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Academics: Political Science

Political science major (33 semester hours)

Admission to the program
Graduation requirements
Internship experience
Honors
Sample Curriculum - Political Science Major

 

Admission to the program

To be admitted to a major program in political science you must have completed one (non interim term) political science course with a minimum grade of C (2.0).

Graduation requirements

To graduate with a political science major, you must take the following courses:

  • American Politics (101)
  • Introduction to International Politics (207)
  • Political Ideas in Historical Perspective (240)
  • Methods of Political Analysis (251)
    • As a supplement to (251), Introduction to Probability and Statistics (MATH-143) is strongly encouraged
  • one course in comparative government (102, 271, 272, 275, 276, 277, or 279)
  • plus 18 additional semester hours in the department

Things to remember:

  • Only one interim course may be applied to a major
  • A maximum of 8 semester hours of internship credit may be applied to the major.

Internship experience

Political science majors, particularly those who do not anticipate pursuing either law school or some graduate program shortly after graduation, are encouraged to enroll in internship programs.

The department offers 8 semester hours of internship credit in state and local government (380), as well as internships through our Washington, DC semester program.

Honors

Information on the specifics and guidelines for graduating with honors can be found on the political science department 's honors page.

Sample Curriculum - Political Science Major

N.B.: This plan does not take into account possible core exemptions or AP credits. If you have either, you might have even more room for electives, a second major or a minor.     

First Year -  12-15 credits per semester; approximately 24-30 credits plus interim

  • Core: English 101 (3cr)
  • Core: FIT (1cr)
  • Core: IDIS 149 Prelude  (1)
  • HIST 152 – core requirement (4cr)
  • Core: CAS 140 (Communication and culture) (3cr)
  • POLS 101 – American Politics (3cr) (also fulfills Core: Societal Structures in North America)
  • POLS 110 – Persons in Political Communities (3cr) (especially if exempt from POLS 101)
  • POLS 207 – Introduction to International Relations (best second semester; also fulfills Core: Global and Historical Studies) (3cr)
  • Core courses: Biological or physical science (4cr) 
  • One foreign language course each semester  if not exempt (4cr + 4cr)

Interim – DCM (3cr)

Second Year – 26-32 credits

  • POLS 240 – Political Ideas in Historical Perspective (3cr)
  • POLS 251 – Research Methods (3cr)
  • POLS 275, 276, or 279 (comparative politics) – (3cr)
  • PHIL 153 – core requirement (3cr)
  • REL 121 or 131 – Core: Biblical or Theological Foundations I (3cr)
  • One foreign language course each semester (4cr + 4cr)
  • Core: Health and Fitness: one course from PER 101-112 (1cr)
  • One social science course from another discipline (3cr) – recommended ECON 151 or ECON 221 if student is interested in taking ECON 222 (macroeconomics), which is helpful for POLS 319) or SOC/SOWK 250 (also fulfills Core: Persons in Political Communities)
  • Apply for the semester in Washington D.C. if planning to go during the spring of junior year

Interim: choice of one elective (3cr); if it is a Political Science interim, it can count toward the major; many off-campus abroad interims also meet Cross-Cultural Engagement requirement.

Third Year – 26-32 credits

  • One more political science course at the 200 or 300 level  (3cr)
  • POLS 241 – preparatory course for Study in Washington D.C.  (1cr) (Fall semester)
  • Core: MATH 143 Statistics (4cr)
  • Core: Biblical or Theological Foundations II (3cr)
  • Core: Biological or physical science (4cr)
  • Core: Health and Fitness: one course from PER 120-159 (1cr.)
  • Elective
  • Semester in Washington DC (14cr) or another off-campus program (Britain, Hungary, Ghana, France, Spain, etc.)

Interim: take off, so as to be able to plan better for Washington DC or study abroad.

Fourth Year – 26-32 credits

  • POLS 399 – Capstone course (3 cr.)
  • Core: Literature (3cr.)
  • Core: The Arts (3cr.)
  • Core: Health and Fitness: one course from PER 160-189, PER 223
  • Any remaining major or minor requirements, and electives.

Interim: choice of one elective (3cr).