About the Program
 Political Science majors explore the world of government and politics both in the US and around the world. They analyze political leaders, campaigns, voting, the courts and legal systems, international relations, the government and politics of other countries, political violence and terrorism, war and peace, and many other key topics. In doing so, they learn the critical thinking, writing and communication skills that employers and graduate schools are looking for.
Degree Requirements
- 120 Credit Hours
- Minimum grade of C required for ENGL 10400, POL 10100, POL 31200, PSY 12000, and all Foreign Language courses; Minimum grade of C- required for all other POL courses
- Minimum GPA of 2.0 required for graduation
- Certain courses may only be available at one campus location
PNW General Education Core (30 Credits)
CHESS College Core (24 Credits)
Major Core (36 Credits)
- POL 13000 - Introduction To International Relations or POL 14100 - Governments Of The World
- POL 30000 - Introduction To Political Analysis
- Four (4) 30000-level or above POL Elective courses (12 Credits)
- Applied Policy Making Elective - choose from: POL 40100 - Practicum In Local Government, POL 40600 - Internship In A Public Agency, or POL 49100 - Political Science Senior Seminar
- American Political Science Elective - choose from: POL 30600 - The United States In The 1960’s, POL 31100 - Congress And The President, POL 31500 - Public Opinion And Elections, POL 33000 - Politics Of Lake County, POL 34600 - Law And Society, POL 35400 - Civil Liberties And The Constitution, POL 36400 - Law, Ethics, And Public Policy, POL 37200 - Indiana Government And Politics, POL 41100 - Congress: Structure And Functioning, POL 46000 - Judicial Politics, POL 46100 - Constitutional Law I, POL 39200 - Student Government, or other courses as approved by the program advisor
- Political Theory and Methodology Elective - choose one: POL 31200 - American Political Thought, POL 33000 - Politics Of Lake County, POL 34600 - Law And Society, POL 34900 - Intro To Jewish Studies, POL 35300 - Current Political Ideologies, POL 38800 - The World Of Ideas I, POL 38900 - The World Of Ideas II, POL 39000 - Topics In Political Science (Race and Politics), POL 40400 - United States Policy Making Elite, or other courses as approved by the program advisor
- International Relations Elective - choose one: POL 30900 - The Middle East, POL 39000 - Topics In Political Science (Gender, Politics, and Policy from a Global Perspective), POL 43300 - International Organization, POL 43500 - International Law, POL 43900 - United States Foreign Policy Making, POL 49000 - Topics In Political Science (International Policy Making: Model UN II) or other courses as approved by the program advisor
- Public Policy and Administration Elective - choose one: POL 12000 - Introduction To Public Policy And Public Administration, POL 32000 - Introduction To Public Policy Analysis, POL 35700 - Budgeting In The Public Sector, POL 38000 - The Politics Of Bureaucracy, POL 43300 - International Organization, POL 49000 - Topics In Political Science (International Policymaking II), POL 39000 - Topics In Political Science (Gender, Politics and Policy from a Global Perspective), POL 39200 - Student Government, or other courses as approved by the program advisor.
- Choose one: POL 43300 - International Organization, POL 49000 - Topics In Political Science (Model UN II), or POL 39200 - Student Government
Other Required Courses (30 Credits)
- Free Electives (30 Credits)
Civics Literacy Proficiency
The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue Northwest students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry.
Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:
- Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
- Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
- Earning a passing grade for one of the approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course)
For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.
Total 120 Credits Required
Requirements
Minimum Grade and Grade Point Average (GPA): Minimum grade of C required for ENGL 10400, POL 10100, POL 31200, PSY 12000, and all Foreign Language courses; Minimum grade of C- required for all other POL courses; 2.0 GPA
Experiential Learning (EL): One EL course required. EL courses are noted by (e) next to the course title.
General Education Core: General Education notations can be found within the course description. Please click on a course to see if it meets a Gen Ed requirement.
Milestone Courses noted by (m) next to the course title have been identified as being critical to your success in this field of study.
Please see the Additional Information and Guidelines section below for more information.
Semester 3 (15 Credits)
- Free Elective
- Free Elective
- Public Policy and Administration Elective (See Note 6)
- Quantitative Reasoning - select from Gen Ed Core List
- World Language Level III (See Note 2)
Semester 6 (15 Credits)
- Free Elective
- POL Elective - 30000-level or higher
- POL Elective - 30000-level or higher
- Political Theory and Methodology Elective (See Note 4)
- Social Sciences - select from Gen Ed Core List
Additional Information and Guidelines
Note 1: All four CHESS Core seminar courses, CHSS 10000, CHSS 20000, CHSS 30000, and CHSS 40000, must be taken. Duplicates are not allowed.
Note 2: Foreign Language Level I - Choose from SPAN 10100, FR 10100, GER 10100, or JPNS 10100. Foreign Language Level II - Choose from SPAN 10200, FR 10200, GER 10200, or JPNS 10200. Foreign Language Level III - Choose from SPAN 20100, FR 20100, GER 20100, or JPNS 20100. Foreign Language Level IV - Choose from SPAN 20200, FR 20200, GER 20200, or JPNS 20200. Must complete 4 semesters of the same foreign language. Other languages may be approved by the program advisor.
Note 3: POL American Political Science Elective – POL 30600, POL 31100, POL 31500, POL 33000, POL 34600, POL 35400, POL 36400, POL 37200, POL 41100, POL 46000, POL 46100. or other courses as approved by the program advisor.
Note 4: POL Political Theory and Methodology Elective- POL 31200, POL 33000, POL 34900, POL 35300, POL 38800, POL 38900, POL 40400, or other courses as approved by the program advisor.
Note 5: POL International Relations Elective - POL 30900, POL 43300, POL 43500, POL 43900, or other courses as approved by the program advisor.
Note 6: POL Public Policy and Administration Elective - POL 12000, POL 32000, POL 35700, POL 38000, POL 43300, POL 49000, POL 39000, POL 39200, or other courses as approved by the program advisor.
Note 7: POL Applied Policy Making Elective - POL 40100, POL 40600, or POL 49100.
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