Politics, and Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodology. The mission of the political science program is to prepare students for successful matriculation in professional school (e.g., graduate and/or law) and for public service employment at the local, state, federal, and international levels.
Student Learning Outcomes
Political science graduates will be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of the major concepts, principles, and processes of American Government and Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, Law and Politics, and Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodology. (Content Knowledge)
- demonstrate an understanding of the significance and impact of a global community and diversity within the United States. (Content Knowledge)
- demonstrate an understanding and mastery of normative and empirical research in political science. (Communications, Content Knowledge, Critical Thinking)
- demonstrate the ability to conduct political science research by completion and defense of a senior research thesis. (Communications, Content Knowledge, Critical Thinking)
- demonstrate the ability to identify, draw reasoned inferences, devise an appropriate solution to a political problem/issue, and evaluate the feasibility of the solution. (Content Knowledge and Critical Thinking)
- demonstrate the ability to explain contemporary political phenomena by employing an understanding of political science concepts and principles. (Content Knowledge, Critical Thinking, Communications)
Major Requirements
Majors, including students concentrating in Public Administration, are required to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in political science; these hours do not include political science prerequisite courses. Students planning to concentrate in Public Administration must select this option prior to the end of their sophomore year.
A student must earn a “C” or better in all Political Science courses.
Political science majors without the Public Administration concentration must complete 18 hours of elective courses. These electives may consist of political science courses. Political science majors with the Public Administration concentration must complete 6 hours of electives in another discipline.
Each student must complete at least 40 hours of upper (3000/4000) division coursework in order to meet the university’s graduation requirements. Political science courses, general education courses, and electives may be used to fulfill this requirement.
Political Science Core Courses (12 semester hours)
All majors, including those concentrating in Public Administration, must complete these core courses. Students must earn a “C” or better in each of these courses.
POS 2311 - American Government
SOS 2301 - Research in the Social Sciences I
POS 2316 - State and Local Government
POS 3366 - Introduction to Public Administration
Required Electives:
Political Science majors must select the following courses: Speech (1 course), Economics (1 course), Geography (1 course), and History (2 courses). Most of these can be taken as part of general education.
Political Science Course Sequence
Students must earn at least a “C” in the required number of courses in the following political science subfields:
American Government and Politics (select two courses/ 6 hours)
POS 3321 - The Legislative Process
POS 3336 - The Judicial Process
POS 3346 - The American Presidency
POS 3371 - Urban Politics
POS 4361 - Political Parties and Interest Groups
International Relations (select one course/ 3 hours)
POS 3341 - International Relations
POS 3313 - United States Diplomatic History
POS 4310 - Seminar in United States Foreign Policy
POS 4316 - Foreign Economic Policies and International Cooperation
Comparative Politics (select one course/ 3 hours)
POS 3338 - Comparative Government: Major European Powers
POS 3339 - Comparative Government: Developing Areas
POS 3315 - Politics of South Africa
POS 4332 - History and Politics of East Asia
Law and Politics (select two courses/ 6 hours)
POS 3310 – Legal, Political and Economic Aspects of Aging
POS 3331 - Civil Rights
POS 3355 - Criminal Law
POS 4369 - Constitutional Law
POS 4383 - Administrative Law
Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodology (all courses required/ 9 hours)
POS 2317 – Writing & Research in Political Science I
POS 3349 – Methodological Behavior Foundations in Political Science (or MAT 2326; students will not receive credit for both of these courses)
POS 4382 – Writing & Research in Political Science II
Political Theory: (required/ 3 hours)
POS XXXX – Introduction to Political Theory
Political Science with Public Administration Concentration
Students who select the Public Administration concentration must complete all political science prerequisite and major requirements in addition to POS 3326 (Public Policy), POS 3369 (Public Management Theories and Behavior), POS 4323 (Public Personnel) and POS 4346 (Introduction to Public Budgeting). These students must complete 6 hours of elective coursework in a discipline other than political science.
Requirements for Double Majors
A student who selects a double major in political science must fulfill the same requirements as political science majors.
Other Information
Students are encouraged to work closely with a political science advisor concerning course selection, professional school admissions and testing, career opportunities, internship and research opportunities, and other important matters.
Students are also encouraged to join the Political Science Club, Democracy Now, Model United Nations, and/or Pre-Law Society. Qualified students will be able to join Pi Sigma Alpha, The National Political Science Honor Society.
Political Science Courses
POS 2311 - American Government
POS 2316 - State and Local Government
POS 2317 - Writing and Research in Political Science I
POS 3310 - Legal, Political and Economic Aspects of Aging
POS 3313 - United States Diplomatic History
POS 3315 - The Politics of South Africa
POS 3321 - The Legislative Process
POS 3326 - Public Policy
POS 3331 - Civil Rights
POS 3336 - The Judicial Process
POS 3338 - Comparative Government: Major European Powers
POS 3339 - Comparative Government Developing Areas
POS 3341 - International Relations
POS 3346 - The American Presidency
POS 3349 - Methodological Behavior Foundations in Political Science
POS 3355 - Criminal Law
POS 3366 - Introduction to Public Administration
POS 3369 - Public Management Theories and Behavior
POS 3371 - Urban Politics
POS 4301 - Latin American Political Thought
POS 4310 - Seminar in United States Foreign Policy
POS 4316 - Foreign Economic Policies and International Cooperation
POS 4323 - Public Personnel
POS 4330 - Independent Study
POS 4332 - History and Politics of East Asia
POS 4346 - Introduction to Public Budgeting
POS 4356 - Black Political Thought
POS 4361 - Political Parties and Interest Groups
POS 4365 - Selected Readings in Political Science
POS 4369 - Constitutional Law
POS 4378 - Western Political Thought
POS xxxx - Political Theory
POS 4380 - Public Administration Research
POS 4381 - Public Administration Internship
POS 4382 - Writing & Research in Political Science II
POS 4383 - Administrative Law
POS 4384 - Organizational Development
POS 4391 - Internship in Political Science
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