Political Science Major

White House Horse Statue

The Political Science Major seeks to prepare students for:

  • Graduate study in politics, government, and related fields, including area studies, public policy and public administration
  • Law school
  • Careers in government and public affairs
  • Work in the private and non-profit sectors that require knowledge of government and politics

 

Political Science Major Requirements

Requirements for a Political Science Major are 38 hours of Political Science and International Relations courses.

Core Courses in Political Science (22 hours)

CourseNameHours
PSCI 135 American Politics and Government 4
PSCI 145 Political Philosophy 4
IR 155
or
IR 175
Comparative Politics

International Politics
4


PSCI 361
or
MATH 263
Political Research

Introduction to Statistics
4
PSCI 494 Senior Seminar 2
PSCI 496 Internship 4

Elective requirements are 16 hours of PSCI and/or IR courses at the 200-level and above, of which at least 8 hours must be taken at the 300-level.

Following is a listing of potential elective courses in Political Science and International Relations.

American Politics

CourseNameHours
PSCI 237 Women and Politics 2
PSCI 274 Introduction to Law 4
PSCI 311 Constitutional Law 4
PSCI 328 Immigration 4
PSCI 361 Political Research 4
PSCI 374 Political Psychology 4
PSCI 383 Religion and American Politics 4
PSCI 384 Presidency 4
PSCI 385 Urban Politics 2
PSCI 386 Congress and the Policy Process 4
PSCI 387 Law and Religion 4

International Relations

CourseNameHours
IR 301  African Politics  4
IR 315  Politics of Global Development  4
IR 347  East Asian Politics  4
IR 348  Middle East Politics  4
IR 356  European Politics  4
IR 370  International Law 
IR 378  U.S. Foreign Policy 
IR 379  International Political Economy  

Political Theory

CourseNameHours
PSCI 346  Renaissance and Modern Political Philosophy  4
PSCI 348  American Political Thought  4
PSCI 349  Christian Political Thought  4
PSCI 366  Modern Political Thought  4