Schools

School of Social Sciences

Political Science (Bachelor of Arts)

 

Courses in the department introduce the student to fundamental issues in the governmental process, social conditions that create a need for government, structures and procedures of governments, and relationships among governments.  The goals of the program are to foster in our students an appreciation of government and politics and to prepare them to assume the duties of citizenship; to provide special knowledge and skills useful to those who plan to pursue public service; and to lay the foundations for the scholarly study of government, politics, and the law for those who plan to pursue graduate study or a legal education.  The political science degree program consists of a traditional track and a public service track.  Both require 30 credit hours in political science.

Student Learning Goals

  1. Foster in our students an appreciation of government and politics and prepare them to assume the duties of citizenship.
  2. Provide special knowledge and skills useful to those who plan to pursue public service.
  3. Lay the foundations for the scholarly study of government, politics, and the law for those who plan to pursue graduate study or a legal education.
  4. The primary objective of the public service track is to prepare students with the background and skills to pursue positions in the public service, in both governmental and non-governmental (not for profit) organizations.

Scholarships/Awards

Wolf and Gugin Scholarships—see a faculty member for information.

Degree Requirements

See “General Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees at IU Southeast” and “General Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree.”

Traditional Track

Core Program

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

Co-Reqs or Pre-reqs

POLS-Y

103

Introduction to American Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

205

Elements of Political Analysis (must be completed before taking the senior seminar)

3

C-

Designated course for political science majors for research writing requirement

 

 

POLS-Y

490

Senior Seminar in Political Science

3

C-

P: POLS-Y103, Y205, Senior Standing

Major Specific Requirements

Students must take at least one upper–level course in each of the following four areas:

  1. American Politics - Y 301, Y 302, Y303, Y 304, Y 305, Y 306,  Y 308, Y 316, Y 319, Y 322, Y 324, Y 402, Y 403, Y 404
  2. Comparative Politics - Y 335, Y 337, Y 349, Y 354, Y369
  3. International Politics - Y 343, Y 350, Y 360, Y 366, Y 374, Y 376, Y471
  4. Political Theory - Y 379, Y 384, Y 392

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

Co-Reqs or Pre-reqs

POLS-Y

301

Political Parties and Interest Groups

3

C-

P: POLS-Y 103

POLS-Y

302

Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society

3

C-

POLS-Y

303

Formation of Public Policy in the United States

3

C-

POLS-Y

304

Constitutional Law

3

C-

POLS-Y

305

Constitutional Rights and Liberties

3

C-

POLS-Y

306

State Politics in the United States

3

C-

POLS-Y

308

Urban Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

316

Public Opinion and Political Participation

3

C-

POLS-Y

319

The United States Congress

3

C-

POLS-Y

322

The American Presidency

3

C-

POLS-Y

324

Women and Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

360

United States Foreign Policy

3

C-

POLS-Y

402

Politics of the Budgetary Process

3

C-

POLS-Y

403

Legal Issues in Public Bureaucracy

3

C-

POLS-Y

404

Political Issues in Public Personnel Administration

3

C-

POLS-Y

335

West European Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

337

Latin American Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

349

Comparative Public Policy

3

C-

POLS-Y

379

Ethics and Public Policy

3

C-

POLS-Y

354

Nationalism in Europe

3

C-

POLS-Y

369

Introduction to East Asian Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

343

The Politics of International Development

3

C-

POLS-Y

350

Politics of the European Union

3

C-

POLS-Y

366

Current Foreign Policy Problems

3

C-

POLS-Y

471

Terrorism

3

C-

POLS-Y

374

International Organization

3

C-

POLS-Y

376

International Political Economy

3

C-

POLS-Y

384

Developments in American Political Thought

3

C-

POLS-Y

392

Problems of Contemporary Political Philosophy

3

C-

Electives

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

Co-Reqs or Pre-reqs

POLS-Y

105

Introduction to Political Theory

3

C-

POLS-Y

107

Introduction to Comparative Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

109

Introduction to International Relations

3

C-

POLS-Y

200

Contemporary Political Problems

3

 C- 

POLS-Y

351

Political Simulations

1

C-

P:Instructor permission

POLS-Y

401

Studies in Political Science

3

C-

POLS-Y

480

Undergraduate Readings in Political Science

1-6

C-

P:Instructor permission

POLS-Y

481

Field Experience in Political Science

1-6

C-

Junior or senior standing, 15 credit hours of political science, and project approved by instructor.

