Political Science Minor

Minor/ Teaching Minor/ BIS

Grade Requirements: An overall GPA of 2.00 or higher is required and a grade of “C” or better in all Political Science courses used toward the minor/BIS (a grade of “C-” is not acceptable).
Credit Hour Requirements: Minimum of 21 credit hours for Political Science minor/BIS and a minimum of 24 credit hours for the teaching minor, which includes HIST 4500 - Teaching Social Studies in Grades 5-12 , a required course for Political Science Teaching Minors.
Program Code: Political Science (7012), Political Science Teaching (7013), Political Science BIS (7012)
CIPC: Political Science (451001), Political Science Teaching (131317), Political Science BIS (451001)

Students who select the Political Science Teaching minor must satisfy the Teacher Education admission and licensure requirements (see Department of Teacher Education ).

Course Requirements

Political Science Courses Required (6 credit hours)

POLS 1100 AI - American National Government Credits: (3)

And select one of the following

POLS 2060 - Freedoms Credits: (3)
POLS 2100 SS - Introduction to International Politics Credits: (3)
POLS 2200 SS - Introduction to Comparative Politics Credits: (3)
POLS 2300 SS - Introduction to Political Theory Credits: (3)

Upper Division Requirements (15 credit hours)

Select at least two courses from Group 1 and at least two courses from Group 2, plus one additional course from either Group 1, Group 2, or the list of electives.

Group 1 (select two courses)

American Government and Public Administration

POLS 3600 - Political Parties Credits: (3)
POLS 3610 - Campaigns and Elections Credits: (3)
POLS 3620 - Political Behavior Credits: (3)
POLS 3630 - Identity Politics Credits: (3)
POLS 3700 - Introduction to Public Administration Credits: (3)
POLS 3750 - Urban Government and Politics Credits: (3)
POLS 3760 - State Government and Politics Credits: (3)
POLS 4600 - American Congress Credits: (3)
POLS 4640 - American Presidency Credits: (3)
POLS 4700 - Politics of Administration Credits: (3)
POLS 4750 - Public Policy Analysis Credits: (3)

Public and Constitutional Law

POLS 4020 - American Constitutional Law I: Governmental Powers Credits: (3)
POLS 4030 - American Constitutional Law II: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Credits: (3)
POLS 4060 - Law and Society Credits: (3)
POLS 4070 - Sex Roles and the Law Credits: (3)

Group 2 (select two courses)

Comparative Politics

POLS 3210 - Politics and Governments of Europe Credits: (3)
POLS 3220 - Politics and Governments of Asia Credits: (3)
POLS 3290 - Introduction to Politics and Governments of Developing Nations Credits: (3)
POLS 4280 - Foreign Policies of Major Powers Credits: (3)

International Politics

POLS 3140 - Foreign Policy of the United States Credits: (3)
POLS 4160 - Topics in World Politics Credits: (3) or
POLS DV4160 - Diversity credit is available when the selected topic is “Topics in World Politics: Third World Women” (3)

POLS 4180 - International Law and Organization Credits: (3)
POLS 4190 - Theories of International Politics Credits: (3)
HIST 3230 - American Foreign Relations Credits: (3)

Political Theory

POLS 3330 - American Political Thought Credits: (3)
POLS 4360 - Classical Political Thought Credits: (3)
POLS 4380 - Modern Political Thought Credits: (3)
PHIL 3200 - Philosophy of Democracy Credits: (3)
WS 3050 - Introduction to Feminist Theories 1700 – Present Credits: (3)

Electives (select one course)

POLS 2060 - Freedoms Credits: (3)
POLS 2920 - Short Courses, Workshops, Institutes and Special Programs Credits: (1-3) or
POLS 4920 - Short Courses, Workshops, Institutes and Special Programs Credits: (1-3)
POLS 3060 - Mock Trial Credits: (2)
POLS 3150 - Model United Nations Credits: (2)
POLS 4800 - Individual Projects and Research Credits: (1-2)
POLS 4830 - Directed Readings Credits: (1-2)
POLS 4860 - Internships Credits: (1-6)
POLS 4870 - Internship in Perspective Credits: (3)
POLS 4880 - Internship Research Credits: (3)
POLS 4940 - Topics in American Politics & Thought Credits: (3)

Note:

Students may count up to 3 hours of POLS 4830 , 3 hours of POLS 4800 , and 3 hours of POLS 4860 toward the total of 21 hours required for the minor, if needed.

All Political Science courses— as well as HIST 3230 , PHIL 3200 and WS 3050 —count toward the total hours required for the political science major and minor. However, none of these courses, if they are being counted for the political science major or minor, may count toward another major or minor. Similarly, if any of these courses are being counted for a major or minor that is not political science, they cannot be counted for the major or minor requirements of political science.