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College of Liberal Arts

Curricula in Political Science

Bachelor of Science

Political Science. 33 credits. No more than 33 credits in political science may be applied to the degree. Students must complete POLS 206, 207, 209 and 24 political science elective hours.

Credits		Course
3		POLS 206 American National Government.
3		POLS 207 State and Local Government.
3		POLS 209 Introduction to Political Science Research. Students must complete POLS 209 before taking more than 6 hours of 300- or 400-level courses in political science.
24		Electives Distribution Requirement: In addition to the required courses in American Government (POLS 206 and 207) students must complete one course in at least two of the following three areas of political science. Political Theory—POLS 303, 349, 350, 359, 364, 369, 454, 455; Comparative Governments—POLS 311, 312, 322, 323, 324, 326, 328, 329, 338, 352, 365, 421, 424, 432; International Relations—POLS 331, 413, 415, 423, 429, 447.

Departmental Requirements

Credits		Course
3-4		Quantitative Skills: POLS 309 or MATH 152
8		Foreign Language: A student must complete two semesters of 100-level language courses (in the same language) or the equivalent. A student who has completed two years or more of high school language must still qualify through examination or additional course work at the college level.
		Political Science “Science Experience”: In order to matriculate with this degree, the student must have completed a bona fide “science experience” within political science. This requirement may be met by (a) writing an honors thesis using scientific methodology, (b) completing an independent study employing scientific methodology, (c) completing a course specifically designed to engage the student in a scientific project, (d) completing a substantial, scientific project in any political science course [requires a letter from the instructor describing the project and explaining how it fulfills the requirement]. In all cases, students should consult with an undergraduate advisor in political science prior to engaging in any of the latter activities to determine whether it will actually fulfill this requirement. Credit hours associated with completing this requirement count toward the maximum hours in the major.

College and University Requirements. Other courses may qualify for the following categories. Students should consult the approved list of courses available in the Undergraduate Student Services Office in the College of Liberal Arts. The following lists incorporate University Core Curriculum requirements. No course can be counted in more than one category.

Credits		Course
3		ENGL 104 Composition and Rhetoric.
3		Communication (3 hours): To be selected from ENGL 203, 210, 301,235, 236 or 241; COMM 203 or 243.
6		Literature in English (6 hours): To be selected from ENGL 203 (unless 203 is used to satisfy the communication requirement), 212, 221, 222, 227, 228, 231, 232 or courses for which one of these listed courses is a prerequisite.
7		Mathematics: MATH 151 and PHIL 240
6		Statistics: STAT 307 and either STAT 301 or 303. (Note: only one of STAT 301 or 303 should be taken for credit.)
9		Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts: 9 hours to be selected from the approved list in the University Core Curriculum section of this catalog.
8		Natural Sciences: Two or more courses which deal with fundamental principles and in which a critical evaluation and analysis of data and processes are required. A minimum of one course shall include a corresponding laboratory. See approved list in the University Core Curriculum section of this catalog.
6		Social and Behavioral Sciences: To be selected from such areas as cultural anthropology, economics, geography, psychology, and applied ethics. See approved list in the University Core Curriculum section of this catalog.
6		U.S. History and Political Science: HIST 105 and 106 or other courses in American and Texas history, except that courses pertaining solely to Texas history may not comprise more than 3 hours.
(6)		International and Cultural Diversity: To be selected from approved list. This course may also be used to satisfy any other requirement.
*2		Kinesiology: KINE 198 Health and Fitness Activity and KINE 199 Required Physical Activity.
29-30		Free Electives: The number of non-POLS elective hours depends on whether POLS 309 is taken in lieu of MATH 152. A student may freely choose 9 hours of free electives. The remaining hours must be approved by the departmental advisor. (Political science courses may not be used as elective hours.)
128		total hours

* See University Core Curriculum, item 7.