Political Science: Bachelor of Arts/Science
Program Description
Political science is the systematic study of government, politics and public policy. It is one of a number of liberal arts majors that prepare students for a broad range of career opportunities.
Political science majors choose one of four tracks or concentrations: general political science, pre-law, public administration or historical and comparative politcs. Each concentration provides a combination of knowledge and skills especially appropriate for those with particular career goals. However, choosing one concentration over the others does not limit you to a particular career path — each of the tracks provides a solid grounding in political science and a broad liberal arts background.
General education requirements and sufficient elective credits must be completed so that at least 124 semester credits have been earned.
Other Qualifications — Graduate degrees are required for some positions; thus, a law degree is required for work as an attorney and a Ph.D. is required for appointment to permanent teaching and research positions in colleges and universities.
Available degrees (see specific degree requirements further down the page):
Bachelor of Arts/Science Political Science-General
Bachelor of Arts/Science Political Science-Pre-Law
Bachelor of Science Political Science-Public Administration
Bachelor of Arts/Science Political Science-Historical and Comparative Politics
Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Arts/Science Political Science--General
The general political science concentration is designed to provide a broad education in political science. It is most appropriate for students who plan to attend graduate school in political science and for those with an interest in government and politics who wish to get a broad, liberal education. Students who continue their education in graduate school most often pursue careers as professors, researchers, consultants or government officials. Students who do not pursue graduate study choose from a wide variety of career options in government, politics, teaching, journalism and business.
Political Science Courses
- POLI101 Freshman Seminar 2
- POLI110 Introduction to American Government and Politics 4
or - POLI160 Introduction to Canadian Government and Politics 4
- POLI202 Sophomore Seminar Political Research & Statistics 3
- POLI303 Junior Seminar 4
- POLI351 Political Philosophy 4
- POLI404 Senior Seminar I 2
- POLI405 Senior Seminar II 2
A minimum of one course in each of three political science fields, and two courses in one of the fields:
- American Politics (POLI301, POLI325, POLI367, POLI467) 3-4
- Comparative Politics (POLI234, POLI331, POLI334, POLI335) 3-4
- International Relations (POLI241, POLI245, POLI342, POLI411, POLI413, POLI420) 3-4
Additional political science electives to reach 40 credits.
A minimum of 21 credits must be at the 300/400 level, with at least nine of these at the 400 level.
General Political Science Cognates
- COMM302 Argumentation and Advocacy 3
or - COMM320 Public Relations 4
- ECON201 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
- ENGL306 Technical Writing 3
or
ENGL221 Creative Writing 3 - HIST Full-year history sequence (HIST101-HIST102 or HIST131-HIST132) 8
- PHIL205 Logic 3
Bachelor of Arts Cognates (8 credits)
One year of a modern language other than English. If taken at LSSU, this would be CHIN151-CHIN152 or CHIN251-CHIN252; FREN151-FREN152 or FREN251-FREN252 or SPAN161-SPAN162. One-half year of two different languages will not meet this requirement.
General Education: All LSSU bachelor's degree candidates must complete the LSSU General Education Requirements.
A minimum of 124 credits (at the 100 level or higher) must be earned for graduation with a cumulative gpa of 2.00 or higher. A gpa of 2.00 or higher is also required in your Major, as well as in your General Education Requirements.
Bachelor of Arts/Science Political Science--Pre-Law
The pre-law concentration is designed to provide students interested in legal careers with a planned curriculum that prepares them especially well for law school and for careers in law. Students who choose this option are often interested in careers as attorneys, prosecutors or judges. It should be noted that this is not a mandatory pre-law curriculum; it is a curriculum for pre-law students who have a special interest in government and politics.
Political Science Courses
- POLI101 Freshman Seminar 2
- POLI110 Introduction to American Government and Politics 4
or - POLI160 Introduction to Canadian Government and Politics 4
- POLI120 Introduction to Legal Processes 3
- POLI130 Introduction to State and Local Government 4
- POLI202 Sophomore Seminar Political Research & Statistics 3
- POLI222 Introduction to the Legal Profession 3
- POLI303 Junior Seminar 4
- POLI351 Political Philosophy 4
- POLI404 Senior Seminar I 2
- POLI405 Senior Seminar II 2
- POLI467 Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties 4
A minimum of one course in each of two political science fields:
- Comparative Politics (POLI234, POLI331, POLI334, POLI335) 3-4
- International Relations (POLI241, POLI245, POLI342, POLI411, POLI413, POLI420) 3-4
Additional political science electives to reach 42 credits
A minimum of 21 credits must be at the 300/400 level. (At least nine of these credits must be at the 400 level.)
Pre-Law Cognates
- ACTG132 Principles of Accounting I 4
- COMM302 Argumentation and Advocacy 3
- ENGL306 Technical Writing 3
or - ENGL221 Creative Writing 3
- HIST Full-year history sequence (HIST101-HIST102 or HIST131-HIST132) 8
- LAWS102 Legal Research and Case Analysis 3
- LAWS202 Legal Writing and Analysis 3
- PHIL205 Logic 3
Two law courses in different disciplines from the following:
- BUSN350 Business Law I 3
- BUSN355 Business Law II 3
- CJUS250 Correctional Law 3
- CJUS319 Substantive Criminal Law 3
- CJUS409 Procedural Criminal Law 3
- EVRN311 Environmental Law 3
- INTB375 International Business Law 3
- MGMT451 Labor Law 4
- POLI301 Policy Analysis and Evaluation 4
- POLI342 International Environmental Policy 3
- POLI499 Political Science/Public Administration Internship 3
Bachelor of Arts Cognates (8 credits)
One year of a modern language other than English. If taken at LSSU, this would be CHIN151-CHIN152 or CHIN251-CHIN252; FREN151-FREN152 or FREN251-FREN252 or SPAN161-SPAN162. One-half year of two different languages will not meet this requirement.
