2019-2020 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Political Science, BA
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About the Program
Are you interested in American politics? International affairs? Critical issues such as health, the environment, civil rights? Theories concerning the ideal government and how power and resources are allocated in society? Political science is the study of governments, public policies, and political behavior. Political science uses both humanistic and scientific perspectives and skills to examine the United States, all countries and regions of the world. As a political science major, you will hone the writing, communication, and analytical skills that are critical to a liberal arts education. This kind of education will prepare you to think critically and independently, with tolerance for others and concern for current affairs. Students select one area of specialization from four sub-fields: American political systems, processes, and behavior; comparative political systems, processes, and behavior; international relations; public policy and political theory.
Political science training also provides valuable preparation for participating in community organizations, electoral politics, movements on behalf of specific policies, and especially for seeking elective or appointive positions in government.
Please visit Political Science for more information.
3 Year Degrees
A variety of majors in Liberal Arts offer students the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree in three years, allowing students to enter the work force or graduate school a year earlier than traditional plans of study.
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Degree Requirements
120 Credits RequiredLiberal Arts Core Curriculum
Each liberal arts major is designed as a four-year plan of study and includes three types of courses: Major, Core, and Elective. Most students take five courses per semester, with some of each type.
Professional academic advisors meet individually with each of our students on a regular basis to help with course selection, academic planning, and career development, as well as to help students find additional resources on campus.
For the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum click here .
Departmental/Program Major Courses Requirements (33 credits)
A. Required Course in Introductory Political Science (3 credits)
Choose one of the following courses. B. Introduction to Political Analysis Methods (3 credits)
C. Areas of Political Science: Specialization (9 credits)
Choose three courses from one of the four POL Areas. At least three credits of which shall be numbered 30000 or higher. Political Science Supplemental Information
D. Areas of Political Science: Breadth (15 credits)
Choose five courses in POL, at least two of which shall be numbered 40000 level or higher. Students must select at least one course from two areas other than those in Requirement C. Political Science Supplemental Information
I. American Political Systems, Processes, and Behavior
II. Comparative Political Systems, Processes, and Behavior
III. International Relations
IV. Public Policy and Political Theory
E. Capstone Course (3 credits)
Choose one of the following: Other Departmental/Program Course Requirements (57 credits)
- Each liberal arts major is designed as a four-year plan of study and includes three types of courses: Major, Core, and Elective. Most students take five courses per semester, with some of each type.
- Professional academic advisors meet individually with each of our students on a regular basis to help with course selection, academic planning, and career development, as well as to help students find additional resources on campus.
- For the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum click here.
Electives (30-36 credits)
University Core Requirements
- Human Cultures Humanities
- Human Cultures Behavioral/Social Science
- Information Literacy
- Science #1
- Science #2
- Science, Technology, and Society
- Written Communication
- Oral Communication
- Quantitative Reasoning
For a complete listing of course selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.
Prerequisite Information:
For current pre-requisites for courses, click here.
Spring 2nd Year
- Foreign Language 20200 - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Natural Science - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Global Perspective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- REQ D - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
Fall 3rd Year
- Other Cultures - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Natural Science Lab - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Aesthetic Awareness - Credit Hours: 3.00
- REQ C (40000 Level) - Credit Hours: 3.00
- REQ C (40000 Level) - Credit Hours: 3.00
Spring 3rd Year
- Racial and Ethnic Diversity - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Social Ethics - Credit Hours: 3.00
- REQ D - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
Fall 4th Year
- REQ D - Credit Hours: 3.00
- REQ E - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
Spring 4th Year
- REQ D - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
Notes
- Political Science Majors must earn a “C-” or better in any course used to fulfill a major requirement. The P/NP option is not available for this requirement.
- 2.0 Graduation GPA required for Bachelor of Arts degree.
- 32 credit hours at 30000 level or higher required for Bachelor of Arts degree.
- Liberal Arts offers a streamlined plan of study for students pursuing a second degree outside of CLA. Contact the CLA Advising Office for more information.
Foreign Language Courses
Foreign Language proficiency requirements vary by program.
For acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor: American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, (ancient) Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
Critical Course
The ♦ course is considered critical.
In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major. Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful. These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”.
Disclaimer
The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.
The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.
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