Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

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Students in the Political Science program learn about politics and study questions such as the following. Are democracies with a president and legislative branch more representative than those with a prime minister who leads the legislature? Is a two-party system better than a multi-party system? How can governments respect diverse ethnic, racial, and religious identities, and still promote bonds of common citizenship? What should be the role of the United States in an increasingly interdependent global economy? These are the types of questions that political scientists explore, but they also represent issues that require ordinary citizens to make informed judgments. This program prepares graduates for careers in government such as public management, administration of justice, military service and the gaining and holding of elected positions. Graduates from political science programs are found in many professions; particularly those involved in large organizations with extensive internal networks requiring skills in dealing with and managing other people.

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and general education level learning objectives, the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates.  With reference to each of the respective areas of Political Science, graduates in this degree program will be able to:

Political Theory and Systems

  • Investigate the fundamental theories and philosophies of government, governance, economy, and civil society; apply them to contemporary political systems
  • Examine the political elements of representative democracy and compare and contrast those elements with other political systems 

The United States Political System

  • Describe the three institutions of government that create and implement federal policy
  • Analyze the historical evolution and contemporary manifestations of the federal system and its intergovernmental implications

Political Parties and Interest Groups

  • Explain the evolution of interest groups in the United States and their various roles assumed in both historical and modern democratic processes
  • Explain the perspectives of political parties and their impact on federal, state, and local government
Degree Program Requirements
Required Course - 3 semester hours

General Education Requirements (34 semester hours)
English - 6 semester hours
Social Sciences - 6 semester hours
Science - 4 semester hours including the required 1 hour labs
Mathematics - 3 semester hours
History - 6 semester hours
Humanities - 3 semester hours
Literature - 3 semester hours
All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101 - Proficiency in Writing
Political Science - 3 semester hours
Core Courses (27 semester hours)

Select all courses from the following list:

Major Courses (15 semester hours)

A student enrolled in Political Science will take five (5) courses from the following list.


Final Program Requirements (3 semester hours)
Electives (39 semester hours)
Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.

Total = 121 semester hours

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