Political Science B.A.
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
College of Humanities & Sciences
Degree Specific Credits: 37
Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0
Catalog Year: 2018-2019
Note: Students pursuing a general political science degree must take a minimum of 37 credits of political science, including one 300-400 level course in four of the five major fields.
- 21 of the 37 credits must be in upper-division courses.
- No more than 7 credits of PSCI 492 and PSCI 498 combined may count toward the 37 required credits.
- A maximum of 60 PSCI credits can count towards the Political Science Major. An internship is strongly recommended.
General Education Requirements
Information regarding these requirements can be found in the General Education Section of the catalog.
Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-Division Required Courses | 12 | |
| Upper-Division Writing | 1 | |
| Required Upper-Division Field Courses | 12 | |
Public Administration and Public Policy | ||
Political Theory | ||
Comparative Government | ||
International Relations | ||
American Politics | ||
| Degree Electives | 12 | |
| Teaching Government Track | ||
| Total Hours | 37 | |
Lower-Division Required Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| PSCI 210S | Intro to American Government | 3 |
| PSCI 220S | Intro to Comparative Government | 3 |
| PSCI 230X | Intro to International Relations | 3 |
| PSCI 250E | Intro to Political Theory | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Upper-Division Writing
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following course: | ||
| PSCI 400 | Adv Writing in Pol Science | 1 |
| Total Hours | 1 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Required Upper Division Field Courses
Rule: Complete one upper-division course in four of the five fields listed below -- 12 total credits required. Any field course can also be counted toward a Political Science concentration.
Public Administration and Public Policy
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 3 credits from the following courses: | 3 | |
| State and Local Government | ||
| Exp Offering: Public Admin | ||
| Public Administration | ||
| Pub Policy Issues and Analysis | ||
| Health Care Policy | ||
| Administrative Law | ||
| Human Resource Management | ||
| Development Administration | ||
| Nonprofit Adm & Pub Svc | ||
| Adv Nonprofit Adm | ||
| Public Policy Cycle and the Climate | ||
| Ethics and Public Policy | ||
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Political Theory
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 3 credits from the following courses: | 3 | |
| Exp Offering: Political Theory | ||
| American Political Thought | ||
| Contemp Issues in Pol Theory | ||
| Exp Offering: Political Theory | ||
| Utopianism and its Critics | ||
| Modern Political Theory | ||
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Comparative Government
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 3 credits from the following courses: | 3 | |
| Tribal Sovereignty | ||
| Rev & Reform Modern China | ||
| Exp Offering: Comp Politics | ||
| Politics of Europe | ||
| Climate Policies: China & U.S. | ||
| Politics of Latin America | ||
| Politics of Africa | ||
| Politics of Mexico | ||
| Politics of China | ||
| Exp Offering: Comp Politics | ||
| State Formation | ||
| Politics of Social Movements | ||
| Chinese Polit & Soc Thought | ||
| Origins of Democracy and Authoritarianism | ||
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
International Relations
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 3 credits from the following courses: | 3 | |
| Exp Offering: Intrnt Relations | ||
| Global Environmental Pol. | ||
| International Security | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| European Union | ||
| Model United Nations | ||
| Exp Offering: Intrnt Relations | ||
| Politics of Global Migration | ||
| International Law & Org | ||
| Development Administration | ||
| Politics of the World Economy | ||
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
American Politics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete 3 credits from the following courses: | 3 | |
| Exp Offering: American Govt | ||
| Political Parties and Election | ||
| Media, Public Opinion, Polling | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| American Political System | ||
| US Multicultural Politics | ||
| American Political Thought | ||
| Pub Policy Issues and Analysis | ||
| Courts and Judicial Politics | ||
| Exp Offering: American Govt | ||
| Politics of Social Movements | ||
| Am Political Participation | ||
| Political Psychology | ||
| Public Policy Cycle and the Climate | ||
| American Constitutional Law | ||
| Civil Rights Seminar | ||
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Degree Electives
Note: PSCI courses may only count toward one category of requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete twelve additional elective credits from PSCI courses numbered 300 and above. | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Teaching Government Track
Notes:
- This teaching track contains different/additional course requirements designed to meet state standards. Those interested in teaching in K-12 schools must complete the teaching track of a major in a teaching content area plus the Teacher Education Program through the Department of Teaching and Learning. Additional teaching areas can be added through completion of the teaching track of a major or minor in that content area.
- To complete this teaching track, you need to contact the Teaching and Learning Department. You do not fill out a major/minor form for graduation or the major/minor/concentration section of the major change form. Approvals for this track must come from the Teaching and Learning Department.
- Tracks will not appear on your UM transcript, diploma, university lists, student data system, or university publications. They are used for advising purposes only. You do not fill out a major change for a track.
Teaching Government Track Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following course: | ||
| EDU 497 | Teaching and Assessing | 4 |
| Total Hours | 4 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Secondary Teaching Licensure
Note: For endorsement to teach government, a student also must gain admission to the Teacher Education Program and meet all the requirements for secondary teaching licensure. For more information, see the Teaching and Learning Department.