Declaration in or before Summer 2009

Political Science Department (College of Liberal Arts)

Political science is a modern social science concerned with three broad areas of past and contemporary human life: how we govern ourselves, how conflict arises among different groups, and the meaning and significance of democratic institutions. The first area recognizes that human communities must arrive at common policies to handle disagreement. The second recognizes that, regardless of social structure, political power in any community is concentrated to support conflicting interests. The third reveals how communities develop democratic institutions in which political power is located in the principle of majority rule. A major in political science prepares students for careers in government and business.

Political Science Major Requirements

The degree of Bachelor of Arts in College of Liberal Arts may be conferred upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 123 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 overall, in college and the major. A minimum of 123 credit hours will be earned in the following four requirement categories.

• University Core Curriculum
• College Requirements
• Major Requirements
• Electives

Students are required to take 11 courses (33 credit hours) to complete the political science major, including five required courses.

• Political Science 1101 (formerly C051), The American Political System
• Political Science 1201 (formerly C052), Foreign Government and Politics
• Political Science 1301 (formerly C053), International Politics
• Political Science 2496 (formerly W101), Introduction to Political Philosophy
• Political Science 4896 (formerly W340), Capstone in Political Science

Students must also choose six other courses in the 2000-4000 level or higher.

Note: Courses should be sequenced so that students take the introductory courses before the upper level courses. PS 1101 (formerly C051) is an introduction to U.S. politics, and should be taken before upper level courses about U.S. politics. Similarly, PS 1201 (formerly C052) introduces foreign governments and proceeds upper level courses in this field. PS 1301 (formerly C053) introduces International politics and is a prerequisite for upper level courses in this field. PS 2496 (formerly W101) introduces Political Theory and should be taken after a student has had several political science courses and should precede upper level theory courses. PS 4896 (formerly W340) is the Capstone course for the major and should be taken in the senior year after the completion of PS 1101, 1201, 1301, 2496 (formerly C051, C052, C053, W101) and four Political Science courses numbered 2000-4000 or higher.

Political Science Minor Requirements

Students may earn a minor in political science by completing six courses (18 credit hours).

Two of the following:

• Political Science 1101 (formerly C051), The American Political System
• Political Science 1201 (formerly C052), Foreign Governments and Politics
• Political Science 1301 (formerly C053), International Politics
• Political Science 2496 (formerly W101), Introduction to Political Philosophy

Four other courses, numbered 2000-4000 or above (with the exception of 2496).