To ensure that all political science majors are familiar with a variety of approaches, subject matter, and perspectives within the political science discipline, each student, regardless of the degree program or emphasis he or she selects, must take at least one course in each of five of the following seven fields.
American government
Comparative politics
Empirical theory and behavior
International politics
Political theory
Public law
Public policy/public administration
In fulfilling this requirement, a particular course may be counted in one field only, even if it is crosslisted in more than one field. Related courses from other departments may be substituted for political science courses with the prior written approval of the department chair.
POLS 100 satisfies the field distribution requirement for American government and is a prerequisite for certain upper-level courses. Numbered courses ending in 90-99 vary widely in content and often do not deal with a single or specific field of political science. Such courses cannot be used to meet the field distribution requirement except in special cases with the written permission of the department chair. All other political science courses, whether taken to satisfy the B.A. or B.S. degree requirements or the requirements in a particular emphasis, are included in meeting the required distribution.
Students must ensure that the field distribution requirement is met. Students pursuing the B.S. degree must complete POLS 340 - Political Analysis (3). Students should complete POLS 340 by the end of their junior year. Students are also strongly encouraged to complete POLS 340 prior to taking STAT 301 or STAT 350.
Requirements outside Department (B.A., 0-12; B.S., 10-15)
For the B.A. degree Fulfillment of the foreign language requirement (0-12)
See “Foreign Language Requirement for the B.A. Degree” in the Other Graduation Requirements section of this catalog.
For the B.S. degree Laboratory science/mathematical/computational skills sequence (10-19) [Students selecting a sequence that does not include STAT 301 (4) or STAT 350 (3) will also be required to take one of these courses.]
See “College Requirement for the B.S. Degree” in the Other Graduation Requirements section of this catalog.
Total Hours for Emphasis 1, Politics: 36-48 (B.A.) OR 50-51 (B.S.)
Requirements outside Department (B.A., 0-12; B.S., 10-15)
For the B.A. degree Fulfillment of the foreign language requirement (0-12)
See “Foreign Language Requirement for the B.A. Degree” in the Other Graduation Requirements section of this catalog.
For the B.S. degree Laboratory science/mathematical/computational skills sequence (10-15) [Students selecting a sequence that does not include STAT 301 (4) or STAT 350 (3) will also be required to take one of these courses.]
See “College Requirement for the B.S. Degree” in the Other Graduation Requirements section of this catalog.
Total Hours for Emphasis 2, Public Law: 36-48 (B.A.) OR 46-51 (B.S.)
Students must ensure that the field distribution requirement is met.
The B.S. is highly recommended for students planning careers in public policy and public administration. Students should complete POLS 340 by the end of their junior year. Students are also strongly encouraged to complete POLS 340 prior to taking STAT 301 or STAT 350.
Requirements outside Department (B.A., 0-12; B.S., 10-15)
For the B.A. degree Fulfillment of the foreign language requirement (0-12)
See “Foreign Language Requirement for the B.A. Degree” in the Other Graduation Requirements section of this catalog.
For the B.S. degree
Laboratory science/mathematical/computational skills sequence (10-15) [Students selecting a sequence that does not include STAT 301 (4) or STAT 350 (3) will also be required to take one of these courses.]
See “College Requirement for the B.S. Degree” in the Other Graduation Requirements section of this catalog.
Total Hours for Emphasis 3, Public Administration and Service: 36- 48 (B.A.) OR 46-51 (B.S.)
Recommendation
Students are strongly advised to minor in business administration, communication studies, economics, family life (School of Family, Consumer, and Nutrition Sciences), international studies, journalism, sociology, or urban studies.
Requirements outside Department (B.A., 0-12; B.S., 10-15)
For the B.A. degree Fulfillment of the foreign language requirement (0-12)
(See “Foreign Language Requirement for the B.A. Degree.”) in the Other Graduation Requirements section of this catalog.
For the B.S. degree Laboratory science/mathematical/computational skills sequence (10-15) [Students selecting a sequence that does not include STAT 301 (4) or STAT 350 (3) will also be required to take one of these courses.]
(See “College Requirement for the B.S. Degree.”) in the Other Graduation Requirements section of this catalog.
Total Hours for Emphasis 4, International Politics: 36-48 (B.A.) OR 46-51 (B.S.)
Recommendation
Students desiring a career in international affairs are advised to develop a high degree of competence in one or more foreign languages, to become familiar with political systems other than that of the United States, and to enroll in the interdisciplinary international studies minor.
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