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2024-2025 University Catalog
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major: Political Science

Degree: Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2024-2025

Osprey Map (Course Sequence Guide)

Prerequisites (6 credits)

Requires grades of C or above.

SELECT 2 INTRODUCTORY POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSES:

POS 2041 Introduction to American Government (3 Credits)
CPO 2002 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 Credits)
INR 2002 Introduction to International Relations (3 Credits)

Core Requirements (6 credits)

Requires grades of C or above.

POS 3733 Research Design for Poli Sci (3 Credits)
POS 3734 Research Analysis for Poli Sci (3 Credits)

Major Electives (24 credits)

SELECT any 8 3000/4000 level political science courses with CPO, INR, PAD, POS, POT, or PUP prefixes that have not been used in above areas.

Minor Required

A minor is required for this major.* (Credits will vary)

The minor must be selected from the list of approved minors, including those outside the college of the major.

See List of Minors in the Undergraduate Catalog. Minors are generally completed during the last 60 credit hours of your program. Your minor may require prerequisites, so choosing a minor early is beneficial. See your Advisor to declare a minor.

*Double majors are exempt from a minor. Double majors who have already taken a research design class in another department (PSY3213, SYA3300, ANT4083) are exempt from POS3733 (Research Design) as a required class, but not POS3734 (Research Analysis).

Foreign Language/Foreign Cultures

Foreign Language (8 CHs)/Foreign Culture Requirement (6 CHs): All BA students in the College of Arts and Sciences are required to complete either (i) the Foreign Language option or (ii) the Foreign Culture option, in either case with grades of C or higher.

TAKE 8 HOURS OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE

  • Select 1 two-course sequence of Spanish, French, Chinese, German, Latin, or American Sign Language.
  • The first course in each of the two-course sequences is typically offered in the fall; the second course in each of the two-course sequences is typically offered in the spring.
  • To determine whether to enroll in the first or the second course of the two-course French or Spanish sequences, incoming students with prior experience in French or Spanish must take a placement exam. Students who place above the beginning level will satisfy the Foreign Language option by earning a "C" or better in the second French or second Spanish course into which they have placed.
  • Students who complete a 3000-level French or Spanish course with a "C" or above have demonstrated the mastery that is required in the two-course French or Spanish sequence and may request retroactive credit for the sequence. The retroactive credit will either be 3 or 6 credits, depending on their placement following the exam.
  • This policy applies to Chinese as well, placement being determined by the professor of the program.

FC Foreign Culture Option

  • Students who successfully completed 2 years of foreign language in high school have the option of taking 6 hours of foreign culture courses instead of 8 hours of college level foreign language.
  • Foreign cultures contain (FC) in the course title.
  • A complete list of foreign culture courses can be found in the Arts & Sciences Advising Office.

Free Electives (7 credits)

SELECT 7 HOURS FREE ELECTIVES 3000/4000

This degree requires a minimum of 120 total hours with 48 upper (3000/4000) level hours. Free electives may be courses in any discipline (provided the required prerequisites are met) and they are the hours needed to satisfy the total hour requirement. These hours may vary (consult your advisor about free elective hours needed to graduate).