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2024-2025 University Catalog
Political Science, BA
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 Return to: College of Liberal Arts (Undergraduate)
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About the Program
Politics touches every aspect of our lives. Governments around the world make laws and decisions that affect individuals, societal groups, organizations, and businesses. Political scientists use methods of scientific inquiry to explore fundamental questions about political institutions and policy processes as well as political identities, attitudes, and behaviors. Scholars and practitioners of politics seek to understand what factors shape governance choices, program effectiveness, the accountability of leaders, domestic and international conflict, global cooperation, international economic relations, human and environmental security, and other important societal outcomes.
As a political science major, you will hone the writing, communication, and analytical skills that are critical to a liberal arts education and that will prepare you for professional careers or for further study of politics and law. Political scientists go on to work in government and nongovernmental organizations, law, journalism, nonprofits, national or international security, lobbying, education, activism, research, and business. Political science training also provides valuable preparation for participating in politics and civic life.
Please visit Political Science for more information.
Degree Requirements
120 Credits RequiredLiberal Arts 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.
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 listed here.
- At least three credits of which shall be numbered 30000 or higher.
D. Areas of Political Science: Breadth (15 credits)
Choose five courses in POL from this list , 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.
- 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 - Liberal Arts Core (31-55 credits)
The College of Liberal Arts Other Departmental area is designed to be experiential, informative, and relevant to life in a rapidly changing universe. It combines courses that fulfill University Core foundational outcomes, discipline diversity, social diversity, and other languages to produce a well-rounded background for students. Coursework is integrative and collaborative and fosters insight, understanding, independence, initiative, and the desire to reach across divides and redefine our relationship to the peoples and the worlds that surround us.
Core I: Disciplinary Diversity (6-18 credits)
Choose 1 course in 6 different disciplines within the College of Liberal Arts. Note: Disciplines are differentiated by course prefix. Undistributed credit does not count to satisfy this requirement. Core II: Social Diversity (1-3 credits)
Culture, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity all play a role in how others perceive us and how we experience the world, and as such, are meaningful categories for analyzing social change and social problems past and present. The purpose of this category is to acquaint students with the pluralistic nature of the world and foster an appreciation and awareness of the diverse range of lived human experience. Courses in this list will expose students to important aspects of human diversity and foster understanding about different world views. Choose 1 course from the Social Diversity Selective List . Core III: Linguistic Diversity (3-4 credits)
Proficiency through Level IV in one world language. Courses may be required to reach Level IV proficiency; these courses will be counted toward electives. (fulfills Humanities for core) Foundational Requirements (21-30 credits)
Students must complete approved coursework that meet the following foundational outcomes. Many of these can also be used to fulfill Core I, Core II, or Core III. - Humanities - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Humanities for core)
- Behavioral/Social Science - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Behavioral/Social Science for core)
- Information Literacy - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Information Literacy for core)
- Science #1 - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science for core)
- Science #2 - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science for core)
- Science, Technology, and Society - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Science, Technology, Society for core)
- Written Communication - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Written Communication for core)
- Oral Communication - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Oral Communication for core)
- Quantitative Reasoning - all approved courses accepted. (fulfills Quantitative Reasoning for core)
Notes
- Double counting of courses is allowed across the various categories.
- All accredited programs whose accreditation is threatened by CLA Core requirements, both professional BAs and BFAs, are exempt from Liberal Arts Core I & II in order to meet accreditation standards and requirements. Liberal Arts Core III: Linguistic Diversity is still required for such programs.
- “Degree +” students (students with a second major outside of Liberal Arts) are exempt from the CLA Core
Electives (32-56 credits)
College of Liberal Arts Pass/No Pass Option Policy
- P/NP cannot be used to satisfy Liberal Arts Core, Liberal Arts major, minor, or certificate requirements.
University Requirements
University Core Requirements
For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.- Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
- Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
- Information Literacy (IL)
- Oral Communication (OC)
- Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
- Science #1 (SCI)
- Science #2 (SCI)
- Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
- Written Communication (WC)
Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement
The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry. For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.
To obtain the Civics Literacy Proficiency, students will complete an educational activity as part of their chosen Civics Literacy Pathway and pass the Purdue Civics knowledge test. The knowledge test can be completed at any time while the pathway is being perused. There are three different pathways:
- Civics Event pathway - Attend six approved civics-related events and pass the required exam; or
- Civics Literacy Podcast pathway - Complete 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement that use C-SPAN material and pass the required exam; or
- Approved course pathway - Complete one of the following approved courses and pass the required exam.
More details about each pathway and how to complete the requirement can be found on the Civics Literacy Student Dashboard in myPurdue.
Upper Level Requirement
- Resident study at Purdue University for at least two semesters and the enrollment in and completion of at least 32 semester hours of coursework required and approved for the completion of the degree. These courses are expected to be at least junior-level (30000+) courses.
- Students should be able to fulfill most, if not all, of these credits within their major requirements; there should be a clear pathway for students to complete any credits not completed within their major.
Additional Information
- 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.
Spring 1st Year
- Written Communication - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00 (CLA Core I: 4 of 6)
- POL Area C: Specialization - Credit Hours: 3.00
- World Language Level II - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00
- Quantitative Reasoning - Credit Hours: 3.00-5.00
- Science - Credit Hours: 3.00
Fall 2nd Year
- POL 30000 - Introduction To Political Analysis Credits: 3.00
- POL Requirement D: Breadth - Credit Hours: 3.00
- World Language Level III - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00
- Science, Technology, and Society (CLA Core I: 5 of 6) - Credit Hours: 1.00-3.00
- CLA Core II: Diversity Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
Spring 2nd Year
- POL Requirement D: Breadth - Credit Hours: 3.00
- World Language Level IV - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00 (CLA Core I: 6 of 6 and CLA Core III)
- Science - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective- Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
Fall 3rd Year
- POL Area D: Breadth (40000 level) - Credit Hours: 3.00
- POL Area D: Breadth (40000 level) - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
Spring 3rd Year
- POL Requirement D: Breadth - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective- Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective- Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
Fall 4th Year
- POL Requirement C: Concentration - Credit Hours: 3.00
- POL Requirement E: Capstone - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
Spring 4th Year
- POL Requirement C: Specialization - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
- Elective - Credit Hours: 0.00-1.00
Pre-Requisite Information
For pre-requisite information, log in to mypurdue.purdue.edu and click here.
World Language Courses
World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor. (ASL-American Sign Language; ARAB-Arabic; CHNS-Chinese; FR-French; GER-German; GREK-Greek(Ancient); HEBR-Hebrew(Biblical); HEBR-Hebrew(Modern); ITAL-Italian; JPNS-Japanese; KOR-Korean; LATN-Latin; PTGS=Portuguese; RUSS-Russian; SPAN-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. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.
Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
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Return to: College of Liberal Arts (Undergraduate)
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