42-50 credits
The political science curriculum incorporates a progression of required, core, elective, and capstone courses. Students are expected to have a foundation of required and core courses before taking elective and capstone courses, including internships. It is the personal responsibility of the student to complete the listed prerequisite of any course before registering for it. Please consult with the undergraduate advisor should there be any questions about the curriculum.
Capstone requirements:
To enroll in POLS 478, internship and UCC Tier 3 capstone option, students must have:
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Declared an intent to complete the internship option upon completion of 60 credits
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Met with the internship coordinator
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Completed the Intern-Ready program
To enroll in POLS 404, senior thesis and UCC Tier 3 capstone option, students must have:
All students will be required to take the Major Field Exam in Political Science before graduation.
Required Courses
| POLS 130 | American National Government | 3 |
| POLS 210 | Political Science Research Methods | 3 |
| Language requirement | 3-11 |
The major requires intermediate proficiency in a major language (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish) or a major classical language (Latin) by earning advanced placement or enrolling in and passing one course at the 201 level or above. Modern language courses taught in English are excluded. To enroll in 201-level language courses, students must achieve appropriate placement scores or complete prerequisite 100-level courses.
Concentration 1: Political science, 33 credits
15 credits from
3 credits from senior capstone
| POLS 478 | Practical Experience in Government, Politics, or Public Service | 3 TO 6 |
| POLS 404 | Senior Thesis in Government and Politics | 3 |
| Total Credits: | 3 |
Students must select a senior capstone option upon completion of 60 total credits.
15 credits from POLS (minimum of 12 credits in 300 and 400-level courses excluding 312, 342, 350, 404, 478)
Total Credits: 42-50
Concentration 2: Economics, 33 credits
15 credits from
3 credits from senior capstone
| POLS 404 | Senior Thesis in Government and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 478 | Practical Experience in Government, Politics, or Public Service | 3 TO 6 |
| Total Credits: | 3 |
Students must select a senior capstone option upon completion of 60 total credits.
9 credits from any 300- and 400-level POLS electives (excluding 312, 342, 350, 404, 478)
6 credits from
Total Credits: 42-50
ECON 201, Elementary Microeconomics, is the prerequisite for each of the above ECON electives.
Concentration 3: International studies, 33 credits
15 credits from
| POLS 280 | Comparative Political Systems | 3 |
| POLS 281 | Economic and Political Problems of Emerging Nations | 3 |
| POLS 290 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| POLS 293 | International Relations | 3 |
| POLS 312 | Early Western Political Thought | 3 |
| or | |
| POLS 313 | Modern Western Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 345 | National Defense Policy | 3 |
| Total Credits: | 15 |
3 credits from senior capstone
| POLS 404 | Senior Thesis in Government and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 478 | Practical Experience in Government, Politics, or Public Service | 3 TO 6 |
| or | |
| EURO 369 | Professional Experience | 3 |
| or | |
| EURO 479 | Practical Experience | 3 |
| Total Credits: | 3 |
Students must select a senior capstone option upon completion of 60 total credits.
15 credits from
| POLS 384 | Politics in the British Isles | 3 |
| POLS 385 | Politics of the European Union | 3 |
| POLS 392 | The United Nations and International Organization | 3 |
| POLS 394 | International Relations in Asia | 3 |
| POLS 395 | Politics of the Global Economy | 3 |
| POLS 482 | Government and Politics of Western Europe | 3 |
| POLS 486 | Politics of Russia and the Successor States | 3 |
| POLS 488 | Government and Politics of China | 3 |
| POLS 490 | International Law | 3 |
| POLS 493 | World Politics | 3 |
| POLS 494 | Politics of Terrorism | 3 |
| POLS 495 | Foreign Policy of China | 3 |
| Total Credits: | 15 |
Total Credits: 42-50