Schools

School of Social Sciences

Political Science (Bachelor of Arts)

Political Science is the study of power. Power is the core of any kind of relationship - in families, workplaces, religious and other community organizations, or, indeed, in governments. In Political Science we are primarily interested in the power relationships between citizens and their governments and in the power relationship among governments, whether it is between or within countries. In addition, political science focuses on how this power can be harnessed to help others in a society and to make a difference by helping to create communities and institutions that foster broader participation. Political scientists study how different governments use power, how power functions within governmental institutions and bureaucracies, as well as the sources and limits of governmental power. Political scientists examine interactions of citizens and government through the exercise of power in elections, participation in interest groups, grassroots activism, and with public opinion. The political science program consists of a traditional track and a public administration track. 

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

POLS-Y

103

Introduction to American Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

199

Careers for Political Science Majors 

1

C-

POLS-Y

387

Research Methods in Political Science (Must be taken from an IU Southeast faculty member)

3

C-

POLS-T

388

Qualitative Research Methods 

3

C-

Designated course for political science majors for research writing requirement

 

 

POLS-Y

490

Senior Seminar in Political Science (Must be taken from an IU Southeast faculty member)

3

C-

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 306, Y 317, 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 Relations - Y 360, Y 376, Y471
  4. Political Theory - T 385, T 390, Y 384, Y 392

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

POLS-T

385

Politics, Psychology, and Power

3

C-

POLS-T

390

Theories of Power

3

C-

POLS-Y

301

Political Parties and Interest Groups

3

C-

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

306

State Politics in the United States

3

C-

POLS-Y

317

Voting, Elections, and Public Opinion

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

354

Nationalism in Europe

3

C-

POLS-Y

369

Introduction to East Asian Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

471

Terrorism

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: Students must take at least 3 courses

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

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-

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-

COAS-S

399

Internship in Political Science

1-6

 

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

POLS-Y

490

Senior Seminar in Political Science (Must be taken from an IU Southeast faculty member)

3

C-

Public Administration Track

Core Program

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

POLS-Y

103

Introduction to American Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

199

Careers for Political Science Majors 

1

C-

POLS-Y

302

Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society

3

C-

POLS-Y

POLS-Y

303

306

Formation of Public Policy in the United States     OR

State Politics in the United States

3

3

C-

C-

POLS-Y

387

Research Methods in Political Science (Must be taken from an IU Southeast faculty member)

3

C-

POLS-T

388

Qualitative Research Methods

3

C-

COAS-S

399

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

3-6

C-

POLS-Y

490

Senior Seminar in Political Science (Must be taken from an IU Southeast faculty member)

3

C-

Major Specific Requirements  

300-400-Level Public Administration Courses (6 cr.) - Student must complete at least two 300-400 level courses in the public administration 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

POLS-T

385

Politics, Psychology, and Power

3

C-

POLS-T

390

Theories of Power

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

354

Nationalism in Europe

3

C-

POLS-Y

369

Introduction to East Asian Politics

3

C-

POLS-Y

350

Politics of the European Union

3

C-

POLS-Y

360

United States Foreign Policy

3

C-

POLS-Y

471

Terrorism

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-

Capstone

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

POLS-Y

490

Senior Seminar in Political Science (Must be taken from an IU Southeast faculty member)

3

C-

 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 387.

Dept .

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

POLS-T

388

Qualitative Research Methods

3

C-

OR

 

 

 

POLS-Y

387

Research Methods in Political Science (Must be taken from an IU Southeast faculty member)

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

POLS-Y

498

Honors Readings in Political Science

1-6

C-

POLS-Y

499

Reading for Honors

1-12

C-

Seniors who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher (both overall and in major) will be invited to join the national Political Science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha.

Academic Bulletins

PDF Version

Current Bulletin

2021-2023 Campus Bulletin

Past Bulletins

2019-2021 Campus Bulletin
2017-2019 Campus Bulletin
2015-2017 Campus Bulletin
2013-2015 Campus Bulletin

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