Program Requirements

Follow your passion for political science

If you are pursuing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Political Science, you must meet the requirements below to be eligible for graduation.

Political Science (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Bachelor of Arts

Major requirements (39 hours):

Note: Three hours may double toward General Education requirements.

  1. Core Requirements* (21 hours):
    1. PLS 101(3), 205(3), 232(3), 255(3); PLS 330(3) or PHI 330(3); PLS 492(0).
    2. One course from: PLS 316(3), 317(3), 413(3), 414(3).
    3. One course from: PLS 515(3), 517(3), 520(3).
  2. Public Affairs Capstone Experience. Three hours from the following list. Course cannot count toward both the 21 hour core requirement and the Capstone requirement. PLS 320(3), 413(3), 414(3), 437(3), 439(3), 443(3), 493(3), 494(3), 495(3), 496(3), 498(3), 515(3), 517(3), 520(3), 544(3), 545(3), 546(3), 547(3), 548(3), 550(3), 555(3), 561(3), 563(3), 565(3), 567(3), 569(3), 573(3), 576(3). PLS 497 may be approved by the department.
  3. 15 hours of electives from at least three of the following subfields:**
    1. American Government and Politics: PLS 316(3), 317(3), 413(3), 414(3).
    2. International Politics: PLS 301(3), 320(3), 333(3), 437(3), 439(3), 547(3).
    3. Comparative Governments and Politics: PLS 319(3), 338(3), 343(3), 443(3), 544(3), 545(3), 546(3), 548(3), 550(3).
    4. Public Administration: PLS 102(3), 315(3), 351(3), 355(3), 498(3), 555(3), 573(3).
    5. Political Theory: PLS 561(3), 563(3), 565(3), 567(3).
    6. Public Law: CRM 260(3); PLS 419(3), 515(3), 517(3), 520(3).
      *Courses counted toward core requirements and Public Affairs Capstone will not also count toward elective requirements.
      **Note: PLS 493, 494, 495, 496, 497 will be assigned to fields according to topic. No more than six hours will be counted toward the major from PLS 493, 494, 498. PLS 576 will also be used to complete the remaining hours of electives provided that student has one course from at least three of the subfields.
  4. Minor required (or second major).
  5. Specific Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

University level requirements:

  1. General Education Program and Requirements
  2. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Political Science (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Bachelor of Science

Major requirements (42 hours):

Note: Three hours may double count toward General Education requirements.

  1. Core Requirements* (24 hours):
    1. PLS 101(3), 205(3), 232(3), 255(3); PLS 330(3) or PHI 330(3); PLS 492(0), 576(3).
    2. One course from: PLS 316(3), 317(3), 413(3), 414(3).
    3. One course from: PLS 515(3), 517(3), 520(3).
  2. Public Affairs Capstone Experience: Three hours from the following list. Course cannot count toward both the 24 hour core requirement and the Capstone requirement. PLS 320(3), PLS 413(3), 414(3), 437(3), 439(3), 443(3), 493(3), 494(3), 495(3), 496(3), 498(3), 515(3), 517(3), 520(3), 544(3), 545(3), 546(3), 547(3), 548(3), 550(3), 555(3), 561(3), 563(3), 565(3), 567(3), 569(3), 573(3), 576(3). PLS 497 may be approved by the department.
  3. 15 hours of electives from at least three of the following subfields:**
    1. American Government and Politics: PLS 316(3), 317(3), 413(3), 414(3).
    2. International Politics: PLS 301(3), 320(3), 333(3), 437(3), 439(3), 547(3).
    3. Comparative Governments and Politics: PLS 319(3), 338(3), 343(3), 443(3), 544(3), 545(3), 546(3), 548(3), 550(3).
    4. Public Administration: PLS 102(3), 315(3), 351(3), 355(3), 498(3), 555(3), 573(3).
    5. Political Theory: PLS 561(3), 563(3), 565(3), 567(3).
    6. Public Law: CRM 260(3); PLS 419(3), 515(3), 517(3), 520(3).
      *Courses counted toward core requirements and Public Affairs Capstone will not also count toward elective requirements.
      **Note: PLS 493, 494, 495, 496, 497 will be assigned to fields according to topic. No more than six hours will be counted toward the major from PLS 493, 494, 498.
  4. Minor required (or second major).

University level requirements:

  1. General Education Program and Requirements
  2. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements