Political Science (BS)

• Program Prerequisite: Not required for Political Science major. Political Science Teaching majors must meet the Teacher Education admission and licensure requirements (see Department of Teacher Education ). Teaching Majors are also required to take HIST 4500 - Teaching Social Studies in Grades 5-12 , for a total of 42 semester hours including HIST 4500 .
• Minor: A minor or a double major is required.
• Grade Requirements: Political Science majors must have an overall GPA of 2.00 and a “C” or better grade in courses used toward the major (a grade of “C-” is not acceptable).
• Credit Hour Requirements: A total of 120 credit hours is required for graduation; 40 upper division credit hours are required (courses numbered 3000 and above). Political Science majors are required to take 39 credit hours within the major; teaching majors must also take HIST 4500 - Teaching Social Studies in Grades 5-12 , for a total of 42 credit hours.
• Program Code: 7012BS
• CIPC: 451001

Advisement

All Political Science students should meet with a Political Science faculty advisor once they have declared their major or minor to receive program advisement. Please get in touch with the department admin at 801-626-6694 to schedule an appointment.

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Admission Requirements

There are no special admission or application requirements for the Political Science major. Teaching majors must meet the Teacher Education admission and licensure requirements (see Department of Teacher Education ).

General Education

Refer to Degree Requirements  for either Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts requirements. See specific requirements for the BA and BS under the major course requirements. Four Political Science courses can fulfill both general education and Political Science major or minor requirements: POLS 1100  fulfills the American Institutions requirement; POLS 2100 , POLS 2200 , and POLS 2300  are all Social Science General Education courses, but students may only count one of these three courses towards the Social Science General Education requirement.  Consult with a department advisor for specific general education guidelines. Political Science majors are encouraged to take MATH 1040  (Statistics) to fulfill their Quantitative Literacy Requirement and LIBS 2804  to fulfill of their Information Literacy requirement.

Students who transfer from another institution and who intend to graduate from WSU with a minor in Political Science or a Political Science Teaching minor will be required to take at least two classes in Political Science at WSU. Students who transfer from another institution and who intend to graduate from WSU with a major in Political Science or a Political Science Teaching major will be required to take at least three classes in POLS, plus POLS 4990  Senior Seminar at WSU. These classes must be taken during the calendar year immediately preceding graduation.

AP credit for high school American Government courses will be accepted for Political Science POLS 1100  and POLS 2200 . It will count toward the total hours required for graduation and count toward the total of 39 credit hours required for a Political Science major. A score of 3 or higher on the AP U.S. Government and Politics course will count in place of POLS 1100 . A score of 3 or higher on the AP Comparative Politics course will count in place of POLS 2200 .

Program Learning Outcomes

• Political Science students will understand and model civic dispositions conducive to
  democratic involvement. Specifically, we recommend attention to fostering the civic
  attitudes of political efficacy, empathy, civic duty, civic confidence, and civic reflection,
  and an inclination to engage in dialogue across difference.
•  Political Science students will demonstrate an ability to analyze political phenomena and
  critique arguments in a theoretically and empirically informed manner.
•  Political Science students will demonstrate an ability to engage as global citizens through
  problem solving, collective action, and collaborative decision making.
•  Political Science students will demonstrate an ability to identify, evaluate, properly use,
  and cite verifiable sources of evidence.
•  Political Science students will demonstrate an ability to engage thoughtfully with
  competing values and perspectives.
•  Political Science students will demonstrate an ability to use qualitative and quantitative
  methods effectively and appropriately.
•  Political Science students will demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively in
  written and verbal modes to a variety of audiences.
•  Political science students will be able to understand and apply key concepts used to study
  political institutions, processes, and actors in a variety of settings.
•  Political science students will be able to understand and evaluate diverse theoretical and
  disciplinary approaches to the nature, ethical distribution, and uses of power.
•  Political science students will be able to understand, apply, and evaluate approaches and
  theories that address political phenomena.
•  Political science students will be able to understand the different ways individuals and
  groups engage in politics at the local, regional, national, and global levels, and evaluate
  the effectiveness and effects of different strategies of civic engagement.