Academic Programs - Major in Political Science

Political Science (33 semester hours)

Getting into the major

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).

Graduating with the major

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

  • American Politics (101)
  • Introduction to International Politics (207)
  • Political Ideas in Historical Perspective (240)
  • Methods of Political Analysis (251)
  • 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.
Getting 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.

Graduating with honors

To graduate with honors in political science, you must:

  • Maintain an overall mimumum 3.5 GPA
  • Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 in courses within the major
  • Complete 6 (18 hours) courses for honors credit, with a minimum of four honors courses within the major.
  • Complete an honors thesis to be reviewed by two faculty members. This is normally done through political science course 399.
  • Earn at least a B+ in each political science honors course you take.
  • Make a formal commitment to graduate with honors by March of your junior year. Contact honors advisor Corwin Smidt.

Additional information: