Nov 25, 2024

2014-2015 General Catalog (Summer, Fall 2014)

2014-2015 General Catalog (Summer, Fall 2014) ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

Political Science - BS

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Political Science

Location: MAIN 320
Phone: (435) 797-1306
Fax: (435) 797-3751
E-mail: politicalscience@usu.edu
WWW: http://politicalscience.usu.edu/

Overview

The Political Science Department is dedicated to transmitting the fundamentals of political science to a broad community through innovative teaching, respected research, and committed service to improve the community, the state, the nation and beyond. As a discipline, Political Science is committed to introduce students to the core questions of the liberal arts by encouraging them to reflect on the demands, sometimes contradictory, that inevitably fall on them as citizens and as human beings. Students pursue careers as U.S. Senate and U.S. House staff members, Washington lobbyists, Foreign Service officers, Intelligence analysts, Federal Reserve System managers, campaign consultants, analysts for the Utah State Legislature, and legal professionals. Additionally, recent graduates have chosen careers in fields such as business, education, communications, public relations, social work, law enforcement, and consulting.

Departmental Honors

Students who would like to experience greater academic depth within their major are encouraged to enroll in departmental honors. Through original, independent work, Honors students enjoy the benefits of close supervision and mentoring, as they work one-on-one with faculty in select upper-division departmental courses. Honors students also complete a senior project, which provides another opportunity to collaborate with faculty on a problem that is significant, both personally and in the student’s discipline. Participating in departmental honors enhances students’ chances for obtaining fellowships and admission to graduate school. Minimum GPA requirements for participation in departmental honors vary by department, but usually fall within the range of 3.30-3.50. Students may enter the Honors Program at almost any stage in their academic career, including at the junior (and sometimes senior) level. The campus-wide Honors Program, which is open to all qualified students regardless of major, offers a rich array of cultural and social activities, special classes, and the benefit of Honors early registration. Interested students should contact the Honors Program, LLC Bldg. A, Room 112, (435) 797-2715, honors@usu.edu. Additional information can be found online at: http://honors.usu.edu

Additional Information

For detailed information about requirements for the Political Science major, see the major requirement sheet, which can be obtained from the Political Science Department.

Students must complete the General Education Requirements :

POLS 1100 (required for POLS and LCS majors) will fulfill the American Institutions requirement
POLS 2200
(optional for POLS majors) will fulfill the Social Sciences requirement

Students must also complete the University Studies Depth Requirements :

POLS 4990
  (required for POLS majors), plus
POLS 4220
,
POLS 4310
  or
POLS 4450
  (if selected in the Area Requirements), will fulfill the Communication Intensive (CI) requirement
POLS 3000
(required for POLS majors) will fulfill the Quantitative Intensive (QI) requirement
Complete at least 2 credits in approved 3000-level or above courses from each of the following two categories: Humanities and Creative Arts (DHA) and Life and Physical Sciences (DSC)

Political Science Pre-Major Requirements

Students who wish to become Political Science majors must apply for admission after completing the Department’s pre-major program. New freshmen in good standing are eligible to declare the pre-major. Continuing students and transfer students with a 2.5 GPA are eligible to declare the pre-major. When the pre-major courses are completed with a GPA of 2.5, the student will be able to declare the Political Science major. A student must be declared as a Political Science Major in order to apply for graduation.

Complete all of the following (15 credits)

ENGL 2010 - Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode (CL2) 3
POLS 1100 - United States Government and Politics (BAI) 3
POLS 2100 - Introduction to International Politics 3 or
POLS 2200 - Comparative Politics (BSS) 3
POLS 2300 - Introduction to Political Theory 3
STAT 1040 - Introduction to Statistics (QL) 3 or
MATH 1030 - Quantitative Reasoning (QL) 3 or
MATH 1050 - College Algebra (QL) 4
Other courses may be applied to the pre-major but only upon approval of the Political Science Department

Notes: Advanced Placement US Government is not used for the POLS 1100 requirement, and Advanced Placement Comparative Politics is not used for the POLS 2200 requirement. Credits taken for Political Science Major or Minor Requirements may not be used to fulfill requirements of other majors and minors without departmental approval.

Complete Two additional General Education courses (6 credits) chosen with undergraduate advisor:

In an effort to support essential learning outcomes, it is recommended that the student follow the general education program contained in the Preparing for Degrees, Careers and Lives: Pathways to General Education pamphlet developed by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Careful selection of general education classes can enhance a student’s undergraduate experience. The following are examples of recommendations to help students enhance their experience in the social sciences and foster critical and creative thinking skills of inquiry, analysis, and evaluation.

