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2022-2023 General Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

Political Science - BA, BS

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College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Political Science

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Bachelor of Science Degree

Students desiring a (BS) Bachelor of Science degree must complete all requirements listed in the core requirements below.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

In addition to completing the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree requirements, students desiring a (BA) Bachelor of Arts degree must also complete the language proficiency requirements in one of the following ways:

  • Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent)  OR
  • Demonstration of proficiency in American Sign Language by successful completion of American Sign Language IV (COMD 4920 ) and Socio-Cultural Aspects of Deafness (COMD 4780 ), and by passing an exit interview  OR
  • Demonstration of proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level in one language and the 2010 course level in the second language (or its equivalent)  OR
  • Completion of an upper-division (3000-level or higher) foreign language grammar or literature course requiring the 2020 course level (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite. Conversation courses cannot be considered for satisfying this requirement.

For nonnative English-speaking students only, the following options are available:

  • Successful completion of the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) program for international students  OR
  • TOEFL, Michigan, or IELI placement scores high enough to meet the University admission criteria.
     

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
Total USU Credits 30 Upper-division USU Credits 20
USU Credits within the Major 10 Credits in Minor (if required) 12
Credits in Major see below Credits in American Institutions 3
General Education Requirements   see link General Education Requirements   see link
NOTES: The highest math requirement for this degree is Quantitative Literacy (QL)  course of the student’s choice.

 

Admissions Requirements for this Program
New freshmen Admitted to USU in Good Standing

 

 Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU 2.5 GPA Overall and 2.5 at USU

First Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:
ENGL 1010: Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose (CL1)   3     POLS 2300: Introduction to Political Theory   3    
POLS 1100: United States Government and Politics (BAI)   3     Quantitative Literacy (QL) Course    3  
POLS 2100: Introduction to International Relations  or POLS 2200: Comparative Politics (BSS)   3  or 3     Breadth Requirement 3  
Breadth Requirement 3   Breadth Requirement 3  
Breadth Requirement 3   Breadth Requirement 3  
TOTAL CREDITS: 15   TOTAL CREDITS: 15  

Comments

Comments

Second Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:
ENGL 2010: Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode (CL2)   3     POLS Upper-Division Course: (Area 1) 3  
Breadth Requirement 3   POLS Upper-Division Course: (Area 2) 3  
Elective Course 3   Communications Intensive (CI) Course   3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
TOTAL CREDITS: 15   TOTAL CREDITS: 15  

Comments

Comments

Third Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:
POLS 3000: Introduction to Political Research (QI)   3     POLS Upper-Division Course: (Area 1) 3  
POLS Upper-Division Course: (Area 1) 3   POLS Upper-Division Course: (Area 2) 3  
Depth Humanities and Creative Arts (DHA) Course   3   Depth Life and Physical Sciences (DSC) Course   3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
TOTAL CREDITS: 15   TOTAL CREDITS: 15  

Comments

Comments

Fourth Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:
POLS Upper-Division Course 3   POLS 4990: Senior Research Seminar (CI)   3    
POLS Upper-Division Course 3   Upper-Division Elective Course 3  
Upper-Division Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
TOTAL CREDITS: 15   TOTAL CREDITS: 15  

Comments

Comments

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)

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

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 U.S. Government and policy analysis in their curriculum are encouraged to consider:

ECN 1500: Introduction to Economic Institutions, History, and Principles (BAI)  

ECN 2010: Introduction to Microeconomics (BSS)   

Law school candidates:

PHIL 1250: Practical Logic (BHU)  

PHIL 2200: Deductive Logic (QI)  

Interest in environmental policy issues:

WATS 1200: Biodiversity and Sustainability (BLS)   

WILD 2200: Ecology of Our Changing World (BLS)  

International relations and foreign service:

Bachelor of Art - foreign language

CMST 2110: Interpersonal Communication (BHU/HR)   

Those with an emphasis in political theory:

HIST 1100: European History to 1500 (BHU)   

HIST 1110: European History from 1500 (BHU)  

PHIL 1120: Social Ethics (BHU)  

Political Science Major Requirements (36 credits)

Completion of Pre-major with a 2.5 GPA
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

Credits taken for Political Science major or minor requirements may not be used to fulfill requirements of other majors and minors without departmental approval.

Please note that none of the courses can be taken pass/fail; all Political Science courses must be taken for a letter grade. Also, all courses must be attended in their entirety. Students cannot take these courses during an internship.

A. Required Courses (15 credits)

Note:

1POLS 3000  must be taken before POLS 4990 .

B. 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.

C. 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:

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

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