We think the political science major is a good choice for any student who is interested in politics and in getting a liberal education. Students with career ambitions in politics, the armed services, law, teaching, or public administration are also good
candidates for a major in political science.
The political science major consists of 33 hours if you choose the general
concentration and 42 hours if you choose a concentration in American Government,
Political Theory, International Relations/Comparative Government, or Public
Administration.. The
concentration in International Relations/Comparative Government requires that
students must graduate with the B. A. degree. The first 15 hours
consists of the following five core courses:
POSC 110 Introduction to Politics
POSC 120 American Government
POSC 130 Comparative Government
POSC 140 International Relations
POSC 290 Seminar in Political Science
Majors graduating under the 2003-2004 (and all future) catalogs must take one
upper-level class in each of the four sub-fields (International Relations,
Political Theory, American Government, and Comparative Government). For
these majors and minors POSC 290 will be a formal pre-requisite for all
upper-level classes. Beginning with the 2003-2004 catalog, all
majors will choose a concentration.
GENERAL CONCENTRATION (18 hours) Students must complete one upper-level course (other than POSC 485, 488, 490 or 498) in each of the following areas: American Government (AG), Comparative Government (CG), International Relations (IR), and Political Theory (PT). In addition, students must complete either POSC 490, Seminar, or POSC 491, Scope and Methods of Political Science. The total hours earned in political science must be a minimum of 33.
American Government Concentration (27 hours) Students must complete one upper-level course (other than POSC 485, 488, 490 or 498) in each of the following areas: Comparative Government (CG), International Relations (IR), and Political Theory (PT). Students must also complete fifteen hours in upper-level American Government courses. In addition, students must complete both POSC 490, Seminar (preferably on an American Government topic, which may then be counted toward the fifteen hours in the concentration), and POSC 491, Scope and Methods in Political Science. Three hours each in POSC 485, Internship credit and/or POSC 498, Independent Study (or POSC 488 Final Honors Project) credit may be counted toward the fifteen hours in the concentration if approved as appropriate by a student’s advisor. The total hours earned in political science must be a minimum of 42.
Comparative Government/International Relations Concentration (27 hours) Students must complete one upper-level course (other than POSC 485, 488, 490, 498) in each of the following areas: American Government (AG), and Political Theory (PT). Students must also complete fifteen hours in upper-level Comparative Government and International Relations courses. In addition, students must complete both POSC 490, Seminar (preferably on a Comparative Government or International Relations topic, which may then be counted toward the fifteen hours in the concentration field), and POSC 491, Scope and Methods in Political Science. Three hours each in POSC 485 Internship credit and/or POSC 498 Independent Study (or POSC 488 Final Honors Project) credit may be counted toward the fifteen hours in the concentration if approved as appropriate by a student’s advisor. Students in this concentration are also required to graduate with a B.A. degree in order to receive credit for the concentration. The total hours earned in political science must be a minimum of 42.
Political Theory Concentration (27 hours) Students must complete one upper-level course (other than POSC 485, 488, 490, 498) in each of the following areas: American Government (AG), Comparative Government (CG), and International Relations (IR). Students must also complete fifteen hours in upper-level Political Theory courses. In addition, students must complete both POSC 490, Seminar (preferably on a Political Theory topic, which may then be counted toward the fifteen hours in the concentration field), and POSC 49, Scope and Methods in Political Science (which may also be counted toward the fifteen hours in this concentration field). Three hours each in POSC 485 Internship credit and/or POSC 498, Independent Study (or POSC 488 Final Honors Project) credit may be counted toward the fifteen hours in the concentration if approved as appropriate by a student’s advisor. The total hours earned in political science must be a minimum of 42.
Public Administration Concentration (27 hours) Students must complete one upper-level course (other than POSC 485, 488, 490, 498) in each of the following areas: American Government (AG), Comparative Government (CG), International Relations (IR), and Political Theory (PT). Students must also complete fifteen hours in upper-level Public Administration (PA) courses, one of which may be counted as the required upper-level course in American Government (AG). In addition, students must complete both POSC 490, Seminar (preferably on a Public Administration topic, which may then be counted toward the fifteen hours in the concentration field), and POSC 491, Scope and Methods in Political Science. Three hours each in POSC 485 Internship credit and/or POSC 498, Independent Study (or POSC 488 Final Honors Project) credit may be counted toward the fifteen hours in the concentration if approved as appropriate by a student’s advisor. The total hours earned in political science must be a minimum of 42.