For example:

Students who wish to emphasize US Government and policy analysis in their curriculum are encouraged to consider:

Law school candidates:

Interest in environmental policy issues:

International relations and Foreign Service:

CMST 2110 - Interpersonal Communication (BHU/HR)
Bachelor of Art-foreign language

Those with an emphasis in political theory:

Political Science Major Requirements (36 credits)

Completion of Pre-major with a 2.5
Minimum GPA for Admission: 2.5, USU; 2.5, Career
Minimum GPA for Graduation: 2.5, major courses; 2.5, USU; 2.5, Career
Minimum Grade Accepted: C- in major courses

A. Total credits in Political Science Courses: 36

B. Overall GPA: 2.5

C. Average GPA in Political Science Courses: 2.50

D. Required Courses (15 credits)

From Pre Major:
POLS 1100 - United States Government and Politics (BAI) 3
POLS 2100 - Introduction to International Politics 3 or
POLS 2200 - Comparative Politics (BSS) 3
POLS 2300 - Introduction to Political Theory 3
For Major:
POLS 3000 - Introduction to Political Research (QI) 3 ¹
POLS 4990 - Senior Research Seminar (CI) 3 ¹

Note:

¹POLS 3000 must be taken before POLS 4990 .

E. Area Requirements (15 credits minimum)

Select two of the following four areas: U.S. Government and Policy, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Political Theory. Complete nine upper-division credits in one of the selected areas and six upper-division credits in the other. Even though a course may be listed under more than one area, it can be applied to only one area. Prior to taking the upper-division courses in a particular area, students must take the introductory course corresponding to that specific area.

1. U.S. Government and Policy

Note: POLS 1100 must be taken prior to taking any of the upper-division coursework listed below

2. International Relations

Note: POLS 2100 or POLS 2200 must be taken prior to taking any of the upper-division coursework listed below

3. Comparative Politics

Note: POLS 2100 or POLS 2200 must be taken prior to taking any of the upper-division coursework listed below

4. Political Theory

Note: POLS 1100 and POLS 2300 must be taken prior to taking any of the upper-division coursework listed below

Note:

²The subject matter of POLS 4890 determines the area to which it applies.

F. Electives (6 credits)

In addition to the 15 credits of required prerequisite courses and the 15 credits of area courses, students must complete six upper-division elective credits. Any upper-division Political Science courses may be used to fulfill this requirement, with two exceptions:

Not more than three credits in Directed Readings courses (POLS 4910 ) can apply to this requirement.
Not more than three credits in the following courses can apply to this requirement:

POLS 5900 - Government and Policy Internship Seminar 3
POLS 5910 - Campaign Internship 1-12
POLS 5920 - Washington Internship 1-12
POLS 5930 - State Government Internship 1-12
POLS 5940 - Administrative Internship 1-12
POLS 5950 - International Internship 1-12

Political Science Major Four Year Plan (Suggested Schedule)

Please meet with your advisor to complete your specific four year plan.

Freshman Year (30 credits)

First Semester (15 credits)

ENGL 1010 - Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose (CL1) 3
POLS 1100 - United States Government and Politics (BAI) 3
POLS 2100 - Introduction to International Politics 3 or
POLS 2200 - Comparative Politics (BSS) 3
University Breadth courses (General Education Requirement) 6

Second Semester (15 credits)

POLS 2300 - Introduction to Political Theory 3
University QL course (General Education Requirement) 3
University Breadth courses (General Education Requirement) 6
Elective course 3

Sophomore Year (30 credits)

First Semester (15 credits)

ENGL 2010 - Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode (CL2) 3
POLS Upper Division course 3
University Breadth course (General Education Requirement) 3
Elective courses 6

Second Semester (15 credits)

POLS Upper Division courses 6
University CI course (Graduation Requirement) 3
University Breadth course (General Education Requirement) 3
Elective course 3

Junior Year (30 credits)

First Semester (15 credits)

POLS 3000 - Introduction to Political Research (QI) 3
POLS Upper Division course 3
University DHA course (Graduation Requirement) 3
Elective courses 6

Second Semester (15 credits)

POLS 4990 - Senior Research Seminar (CI) 3
POLS Upper Division course 3
University DSC course (Graduation Requirement) 3
Elective courses 6

Senior Year (30 credits)

First Semester (15 credits)

POLS Upper Division course 3
Upper Division Elective courses 6
Elective courses 6

Second Semester (15 credits)

POLS Upper Division course 3
Elective courses 12

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits	120
Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)	2.00 GPA
Credits of C- or better	100
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above)	40
USU Credits (30 USU credits, 20 of which must be upper-division courses, 10 of which must be courses required for student’s major)	30 USU credits
Completion of approved major program of study	See college advisor
Credits in minor (if required)	12
Credits in American Institutions (ECN 1500 ;HIST 1700 , HIST 2700 or HIST 2710 ; HONR 1300 ; POLS 1100 ; or USU 1300 )	3
General Education Requirements and University Studies Depth Requirements