Undergraduate Program Requirements
The Political Science faculty offers a major program of 36 credits leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree, and a minor program consisting of 21 credits. These programs are open to all students who envision careers as government managers and administrators, public policy analysts, lawyers, journalists, intelligence officers, diplomatic service officers, teachers, lobbyists, public opinion analysts, legislative aides, campaign professionals, or any other career in government or business which requires a broad liberal arts background. The major program aims to provide both breadth of knowledge of the discipline and in-depth studies in areas of the student’s greatest interest. A grade of C- or better must be earned in all Political Science courses.
Total Required Credits for the Program: 147 s.h.
Graduate courses marked with * above are counted in the 120 s.h. undergraduate program.
Requirements for Admission:
Students who have completed at least 45 credits may apply during the second semester of their sophomore year or during their junior year (60-90 credits). Once admitted, Students must maintain good standing both as a Political Science major and with the requirements for the Accelerated Dual Degree. To be admitted to the program, students must meet the following requirements:
- A minimum overall GPA of 3.2 in undergraduate coursework
- Students must have a C or higher in all Political Science classes
Junior Admission: Students who have completed their first two years and/or 60 credits must meet the criteria below:
- Completion of at least 6 - non-program courses and four foundational courses with at least a C.
Students who meet the above criteria can complete an application which includes:
- Application form
- Two short answer questions
- Two faculty references; faculty will complete a form.
- An unofficial transcript
Students enrolled in the Accelerated Dual Degree in Political Science/Master of Public Policy may take up to 12 credits of graduate courses as an undergraduate. Students must meet with the Program Coordinator of the MPP program prior to moving on to the graduate portion of the program.
Requirements for Graduation:
Students must meet requirements for graduation with a BA in Political Science and complete all the requirements for the MPP.
Contingency for Students who do not Complete Master of Arts program:
Students who enter the accelerated Master of Public Policy but do not maintain satisfactory progress or who simply choose not to continue pursuing the degree will be allowed to apply up to 12 credits of graduate coursework to the BA in Political Science. If the student “opts out” before 12 credit hours have been completed, any remaining credits needed to complete the 120 hour undergraduate degree will be selected through consultation between the advisor, the program/department, and the student.
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