2019-20 Academic Catalog

Nov 25, 2024

2019-20 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science, BA

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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)

English Composition (6 Credits): ENGL 10400 - English Composition I and ENGL 10500 - English Composition II
Speech Communication (3 Credits): COM 11400 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Quantitative Reasoning (3 Credits): Select from the Quantitative Reasoning Core list
Natural Sciences (3 Credits): Select from the Natural Sciences Core list
Technology (3 Credits): Select from the Technology Core list
Humanities (3 Credits): Select from the Humanities Core list
Social Sciences (3 Credits): ECON 10100 - Survey Of Economics
Gen Ed Elective (3 Credits): Select from the Gen Ed Core list
First-Year Experience (FYE) (3 Credits): POL 20000 - Introduction To The Study Of Political Science

CHESS College Core (36 Credits)

Modern Language (12 Credits)
Gender Issues (3 Credits)
Global Cultures (3 Credits)
Individual and Society (3 Credits)
Literature and the Arts (3 Credits)
Racial and Ethnic Diversity (3 Credits)
Social Ethics (3 Credits)
United States Tradition (3 Credits)
Western Heritage (3 Credits)

For courses that meet these requirements, please see the CHESS College Core list .

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 (18 Credits)

Free Electives (18 Credits)

Total 120 Credits Required

Degree Map

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.

Courses that are only offered on one campus will be noted by an (H) for Hammond, or (W) for Westville.

Please see the Additional Information and Guidelines section below for more information.

Semester 1 (15 Credits)

POL 20000 - Introduction To The Study Of Political Science (H)
ENGL 10400 - English Composition I
COM 11400 - Fundamentals Of Speech Communication
Global Cultures - select from CHESS College Core List
Modern Language Level I (See Note 4)

Semester 2 (15 Credits)

ENGL 10500 - English Composition II (e)
US Traditions - select from CHESS College Core List
Individual and Society - select from CHESS College Core List
Technology - select from Gen Ed Core List
Modern Language Level II (See Note 4)

Semester 3 (15 Credits)

Public Policy and Administration Elective (See Note 5)
Literature and the Arts - select from CHESS College Core List
Quantitative Reasoning - select from Gen Ed Core List
Modern Language Level III (See Note 4)
Free Elective/Minor

Semester 4 (15 Credits)

POL 13000 - Introduction To International Relations or POL 14100 - Governments Of The World
Modern Language Level IV (See Note 4)
Natural Sciences - select from Gen Ed Core List
Humanities - select from Gen Ed Core List
Western Heritage - select from CHESS College Core List

Semester 5 (15 Credits)

POL 30000 - Introduction To Political Analysis (H)
Choose one: POL 43300 - International Organization, POL 49000 - Topics In Political Science (Model UN II), or POL 39200 - Student Government
American Political Science Elective (See Note 1)
Social Ethics - select from CHESS College Core List
Gen Ed Elective - select from Gen Ed Core List

Semester 6 (15 Credits)

International Relations Elective (See Note 3)
30000-level or above POL Elective (3 Credits)
ECON 10100 - Survey Of Economics
Racial and Ethnic Diversity - select from CHESS College Core List
Political Theory and Methodology Elective (See Note 2)

Semester 7 (15 Credits)

Applied Policy Making Elective (See Note 6)
30000-level or above POL Elective (3 Credits)
Free Elective/Minor
Free Elective/Minor
Free Elective/Minor

Semester 8 (15 Credits)

30000-level or above POL Elective (3 Credits)
30000-level or above POL Elective (3 Credits)
Gender Issues - select from CHESS College Core List
Free Elective/Minor
Free Elective/Minor

Additional Information and Guidelines

Note 1: 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

Note 2: 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

Note 3: 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

Note 4: Modern Language

Level I - Choose from SPAN 10100, FR 10100, GER 10100, or JPNS 10100
Level II - Choose from SPAN 10200, FR 10200, GER 10200, or JPNS 10200
Level III - Choose from SPAN 20100, FR 20100, GER 20100, or JPNS 20100
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 5: 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.

Note 6: 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

Resources

The 8 semester plan of study is a recommended sequence of classes designed to show how this program can be completed within four years.

Visit the 15 to Finish website for information and resources.

For career information, click here to visit the Careers and Employment Trends page.

For Financial Aid eligibility, click here. Annual FAFSA filing deadline is March 10. Financial Aid recipients are required to complete 30 credits per calendar year to stay eligible for the standard financial aid award.

Financial Guarantee: If you follow the degree map and find a course unavailable, you may be able to take the course for free in a future semester. Certain exclusions apply.