General Education: All LSSU bachelor's degree candidates must complete the LSSU General Education Requirements.
A minimum of 124 credits (at the 100 level or higher) must be earned for graduation with a cumulative gpa of 2.00 or higher. A gpa of 2.00 or higher is also required in your Major, as well as in your General Education Requirements.
Bachelor of Science Political Science--Public Administration
The public administration concentration is most appropriate for students who plan to work in an administrative capacity in public agencies or nonprofit organizations with public missions. Students who choose this option are preparing for careers of public service. Such careers may be pursued through positions in government agencies at the local, state or provincial, and national levels. Other positions may be found in nonprofit organizations involved in public concerns, such as Common Cause, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Michigan Health Council. Some of these careers of public service may be pursued with only a bachelor's degree. Others may require completion of a master's degree in public administration or a related field.
Political Science Courses
- POLI101 Freshman Seminar 2
- POLI110 Introduction to American Government and Politics 4
or - POLI160 Introduction to Canadian Government and Politics 4
- POLI130 Introduction to State and Local Government 4
- POLI201 Introduction to Public Administration 3
- POLI202 Sophomore Seminar Political Research & Statistics 3
- POLI301 Policy Analysis and Evaluation 4
- POLI303 Junior Seminar 4
- POLI351 Political Philosophy 4
- POLI401 Principles of Public Administration 3
- POLI404 Senior Seminar I 2
- POLI405 Senior Seminar II 2
- POLI499 Public Administration Internship 3
A minimum of one course in each of two political science fields:
- Comparative Politics (POLI234, POLI331, POLI334, POLI335) 3-4
- International Relations (POLI241, POLI245, POLI342, POLI411, POLI413, POLI420) 3-4
Public Administration Cognates
- ACTG132 Principles of Accounting I 4
- COMM302 Argumentation and Advocacy 3
or - COMM320 Public Relations 4
- ECON201 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
- ECON305 Public Finance 3
- ENGL306 Technical Writing 3
or - ENGL221 Creative Writing 3
- HIST Full-year history sequence (HIST101-HIST102 or HIST131-HIST132) 8
- MGMT360 Management Concepts & Applications 3
- MGMT365 Human Resource Management 3
General Education: All LSSU bachelor's degree candidates must complete the LSSU General Education Requirements.
A minimum of 124 credits (at the 100 level or higher) must be earned for graduation with a cumulative gpa of 2.00 or higher. A gpa of 2.00 or higher is also required in your Major, as well as in your General Education Requirements.
Bachelor of Arts/Science Political Science--Historical and Comparative Politics
The historical and comparative politics concentration is designed to provide a broad education in these areas of political science. It is most appropriate for students who plan to attend graduate school in political science or history and for those with an interest in working in the international community. Students who continue their education in graduate school most often pursue careers as professors, researchers, consultants or government officials. Students who do not pursue graduate study choose from a wide variety of career options in government, politics, teaching, journalism and business.
Political Science and History Courses
- POLI101 Freshman Seminar 2
- POLI110 Introduction to American Government and Politics 4
or - POLI160 Introduction to Canadian Government and Politics 4
- POLI202 Sophomore Seminar Political Research & Statistics 3
- POLI303 Junior Seminar 4
- POLI351 Political Philosophy 4
- POLI404 Senior Seminar I 2
- POLI405 Senior Seminar II 2
- HIST101 History of World Civilization I 4
- HIST102 History of World Civilization II 4
Area Studies-Europe:
- HIST315 Europe Napoleon World War I 4
or - HIST316 Europe in the 20th Century 4
- POLI331 Comparative Politics of Europe 4
Issue Studies-International Relations:
Issue Studies-US Foreign Policy:
Additional political science or history electives to reach 40 credits. A minimum of 21 credits must be at the 300/400 level, with at least nine of these at the 400 level.
General Political Science Cognates
- COMM302 Argumentation and Advocacy 3
or - COMM320 Public Relations 4
- ECON201 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
- ENGL306 Technical Writing 3
or - ENGL221 Creative Writing 3
- PHIL205 Logic 3
Bachelor of Arts Cognates (8 credits)
One year of a modern language other than English. If taken at LSSU, this would be CHIN151-CHIN152 or CHIN251-CHIN252; FREN151-FREN152 or FREN251-FREN252 or SPAN161-SPAN162. One-half year of two different languages will not meet this requirement.
General Education: All LSSU bachelor's degree candidates must complete the LSSU General Education Requirements.
A minimum of 124 credits (at the 100 level or higher) must be earned for graduation with a cumulative gpa of 2.00 or higher. A gpa of 2.00 or higher is also required in your Major, as well as in your General Education Requirements.
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