Political Science

Part of the Social Sciences Division

Political science is concerned with the analysis of political processes and institutions. The Major in Political Science helps the student prepare for several fields of endeavor including law, public administration, diplomatic service, teaching, journalism and business.

Learning Outcomes

Students successfully completing the program of study will have achieved:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the discipline’s major theoretical perspectives and methodologies
  2. Apply existing knowledge to current political issues to bolster political engagement
  3. Demonstrate the ability to develop research design that reflects the ability to find, organize, and synthesize statistical, textual and graphical data with the ability to convey this information in a manner consistent with the discipline

The Major in Political Science requires 46 hours in the principal and related fields. Required courses include:

    PLS 121: Contemporary Political Issues (3 hrs.)
    PLS 122: American Government and Politics (3 hrs.)
    PLS 211: Comparative Government and Politics (3 hrs.)
    PLS 212: International Politics (3 hrs.)
    PLS 232: Public Policy (3 hrs.)
    PLS 306: Political Philosophy (3 hrs.)
    Either of the following courses:
        PLS 311: Regional Comparative Governments and Politics (3 hrs.)
        or
        PLS 316: International Organizations and Law (3 hrs.)
    Either of the following courses:
        PLS 321: American Political Process (3 hrs.)
        or
        PLS 322: The Judicial Process (3 hrs.)
    Either of the following courses:
        PLS 345: Environmental Politics (3 hrs.)
        or
        PLS 349: Selected Topics in Political Science (3 hrs.)
    PLS 351-352: Senior Study (6 hrs.)
    ECN 201: Principles of Economics (4 hrs.)
    Either of the following courses:
        MTH 221: Inferential Statistics (3 hrs.)
        or
        MTH 222: Regression Analysis (3 hrs.)
    SLS 301: Social Sciences Research Methods (3 hrs.)
    One course selected from the following list:
        PSY 101: Introductory Psychology (3 hrs.)
        SOC 101: Introductory Sociology (3 hrs.)
        SOC 211: Cultural Anthropology (3 hrs.)

The Major in Political Science/History for Teacher Licensure leads to licensure in political science with a secondary emphasis in history. The track requires 39 hours in disciplinary courses and an additional 29 credit hours of professional courses in teacher education. The professional courses are listed under Education in this catalog.

 Courses required in political science include:

    PLS 121: Contemporary Political Issues (3 hrs.)
    PLS 122: American Government and Politics (3 hrs.)
    PLS 211: Comparative Government and Politics (3 hrs.)
    PLS 212: International Politics (3 hrs.)
    PLS 321: American Political Process (3 hrs.)
    PLS 322: The Judicial Process (3 hrs.)
    PLS 351-352: Senior Study (6 hrs.)

Courses required in history include:
    HIS 112: History of the United States in the 19th Century (3 hrs.)
    HIS 203: History of the United States in the 20th Century (3 hrs.)
    HIS 242: World Civilization from Earliest Times to 1500 C.E. (3 hrs.)
    HIS 251: Economic History of the United States (3 hrs.)
    One course (3 credit hours) selected from the following list:
        HIS 333: Studies in Asian History (3 hrs.)
        HIS 334: Studies in Latin American History (3 hrs.)
        HIS 335: Studies in African History (3 hrs.)
    Additional courses in liberal studies include:
        PSY 101: Introductory Psychology (3 hrs.)
        SOC 271: Sociology of Education (3 hrs.).

Students pursuing this major must complete 29 hours of professional courses in teacher education. The professional courses are listed below and in the Education section of this catalog. They include:

    EDU 301: Models of Classroom Management and Instruction (3 hrs.)
    EDU 302: Educational Technology (2 hrs.)
    EDU 321: Reading and Writing in the Content Classrooms (2 hrs.)
    EDU 343: Practicum in Methods and Materials (2 hrs.)
    EDU 401: Student Teaching (9 hrs.)
    EDU 402: Professional Seminar on Teaching (3 hrs.)
    PHR 236: Health Issues in Education (2 hrs.)
    PSY 218: Psychology of Adolescence (3 hrs.)
    PSY 334: Culturally Diverse and Exceptional Children (3 hrs.)
Additional teaching endorsement in Geography may be earned through completion of the following courses:

     SLS 201: Contemporary Global Issues  (3 hrs.)
     Two different WRC 370: World Cultures course (3 hrs each) (One of these courses may be used to fulfill the general education requirement for World Cultures)

The Minor in Political Science consists of 15 hours and includes:

    PLS 121: Contemporary Political Issues (3 hrs.)
    PLS 122: American Government and Politics (3 hrs.)
    Either of the following courses:
        PLS 211: Comparative Government and Politics (3 hrs.)
        or
        PLS 212: International Politics (3 hrs.)
    Six additional credit hours in political science courses

Core Curriculum Requirements

Each student must satisfy the core requirements and requirements for individual programs of study.

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