COAS-S

399

Internship in Political Science

1-6

 

Junior or senior standing, approval of the dean and the Office of Professional Practice Programs

MATH-K

300

Statistical Techniques

3

 

P:Placement by exam or MATH-M101

Courses in other fields: Economics, history, and sociology are academic areas that majors will find useful, especially those planning to attend graduate school or law school.

 

 

Capstone

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

Co-Reqs or Pre-reqs

POLS-Y

490

Senior Seminar in Political Science

3

C-

Y103, Y205, Senior Standing

Public Service Track

Core Program

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

Co-Reqs or Pre-reqs

POLS-Y

103

Introduction to American Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

205

Elements of Political Analysis

3

C-

POLS-Y

302

Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society

3

C-

POLS-Y

POLS-Y

306

308

State Politics in the United States     OR

Urban Politics

3

3

C-

C-

COAS-S

399

Internship in Public Service (must serve a minimum of 3-hour internship hours in an approved public or nongovernmental [nonprofit] organization)

3-6

C-

Junior or senior standing, approval of the dean and the Office of Professional Practice Programs

POLS-Y

490

Senior Seminar in Political Science

3

C-

Y103, Y205, Senior standing

Major Specific Requirements  

300-400-Level Public Service Courses (6 cr.) - Student must complete at least two 300-400 level courses in the public service area. These include: Y 402 Politics of the Budgetary Process, Y 403 Legal Issues in Public Bureaucracy, or Y 404 Political Issues in Public Personnel Management.

 300-400 Level Distribution Requirements (6 cr.) - Students must complete at least two other 300- 400-level courses in political science from any of the following areas: comparative politics, international relations, and theory. Interdisciplinary concentrations in other areas may be substituted for these 300- 400-level distributional requirements upon recommendation of academic advisor.

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

Co-Reqs or Pre-reqs

POLS-Y

335

West European Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

337

Latin American Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

349

Comparative Public Policy

3

C-

POLS-Y

354

Nationalism in Europe

3

C-

POLS-Y

369

Introduction to East Asian Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

343

The Politics of International Development

3

C-

POLS-Y

350

Politics of the European Union

3

C-

POLS-Y

360

United States Foreign Policy

3

C-

POLS-Y

366

Current Foreign Policy Problems

3

C-

POLS-Y

471

Terrorism

3

C-

POLS-Y

374

International Organization

3

C-

POLS-Y

376

International Political Economy

3

C-

POLS-Y

379

Ethics and Public Policy

3

C-

POLS-Y

384

Developments in American Political Thought

3

C-

POLS-Y

392

Problems of Contemporary Political Philosophy

3

C-

Electives

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

Co-Reqs or Pre-reqs

POLS-Y

105

Introduction to Political Theory

3

C-

POLS-Y

107

Introduction to Comparative Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

109

Introduction to International Relations

3

C-

POLS-Y

200

Contemporary Political Problems

3

C-

POLS-Y

401

Studies in Political Science

3

C-

POLS-Y

480

Undergraduate Readings in Political Science

1-6

C-

POLS-Y

481

Field Experience in Political Science

1-6

C-

Junior or senior standing, 15 credit hours of political science, and project approved by instructor.

MATH-K

300

Statistical Techniques

3

Capstone

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

Co-Reqs or Pre-reqs

POLS-Y

490

Senior Seminar in Political Science

3

C-

Y103, Y205, Senior Standing

 Honors Program

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Political Science Honors Program requires the following: The student must be a political science major with junior standing; the student must have at least a 3.3 GPA in all courses and at least a 3.5 GPA in political science courses; and the student must have completed 15 hours of political science courses including Y 205.

Dept .

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

Co-Reqs or Pre-reqs

POLS-Y

205

Elements of Political Analysis

3

C-

Specific Requirements

Once admitted to the program, in addition to meeting the requirements for the political science major, honors students will complete Y498 (1 cr.) taken in conjunction with three advanced political science courses and Y498 (1 cr.) taken in conjunction with Y490. These additional credits can be completed at any time between admission to the honors program and graduation.  The honors student also must present a research paper at an undergraduate or professional conference or have the paper published in a journal. Finally, honors students must maintain the 3.3 GPA in all courses and the 3.5 GPA in political science courses. 

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

Co-Reqs or Pre-reqs

POLS-Y

498

Honors Readings in Political Science

1-6

C-

Authorization

POLS-Y

499

Reading for Honors

1-12

C-

Approval of instructor

Academic Bulletins

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