Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science
4-Year Degree Plan [Sample]
Academic Advising
College policy on advising requires that students meet with their academic advisors at least once each year, and in some departments, prior to each semester’s to enrollment. Advising holds are placed on all CLAS students prior to advance registration and are released following advising appointments. Students with a declared major are advised in their academic units. To determine who your advisor is and how to contact them, see Onestart.
Degree Requirements (120 cr.)
Students receiving the Bachelor of Arts degree must complete 120 total credit hours including:
- The IU South Bend campuswide general-education curriculum (33-39 cr.)
- The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Arts additional requirements (14-23 cr.)
- Major concentration and elective requirements.
- The Required Minor (15-18 cr.) taken in any campus school or interdisciplinary program.
- A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
In addition, major and minor requirements must be completed with a grade of C– or higher.
All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.
Major Requirements (30 cr.)
- 27 credits from 3 of the 4 sub-areas | American Government, Comparative or International Politics, Political Theory, Public Affairs. No more than 9 credit hours of 100-level courses may be included in the 30 credit hours.
- POLS-Y 490 Senior Seminar in Political Science (students enrolled in POLS-Y 490 Senior Seminar must submit a portfolio at the end of the semester in which they are enrolled)
American Government
- POLS-Y 103 Introduction to American Politics
- POLS-Y 200 Contemporary Political Topics
- POLS-Y 201 Controversies in United States Politics
- POLS-Y 301 Political Parties and Interest Groups
- POLS-Y 304 Constitutional Law
- POLS-Y 316 Public Opinion and Political Participation
- POLS-Y 317 Voting, Elections, and Public Opinion
- POLS-Y 318 The American Presidency
- POLS-Y 319 The United States Congress
- POLS-Y 327 Gender Politics in the United States
- POLS-Y 329 Racial and Ethnic Politics in the United States
Comparative or International Politics
- GEOG-G 313 Political Geography
- POLS-Y 107 Introduction to Comparative Politics
- POLS-Y 109 Introduction to International Relations
- POLS-Y 311 Democracy and National Security
- POLS-Y 324 Women and Politics
- POLS-Y 330 Central American Politics
- POLS-Y 335 Western European Politics
- POLS-Y 337 Latin American Politics
- POLS-Y 343 The Politics of International Development
- POLS-Y 350 Politics of the European Union
- POLS-Y 362 International Politics in Selected Regions
- POLS-Y 371 Workshop in International Topics
VT: Terrorism and Political Violence - POLS-Y 376 International Political Economy
- POLS-Y 488 Study Abroad in Political Science
Political Theory
- POLS-Y 381 History of Political Theory I
- POLS-Y 382 History of Political Theory II
- POLS-Y 383 Foundations of American Political Thought
- POLS-Y 384 Developments in American Political Thought
Public Affairs
- POLS-Y 115 Environment and People
- POLS-Y 120 Public Affairs
- POLS-Y 235 Introduction to Public Management
- POLS-Y 357 Introduction to Nonprofit Management
- POLS-Y 358 Human Behavior and Public Organizations
- POLS-Y 359 Economics and Public Management
- POLS-Y 387 Research Methods in Political Science
- POLS-Y 396 Law and Public Affairs
- POLS-Y 425 Public Sector Labor Relations
- POLS-Y 430 Introduction to Public Policy
The sub-area of the following courses varies depending on the section number and instructor. Accordingly, students should consult with their departmental advisor.
- POLS-B 190 Human Behavior & Social Institutions
- POLS-B 399 Human Behavior & Social Institutions
- POLS-Y 380 Selected Topics of Democratic Government