Political Science: Degree Requirements

Political Science Degree Requirements * ¹

General Information
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

A minimum of 122 credit hours are required to complete the Bachelors of Arts in Political Science.

Core Course Requirements

First-Year Experience (1-3 cr.) University College: UC110
Junior/Senior Integrator (3 cr.)

Area I. Communications Core
English Composition (6 cr.) W131 and W132
Speech Communication R110 (3 cr.)
Foreign Languages Requirement. First-year competency is required and second-year competency is strongly recommended. This requirement may be satisfied in one of the following ways:

by completing first-year (10 credit hours) courses in a single language with passing grades;
by completing a second- or third-year course with a grade of C or better;
by taking a placement test and placing into the 200 level or higher; this waives the 100 level requirement but does not carry with it credit toward graduation.

This requirement may be met with first-year proficiency in American Sign Language.

Area II. Basic Courses

A. Analytic Skills (6 cr.)
These courses provide the student with insight into the process of logical reasoning. Each student must complete 3 credit hours in mathematics (Math M118 or above) plus Sociology R359

B. Natural Science (9-11 cr.)
The credit hours are to be selected from at least two of the following areas:

Anthropology A103
Astronomy A100, A105
Biology N100, N107, N200, N212, N213 (lab), N214, N215 (lab), N217, N251, N261
Chemistry C100, C101, C102, C105, C106
Geology G107, G117 (lab), G109, G119 (lab), G110, G120 (lab)
Physics 200, 218, 219
Psychology B105
At least one of these courses must be a laboratory course.

C. History (6 cr.)
This requirement is fulfilled by taking H113 and H114. ²

D. Arts and Humanities (6 cr.)
The 6 credit hours must come from two of the areas below. Courses in ones major cannot be used to fulfill this requirement; however, one course taken as part of a minor may be used.

English Literature L115
Herron H100
Music M174
Folklore F101 ²
History H105, H106, H113 ²
Philosophy P110, P120
Religious Studies R111, R133 ², R180, R212 ²

E. Social Sciences (6 cr.)
The 6 credit hours must come from two of the areas following. Courses in ones major cannot be used to fulfill this requirement; however, courses taken as part of a structured minor may be used to fulfill this requirement.

Anthropology A104
Communication Studies C180
Economics E101, E201
Folklore F101 ²
Geography G110 ²
Political Science Y101, Y103
Psychology B104, B310

F. Comparative World Cultures (3 cr.) ³
Students must take one course from one of the areas below:

Anthropology A104
Geography G110
History H108
Political Science Y217
Religious Studies R133, R212

Area III. Advanced Courses (15 cr. at 300-400 level)

In addition to advanced courses in ones major, the SLA student should conduct in-depth study in other areas of the liberal arts or sciences. Ordinarily, at least 15 credit hours of ones 300 to 400 level courses must be taken outside the major department and in four different departments or interdisciplinary programs within the School of Liberal Arts or the School of Science. Up to four junior- or senior-level courses in a second major will count toward this requirement.

Area IV. Political Science Requirements (33 credit hours)
Requirements: Complete 33 credit hours in political science with at least a C grade in each course.
Required courses (15 hours). You need all of the following:

Y103: Introduction to American Politics
Y205: Elements of Political Analysis
Y215: Introduction to Political Theory
Y490: Senior seminar - You will need to complete this during your senior year. The topic varies from one semester to another.
Y217: Introduction to Comparative Politics OR Y219: Introduction to International Relations

Electives (18 hours):

You need 18 credit hours consisting of 6 courses, 5 of which must be numbered 300 and above. Choose among courses on US institutions (including Congress, the presidency), political theory, area studies (including Africa, Southeast Asia, Western Europe), critical policy issues (the environment, welfare, crime), or enroll for directed readings with one of our faculty.

Senior Seminar (3 hours):

In your senior year, you will need to complete Y490: Senior Seminar. The topic varies from one semester to another.

Suggested Program of Study

The following is a proposed program of study. It is meant to be an example of how one could schedule their classes to meet all of the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree. Students are NOT required to take every course listed below. In many cases, there are other courses which can fulfill the same degree requirements. Consult with your advisor as you plan your program of study!

If you wish to take fewer credit hours in the fall and spring semesters, you may take classes during the summer sessions instead.

The IUPUC curriculum offers a significant portion of the IUPUI plan of study. Students transfer to the Indianapolis campus for degree completion.

First Year

First Semester

W131 Elementary Composition (3 cr.)

R110 Fundamentals of Speech Communication (3 cr.)

Y101 Introduction to Political Science (3 cr.)

U110 First Year Seminar (1 cr.)

S131 Intensive Beginning Spanish I (5 cr.)

Second Semester

W132 Elementary Composition II (3 cr.)

R100 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.)

S132 Intensive Beginning Spanish II (5 cr.)

Y103 Introduction to American Politics (3 cr.)

Second Year

First Semester

H113 History of Western Civilization I (3 cr.)

M118 Finite Mathematics (3 cr.)

G109 Fundamentals of Earth History (3 cr.)

G119 Fundamentals of Earth History Lab (1 cr.)

Y205 Elements of Political Analysis (3 cr.)

L115 Literature for Today (3 cr.)

Second Semester

H114 History of Western Civilization II (3 cr.)

B104 Psychology as a Social Science (3 cr.)

Y211 Introduction to Political Theory (3 cr.)

B105 Psychology as a Biological Science (3 cr.)

R212 Comparative Religions (3 cr.)

Third Year

First Semester

A104 Cultural Anthropology (3 cr.)

A100 The Solar System (3 cr.)

Y301 Political Parties and Interest Groups (3 cr.)

Y217 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 cr.)

I300 Junior/Senior Integrator (3 cr.)

Second Semester

Y307 Indiana State Government Politics (3 cr.)

E320 Indians of North America (3 cr.)

B310 Life Span Development (3 cr.)

B370 Social Psychology (3 cr.)

R312 Sociology of Religion (3 cr.)

Fourth Year

First Semester

Y319 The United States Congress (3 cr.)

C228 Discussion and Group Methods (3 cr.)

R339 Varieties of American Religion (3 cr.)

J101 American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)

Y321 The Media and Politics (3 cr.)

Second Semester

Y490: Senior Seminar (3 cr.)

A348 Civil War and Reconstruction (3 cr.)

Y360 U.S. Foreign Policy (3 cr.)

P110 Introduction to Philosophy (3 cr.)

H100 Art Appreciation (3 cr.)

* The IUPUC curriculum offers a significant portion of the IUPUI plan of study. Students transfer to the Indianapolis campus for degree completion.

1. Courses which meet all general education requirements (approximately 92 credit hours) and Political Science courses which fulfill six of the 33 credit hours for the major are available in Columbus.

2. This course appears on more than one list or in more than one section. However, this course may be used to satisfy only one requirement unless specifically stated.

3. These courses may be used for Comparative World Cultures and one other requirement if they appear on the Arts and Humanities or the Social Sciences lists (see above) toward this requirement. Three courses at the 300 or 400 level in a structured minor, including the business structured minor, can also be counted. The Junior/Senior Integrator course can be used to satisfy one of the Area III requirements.

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