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

• POLS-Y 103 Introduction to American Politics
• POLS-Y 199 Careers for Political Science Majors 
• POLS-Y 387 Research Methods in Political Science (Must be taken from an IU Southeast faculty member)
• POLS-T 388 Qualitative Research Methods 
• 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)

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, Y369
3. International Relations - Y 354, Y 360, Y 376, Y471
4. Political Theory - T 385, T 390, Y 384, Y 392

• POLS-T 385 Politics, Psychology, and Power
• POLS-T 389 Politics and Theatre
• POLS-T 390 Theories of Power
• POLS-Y 301 Political Parties and Interest Groups
• POLS-Y 302 Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society
• POLS-Y 303 Formation of Public Policy in the United States
• POLS-Y 304 Constitutional Law
• POLS-Y 306 State Politics in the United States
• POLS-Y 317 Voting, Elections, and Public Opinion
• POLS-Y 318 The American Presidency
• POLS-Y 319 The United States Congress
• POLS-Y 322 The American Presidency
• POLS-Y 324 Women and Politics
• POLS-Y 360 United States Foreign Policy
• POLS-Y 402 Politics of the Budgetary Process
• POLS-Y 403 Legal Issues in Public Bureaucracy
• POLS-Y 404 Political Issues in Public Personnel Administration
• POLS-Y 335 West European Politics
• POLS-Y 337 Latin American Politics
• POLS-Y 349 Comparative Public Policy
• POLS-Y 354 Nationalism in Europe
• POLS-Y 369 Introduction to East Asian Politics
• POLS-Y 471 Terrorism
• POLS-Y 376 International Political Economy
• POLS-Y 384 Developments in American Political Thought
• POLS-Y 392 Problems of Contemporary Political Philosophy

Electives: Students must take at least 3 courses from any of the sub-fields noted above or any of the offerings listed below. These elective credits most total to nine credit hours. 

• POLS-Y 105 Introduction to Political Theory
• POLS-Y 107 Introduction to Comparative Politics
• POLS-Y 109 Introduction to International Relations
• POLS-Y 200 Contemporary Political Problems
• POLS-Y 351 Political Simulations
• POLS-Y 401 Studies in Political Science
• POLS-Y 480 Undergraduate Readings in Political Science
• POLS-Y 481 Field Experience in Political Science
• COAS-S 399 Internship in Political Science

Capstone

• POLS-Y 490 Senior Seminar in Political Science (Must be taken from an IU Southeast faculty member)

Public Administration Track

Core Program

• POLS-Y 103 Introduction to American Politics
• POLS-Y 199 Careers for Political Science Majors 
• POLS-Y 302 Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society
• POLS-Y 303 Formation of Public Policy in the United States OR POLS-Y 306 State Politics in the United States
• POLS-Y 387 Research Methods in Political Science (Must be taken from an IU Southeast faculty member)
• POLS-T 388 Qualitative Research Methods
• COAS-S 399 Internship in Public Administration (must serve a minimum of a three-credit hour internship in an approved public or nongovernmental [nonprofit] organization.
• POLS-Y 490 Senior Seminar in Political Science (Must be taken from an IU Southeast faculty member)

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.

• POLS-T 385 Politics, Psychology, and Power
• POLS-T 390 Theories of Power
• POLS-Y 335 West European Politics
• POLS-Y 337 Latin American Politics
• POLS-Y 349 Comparative Public Policy
• POLS-Y 354 Nationalism in Europe
• POLS-Y 369 Introduction to East Asian Politics
• POLS-Y 350 Politics of the European Union
• POLS-Y 360 United States Foreign Policy
• POLS-Y 471 Terrorism
• POLS-Y 376 International Political Economy
• POLS-Y 384 Developments in American Political Thought
• POLS-Y 392 Problems of Contemporary Political Philosophy

Capstone

• POLS-Y 490 Senior Seminar in Political Science (Must be taken from an IU Southeast faculty member)

 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.

• POLS-T 388 Qualitative Research Methods

OR  

• POLS-Y 387 Research Methods in Political Science (Must be taken from an IU Southeast faculty member)

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. 

• POLS-Y 498 Honors Readings in Political Science
• POLS-Y 499 Reading for Honors

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