Political Science, Bachelor of Arts

122 credits

The BA program in Political Science provides the opportunity to pursue the problem of community order within the broad scope of liberal arts. Political scientists inquire how government can best fulfill the diverse needs of humanity as individuals, as well as in various groups. The study of politics deals with the ways in which humanity shares and distributes such fundamental values as security and prosperity and seeks self-determination. In the tradition of the liberal arts, this program prepares students to make sound decisions and creates a foundation for lifetime intellectual and spiritual growth. This includes such specific skills as the collection and evaluation of valid data, the systematic analysis of problems, and the clarification of values.

 

Degree Requirements

Credits

 
PO 1010 Politics and Government 3
PO 1020 American Government 3
PO 1030 World Politics (GACO) 3
PO 2010 State and Local Government 4
PO 2020 Public Administration (DICO) 3
PO 3120 Political Parties, Elections, and Interest Groups (TECO) 3
PO 3510 Comparative Politics 3
PO 3650 American Foreign Policy 3
PO 3660 Political Analysis 3
PO Political Science electives [not PODI] 15
Group A - complete one of the following: 3
PO 3100 American Political Thought
PO 3810 Political Thought

AN/EC/HI/SO Elective [not ANDI/ECDI/HIDI/SODI]

3
Quantitative Reasoning in the Discipline Connection - complete one of the following: 3
MA 2300 Statistics I (QRCO)
SS 3700 Social Statistics (QRCO)
Writing in the Discipline Connection - complete one of the following: 3
PO 3300 Latin American Politics (GACO) (WRCO)
PO 3680 Public Policy Analysis (WRCO)
General Education: 
EN 1200 Composition 3
IS 1111 The First Year Seminar: Critical Thinking and the Nature of Inquiry 3
MA Mathematics Foundations 3
CTDI Creative Thought Directions 6
PPDI Past and Present Directions 6
SIDI Scientific Inquiry Directions 6-8
SSDI Self and Society Directions 6
INCO Integration Connection 3
WECO Wellness Connection 3
Foreign Language (GACO) 8
Electives 20-18
 

The foreign language requirement for all BA degrees calls for 0-8 credits: one year of one language (6-8 credits); or one 3000/4000 level world language course (3 credits); or being a native speaker of a language other than English (zero credit).
 

A 2.50 grade point average is required in PO courses taken for the degree.
 

*All course information is from the 2009-2010 Catalog.