Dec 04, 2024  
2014-2015 General Catalog (Spring, Summer 2015) 
    
2014-2015 General Catalog (Spring, Summer 2015) ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

Political Science - BA


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Programs Listed Alphabetically

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
  •   (required for POLS majors) will fulfill the Social Sciences requirement

Students must also complete the University Studies Depth Requirements :

  •   (required for POLS majors), plus  ,   or   (if selected in the Area Requirements), will fulfill the Communication Intensive (CI) requirement
  •   (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)

 

Bachelor of Arts Degree Language Requirement


Bachelor of Arts Degree

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree signifies proficiency in one or more foreign languages. Specifically, the BA requirement may be completed in one of the following ways:

  1. Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent).
    Or
  2. Demonstration of proficiency in American Sign Language by successful completion of COMD 4920  and COMD 4780 , and by passing an exit interview.
    Or
  3. 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
  4. 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:

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

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:


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:

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


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.

Note:

2 The 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:

  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:

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 

 

 

 

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Programs Listed Alphabetically