Pictured | Jarrett Taft | Bachelor of Arts in Political Science | Minor in Communication Studies | Mishawaka, Indiana (hometown)
Volunteer Activity | Peer Mentor

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Courses offered by the department introduce students to the study of government and politics, including an understanding of public affairs, different political systems, and political ideas. This program intends to educate citizens who can think critically about politics and its place in their lives and in society; to provide a general liberal arts education for students continuing on to a wide variety of careers, including public service; and to help prepare those students who choose to continue on to graduate school or law school.

Through their coursework, students also come to understand some of the ways in which political scientists study politics; and learn to express themselves cogently in writing and orally. The department seeks to achieve these goals through its instructional program: a master’s degree, three graduate certificates, a major, a minor, and the political science courses taken by students majoring in other disciplines as part of the general education requirement

Academic Advising

Your academic advisor is a critical partner in fostering your success at IU South Bend and beyond. Your advisor will help you explore academic majors and careers, plan your degree, choose classes, learn about internships and study abroad, and much more. To see who is assigned as your advisor, visit your Student Online Advising Record in one.iu.edu. For more information about advising at IU South Bend, visit the website for the Undergraduate Advising Center.

Final responsibility for meeting degree requirements rests with the student.

Questions about advising? Email sbadvise@iu.edu or call (574) 520-4550.

Degree Requirements (120 cr.)

Degree Map >>

Students receiving the Bachelor of Arts degree must complete 120 total credit hours including:

• IU South Bend Campuswide General Education Curriculum (33 cr.)
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Arts Requirements (16-26 cr.)
• Required Minor taken in any campus school or interdisciplinary program (15-18 cr.)
• Major Requirements (30 cr.)
• Free Electives (balance of credits needed to equal 120 cr. requirement)

• A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300– or 400–level
• Major and minor requirements must be completed with a grade of C– or higher.

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-B 190 Human Behavior and Social Institutions
  VT: Media and Politics
• POLS-B 399 Human Behavior and Social Institutions
  VT: Urban Politics and Policy
• 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 and Politics
• POLS-Y 329 Racial and Ethnic Politics in the United States

Comparative or International Politics

• GEOG-G 313 Place and Politics
• POLS-B 399 Human Behavior and Social Institutions
  VT: Truth and Reconciliation
• POLS-B 399 Human Behavior and Social Institutions
  VT: Politics of Terrorism
• 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 376 International Political Economy
• POLS-Y 488 Study Abroad in Political Science

Political Theory

• POLS-Y 105 Introduction to Political Theory
• POLS-Y 381 Classical Political Thought
• POLS-Y 382 Modern Political Thought
• 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 394 Public Policy Analysis
• 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 and Social Institutions
• POLS-B 399 Human Behavior and Social Institutions
• POLS-Y 380 Selected Topics of Democratic Government