Political Science Major Minor
and Joint Requirements

Political Science Major Requirements

Department Seeks To:
1. Provide students with a broad knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of political life as it is manifested in the various institutional and behavioral forms;
2. Provide students with the capacity for empirical research and analysis in both the public and private sectors of society;
3. Provide students with the ability to seek solutions to problems of global and domestic political significance;

Learning Outcomes
1. Upon completion of the political science major, the student will:
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the CORE principles and values of the major fields and/or sub-fields of Political Science.
3. Describe citizenship as it relates to local, state, national and global communities.

General Major Requirements

Requirements for the political science major vary somewhat as a function of whether the student chooses to concentrate in general political science (plan I) or in public administration (plan II). For the general political science student, requirements (in addition to the University's degree requirements as outlined within this Bulletin) are:

Courses in Political Science (24 cr.)

Course Number Course Name
PSCI 111 Introduction to Political Science
PSCI 122 American Political Systems
PSCI 221 International Politics
PSCI 231 Classical Political Theory
PSCI 305 American Constitutional Law
PSCI 442 Senior Seminar

Must elect another 16 credits of coursework in political science

Course Number Course Name
PSCI 228 American Foreign Policy
PSCI 232 Modern Political Theory
PSCI 245 African American Political Thought
PSCI 252 Judicial Process
PSCI 254 Politics in the Black Community
PSCI 310 Internship
PSCI 320 Selected Topics in Political Science
PSCI 321 International Law and Organization
PSCI 340 Independent Study in Political Science
PSCI 406 African Political Systems

Required Cognate (4 cr.)

Course Number Course Name
SSCI 280 Methods and Statistics for Social Research

General Electives (40-48 cr.)

Major Requirements

Courses in Political Science (32 cr.)

Course Number Course Name
PSCI 111 Introduction to Political Science
PSCI 122 American Political Systems
PSCI 130 Introduction to Public Administration
PSCI 205 Administrative Behavior
PSCI 212 Public Policy Analysis
PSCI 216 Public Personnel Administration
PSCI 314 Public Finance Administration
PSCI 342 Administrative Law
PSCI 228 American Foreign Policy
PSCI 232 Modern Political Theory
PSCI 245 African American Political Thought
PSCI 252 Judicial Process
PSCI 254 Politics in the Black Community
PSCI 310 Internship
PSCI 320 Selected Topics in Political Science
PSCI 321 International Law and Organization
PSCI 340 Independent Study in Political Science
PSCI 406 African Political Systems

Required Cognate (4 cr.)

Course Number Course Name
SSCI 280 Methods and Statistics for Social Science Research

General Electives (40-52 cr.)

Joint Requirements

Joint majors combining political science and another discipline may be arranged according to the usual University regulations. The department adjusts its requirements for students who pursue joint majors, in compliance with the University policy that joint majors should involve 24 semester hours of study in each discipline. Students pursuing a joint major in political science, regardless of the other discipline involved, are required to complete the required cognate,SSCI 280. A faculty member from the Political Science Department will be assigned to cooperate with the student's other major advisor in the construction and execution of an appropriate study plan.

Political Science requirements for the joint major are as follows (in addition to the University’s degree requirements as outlined within this Bulletin):

Courses in political science (24 cr.)

Course Number Course Name
PSCI 111 Introduction to Political Science
PSCI 122 American Political Systems
PSCI 221 International Politics
PSCI 231 Classical Political Theory
PSCI 254 Politics in the Black Community
PSCI 305 American Constitutional Law

Required Cognate (4 cr.)

Course Number Course Name
SSCI 280 Methods and Statistics for Social Research