Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
A Bachelor of Arts degree in political science consists of 39 semester hours. There are 15 hours of required courses and 24 hours of area requirements.
Students working toward a BA are strongly urged to take Elementary Statistics (STA 205) to fulfill the general education requirement in mathematics and Writing in Political Science (PSC 291W) to fulfill the general education requirement in writing.
Required courses (15 hours)
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PSC 100 - American Politics or PSC 101 - State and Local Politics
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PSC 102 - Comparative Politics
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PSC 103 - International Politics
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PSC 110 - History of Western Political Thought
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PSC 315 - Scope and Methods
Upper-division electives (24 hours, minimum of one course from each area)
American Government Area
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PSC 302 - The American Presidency
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PSC 303 - The American Legislature
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PSC 304 - Introduction to the Law
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PSC 305 - The Judicial Process
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PSC 307 - Constitutional Law
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PSC 308 - Civil Liberties
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PSC 309 - Law of Mass Communications
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PSC 310 - Political Behavior
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PSC 311 - Political Parties and Elections
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PSC 320 - American Politics in Film
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PSC 394 - Topics: American Politics
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PSC 403 - Public Policy*
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PSC 415 - United States Foreign Policy*
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PSC 430 - Politics and Mass Media
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PSC 496 - Internship in Political Science
International Politics Area
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PSC 338 - U.S. Foreign Policy and the Developing World
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PSC 394 - Topics: International Politics
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PSC 410 - Political Economy
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PSC 415 - United States Foreign Policy*
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PSC 420 - International Terrorism
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PSC 470 - The Post-Cold War World
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PSC 480 - International Law
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PSC 481 - International Organizations
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PSC 486 - War in the Modern World
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PSC 496 - Internship in Political Science
Comparative Politics Area
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PSC 330 - Politics of Europe
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PSC 335 - Latin American Politics
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PSC 355 - Comparative Revolutionary Politics
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PSC 366 - Government and Politics in Africa
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PSC 382 - Canadian Politics and Policies
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PSC 394 - Topics: Comparative Politics
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PSC 485 - Comparative Foreign Policy
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PSC 496 - Internship in Political Science
Political Theory/Practice Area
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PSC 312 - Modern Ideologies
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PSC 316 - Data Analysis
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PSC 370 - Pre-Enlightenment Political Theory
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PSC 373 - Enlightenment and Post Enlightenment Political Theory
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PSC 394 - Topics: Theory and Practice
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PSC 403 - Public Policy*
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PSC 496 - Internship in Political Science
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PAD 300 - Introduction to Public Administration
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PAD 412 - Administrative Law
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PAD 455 - Urban Administration
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PAD 475 - Local Government Management
* Public Policy (PSC 403) can be used in American Government or Theory/Practice area.
* United States Foreign Policy (PSC 415) can be used in American Government or International Politics area.
An internship may not count as the only course in an area.
A student may substitute one or two reading courses (PSC 499) for electives listed above. Reading courses are designed primarily for students who have an interest or academic curiosity not satisfied
by the existing curriculum but potentially covered by the expertise of the faculty in the department.
Reading courses are also an alternative for graduating seniors who, for reasons beyond their control, are lacking a requirement. These courses are normally limited to a maximum of 6 semester hours for each student and require the consent of the instructor and the political science chair.