Schools

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of History, Political Science, and Philosophy

Bachelor of Arts in History/Political Science
The Bachelor of Arts degree in History/Political Science is an undergraduate program that provides students with an opportunity to concentrate in History, Political Science, or Law and Society. The degree prepares students for a wide array of employment possibilities in government, public administration, public history and museums as well as post-graduate opportunities in law, history, political science and public administration.

Requirements:
See “Degree Requirements” Section under “Humanities and Social Sciences”. The History/Political Science major consists of 30 credit hours that must be completed with a grade of C– or better in each course. See a History/Political Science advisor for additional information concerning degree-specific opportunities and requirements. The following courses are required of all History/Political Science majors:
  • POLS-Y 103 Introduction to American Politics (3 cr.)(taken towards general education)
  • HIST-H 105 American History I (3 cr.)(taken towards general education)
  • HIST-H 106 American History II (3 cr.)(taken towards general education)
  • HIST-J 495 (3 cr.) or POLS-Y 490 Senior Seminar (3 cr.)(permission of instructor required)
Tracks for History/Political Science Degree History Track (30 cr.)
  • Six Upper-level History Courses
  • HIST-J 495 Seminar for History Majors (3 cr.)or
    • POLS-Y 490 Senior Seminar (3 cr.)(permission of instructor required)

(Students are encouraged to take HIST-H 495 or HIST-H 496 as part of the above requirements)

Two of the following:

  • POLS-Y 215 Introduction to Political Theory (3 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 217 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 219 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr.)
  • Upper-level History or Political Science Elective

Political Science Track (30 cr.)
Two of the following:
  • POLS-Y 215 Introduction to Political Theory (3 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 217 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 219 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr.)
  • HIST-J 495 Seminar for History Majors (3 cr.) or
    • POLS-Y 490 Senior Seminar (3 cr.)(permission of instructor required)
  • Four Upper-level Political Science Courses
  • Two Upper-level History Courses
  • Upper-level History or Political Science Elective

(Students are encouraged to take POLS-Y 480 or POLS-Y 481 as part of the above requirements)

Law and Society Track (36 cr.)
History/Political Science Foundation
  • POLS-Y 215 Introduction to Political Theory (3 cr.)
  • Two Upper-Level History Courses (one on US history, one on world history)
  • One Upper-Level Political Science Course

Humanities Foundation

Choose one of:

  • PHIL-P 342 Problems in Ethics (3 cr.)
  • PHIL-P 345 Problems in Social and Political Philosophy (3 cr.)
  • PHIL-P 375 Philosophy of Law (3 cr.)

Any one ENG E or ENG-L 300+ literature course except ENG-L 390 and ENG-L 391

Choose one of:

  • SPCH-S 228 Argumentation and Debate (3 cr.)
  • SPCH-C 310 Rhetoric and Public Address (3 cr.)
  • SPCH-C 321 Persuasion (3 cr.)
  • SPCH-C 325 Interviewing (3 cr.)
  • SPCH-C 444 Political Communication (3 cr.)

Law Specific Electives (3 classes from 2 different majors, 2 of which must be at the 300 level or higher from the below courses)

Criminal Justice:

  • CJHS-J 301 Substantive Criminal Law (3 cr.)
  • CJHS-J 302 Procedural Criminal Law (3 cr.)
  • CJHS-J 303 Evidence (3 cr.)
  • CJHS-J 304 Correctional Law (3 cr.)
  • CJHS-J 305 Evidence (3 cr.)
  • CJHS-J 306 The Criminal Courts (3 cr.)
  • CJHS-J 321 American Policing (3 cr.)
  • CJHS-J Crime and Public Policy (3 cr.)

Public Administration and Health Management:

  • PAHM-V 376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)

Sociology:

  • SOC-S 325 Criminology (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 328 Juvenile Delinquency (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 360 Topics in Social Policy: Family Violence (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 420 Topics in Deviance (3 cr.)

Psychology:

  • PSY-P 322 Psychology in the Courtroom (3 cr.)

Business:

  • BUS-L 200 Elements of Business Law (3 cr.)
  • BUS-L 201 Legal Environment of Business (3 cr.)

Internship and Capstone

  • Required internship as either HIST-H 496 Internship in History (1-6 cr.) or
    • POLS-Y 481 Field Experience in Political Science (1-6 cr)
  • HSS-J 495 Seminar for History Majors (3 cr.) or
    • POLS-Y 490 Senior Seminar (3 cr.)(permission of instructor required)

Note: Under the History and Political Science tracks the following Criminal Justice and Public Administration courses may be used as political science options: CJHS-J 320, Substantive Criminal Law (3 cr.); PAHM-V 264, Urban Structure and Policy (3 cr.); and PAHM-V 376, Law and Public Policy (3 cr.).

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