Political Science, Democracy, Justice and Civic Engagement Emphasis, B.A. or B.S.

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Political Science

Political science is the study of governments, how they are organized, what they do, and how they deal with other governments. Every citizen of a democracy should know something about his/her government, and other governments, and majoring in political science also opens up many career opportunities. Political Science is an ideal major for a student intending to go to law school, and is also good preparation for government work, business, education, and other fields.

The Democracy, Justice, and Civic Engagement emphasis are of the Political Science program will stress hands-on, experiential learning and exposure to a variety of disciplines that examine the junction of democracy, justice and civic engagement. Students interested in careers in activism, community organizing or the legal profession may benefit from taking this emphasis area of the major.

Experiential Component (Complete 1 of the Following Courses:)

PSC 399 - Citizenship and Service Learning Credit Hour(s): 3

Program Specific Requirements

B.A. Degree Program Specific (6 Credit Hours)

6 hours of Foreign Language at 200-level or above

B.S. Degree Program Specific (Choose 2 Courses)

HIS 101 - Western Civilization I Credit Hour(s): 3
HIS 102 - Western Civilization II Credit Hour(s): 3
HIS 201 - American History I Credit Hour(s): 3
HIS 202 - American History II Credit Hour(s): 3

Common Required Courses (12 Credit Hours)

PSC 101 - American National Government and Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 202 - State and Local Government Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
PSC 203 - International Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
PSC 205 - Comparative Government Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 399 - Citizenship and Service Learning Credit Hour(s): 3
SSC 251 - Introduction to Social Science Research Credit Hour(s): 3

Democracy, Justice and Civic Engagement Emphasis

Additional Required Courses (6 Credit Hours)

DJC 496 - Individual or Collaborative Study Credit Hour(s): 3
DJC 498 - Democracy, Justice and Civic Engagement Senior Seminar Credit Hour(s): 3

Government Major Electives (Choose 6 Credit Hours from the Following List)

PSC 308 - Media and Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 310 - Political Parties and Groups in the United States Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 324 - U.S. Constitutional Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 384 - The President and Congress Credit Hour(s): 3 *
PSC 420 - War and Peacekeeping: U.S. National Security Policy Credit Hour(s): 3

Comparative and International Relations Major Electives (Choose 6 Credit Hours from the Following List)

PSC 302 - Political Geography Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 306 - Politics and Human Rights Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 366 - Political Evil Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 435 - Political Economy of Development Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 440 - International Law and Organization Credit Hour(s): 3 **

Theory and Methods Major Electives (Choose 6 Credit Hours from the Following List)

PSC 300 - Research Methods Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 303 - Political Theory from Socrates to Locke Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 304 - Modern Ideologies Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 332 - The Socio-Politics of Gender, Class, Ethnicity and Sexuality Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 402 - Policy Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3

DJCE Foundational Courses (Choose 6 Credit Hours from the Following List)

ENG 338 - Rhetoric Credit Hour(s): 3
PHI 211 - Ethics Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 300 - Research Methods Credit Hour(s): 3
OR
SOC 470 - Social Sciences Research Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 201 - General Psychology Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 202 - Social Problems Credit Hour(s): 3

Legal, Policy and Advocacy Electives (Choose 6 Credit Hours from the Following List)

ACC 290, 390, or 490 - Accounting Practicum Credit Hour(s): 1
CJU 320 - Deviance and Social Control Credit Hour(s): 3
ECO 315 - Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Credit Hour(s): 3
ECO 430 - Development Economics Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 324 - U.S. Constitutional Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 435 - Political Economy of Development Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 440 - International Law and Organization Credit Hour(s): 3
SWK 320 - Social Welfare Policy: History, Philosophy, and Current Policies Credit Hour(s): 3

Groups, Cultures, and Nationalities Electives (Choose 6 Credit Hours from the Following List)

HIS 380 - Latin American History Credit Hour(s): 3
HIS 382 - United States-Latin American Relations Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 205 - Comparative Government Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 304 - Modern Ideologies Credit Hour(s): 3
PSC 306 - Politics and Human Rights Credit Hour(s): 3
PSY 230 - Social Psychology Credit Hour(s): 3
REL 151 - World Religions Credit Hour(s): 3
REL 245 - Religion and Public Life Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 203 - Sociology of U.S. Cultural Diversity Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 310 - Social Class and Inequality Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 340 - Collective Behavior and Social Movements Credit Hour(s): 3