Political Science, Public Policy Concentration, B.A.

Major Requirements

Credit Hours: 39+

In addition to completing the requirements for this major, students must also complete the degree requirements specified in the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

Courses within this major may also satisfy general education requirements. Please consult the Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Requirements for more information.

Required Core Courses

Complete one of the following:
POLI 101 American Government (3)
POLI 111 Race, Equity and American Politics (3)
Complete one of the following:
POLI 103 World Politics (3)
POLI 104 World Regional Geography (3)
GEOG 101 World Regional Geography (3)
Complete the following:
POLI 150 Introduction to Political Thought (3)
POLI 205 Doing Research in Politics (3)
Complete one of the following:
POLI 405 Capstone Seminar (3)
PPLW 400 Seminar in Politics, Philosophy, and Law (3) *

Notes:

*Students pursuing the Politics, Philosophy, and Law Concentration must complete PPLW 400 .
Honors students can take the alternative course of HONS 165 in lieu of POLI 101 .
Honors students can take the alternative course of HONS 166 in lieu of POLI 103 .
Credit cannot be applied for both HONS 165 and POLI 111 towards the program requirements.
Credit cannot be applied for both POLI 101 and POLI 111 towards the program requirements.

Complete a minimum of 3 credit hours in each of the three subfields of political science

American Politics and Process

Global Politics and Spaces

Politics of Ideas

Complete 12 additional credit hours to complete the major

Choose from any of the above subfield courses or the following:

Public Policy Concentration (18 credit hours)

Required Courses

Note:

Honors students can take the alternative course of HONS 200 in lieu of ECON 200 .

Complete at least 3 credit hours from each of the two following areas:

Policymaking Institutions and Processes

Issues in Domestic and International Policy

Note:

Honors students can take the alternative course of HONS 211 in lieu of ECON 201 .

Elective List

Complete 3 credit hours from the following courses or chosen from the two categories above.

Notes:

*Students are encouraged to use a field internship as their elective.

**If the topic is policy focused.

Reflective Essay Requirement

Students in the final year of their concentration will submit a reflective essay to PLCY coordinator within Political Science (students who complete POLI 402 can submit the essay written for that class). Specific instructions about the essay can be found through the Political Science Department.

Notes:

At least 15 credit hours at the 300-level or above is required of this major.
No more than 6 credit hours from POLI 119 may be applied towards the program requirements.
No more than 6 credit hours from POLI 261 may be applied towards the program requirements.
No more than 6 credit hours from POLI 261 , POLI 267 , and POLI 268 may be applied towards the program requirements.
No more than 6 credit hours from POLI 292 may be applied towards the program requirements.
No more than 9 credit hours from POLI 319 may be applied towards the program requirements.
No more than 9 credit hours from POLI 339 may be applied towards the program requirements.
No more than 9 credit hours from POLI 359 may be applied towards the program requirements.
No more than 6 credit hours from POLI 361 may be applied towards the program requirements.
No more than 9 credit hours from POLI 379 may be applied towards the program requirements.
No more than 9 credit hours from POLI 399 may be applied towards the program requirements.
No more than 6 credit hours from POLI 400 may be applied towards the program requirements.
No more than 6 credit hours from POLI 401 may be applied towards the program requirements.
No more than 6 credit hours from POLI 402 may be applied towards the program requirements.

Coursework Meeting Major Requirements Excluded from the Major GPA Calculation

None. All courses that may apply toward completion of course requirements within the major apply toward the major GPA calculation.