Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Adviser Name:_______________________ Bulletin: 2021-2022 Undergraduate Bulletin Program: Political Science Major, Government, Law and Diplomacy Concentration, B.A./B.S. Minimum Credits Required:__________________

Political Science Major, Government, Law and Diplomacy Concentration, B.A./B.S.

College of Liberal Arts >> Political Science, Public Administration, and Philosophy 

39 hours; 2.0 major GPA required

Political science is the study of government, politics and public issues, and the institutions and processes through which conflicts over such issues are resolved. The major is grounded in the field’s theoretical traditions and provides a strong background in the fundamental branches of the discipline: American politics, comparative politics, international politics, public policy, public administration, and political theory. Political science students develop analytical and methodological skills that permit them to critically assess contemporary political events and identify practical solutions to problems that arise in society and government.

The major offers a solid foundation for a liberal arts education, regardless of a student’s career objectives, and is particularly well-suited to those interested in government, law, teaching, business, and journalism. As undergraduates, political science majors have the opportunity to gain practical experience in the field by working for political campaigns, serving as interns for the state legislature, working in local or state courts or other law-related organizations or interning in public and nonprofit organizations.

Students with majors in political science may earn either a Bachelor of Science degree or a Bachelor of Arts degree, which has a two-year non-English modern or classical language requirement. Regardless of degree choice, students will select a concentration area in either 1) Government, Law and Diplomacy to prepare them for careers in politics, the law or international relations or 2) Public or Nonprofit Administration to prepare them for careers in managing government or nonprofit organizations. Students may earn a second concentration, but must have a minimum of 12 unique hours not previously applied to the major/concentration.

Political Science Core (12 credits)

Required Courses

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
POLS 102 - Introduction to American Politics

USI Core 39: Ways of Knowing-Social Inquiry; Social Science-BS


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 3
POLS 232 - Research Design and Data Collection

USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Writing


Term(s) Offered: Fall
Credits: 3
POLS 332 - Statistics and Data Analysis
Term(s) Offered: Spring
Credits: 3

One course selected from:

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
POLS 309 - American Political Theory

USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Writing


Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 445 - Ancient Political Theory

USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Writing


Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 446 - Modern Political Theory

USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Writing


Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3

Required Courses (12 credits)

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
POLS 203 - Introduction to the Policy Process in the United States
Term(s) Offered: Spring
Credits: 3
POLS 271 - International Politics

USI Core 39: Ways of Knowing-Social Inquiry; Social Science (BS); Embedded Experience-Global


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3
POLS 281 - Comparative Politics

USI Core 39: Ways of Knowing-Social Inquiry; Social Science (BS); Embedded Experience-Global


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3
POLS 499 - Senior Seminar in Political Science
Term(s) Offered: Fall
Credits: 3

Electives (15 credits)

Choose 6 credits of directed electives from the following courses:

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
CRIM 301 - Criminal Justice Administration
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3
CRIM 302 - Criminal Law
Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
Credits: 3
POLS 208 - Law, Courts, and Justice
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 3
POLS 305 - State and Local Government
Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
Credits: 3
POLS 306 - Political Parties
Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 309 - American Political Theory

USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Writing


Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 314 - The American Presidency
Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 361 - Intergovernmental Relations in the United States
Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
Credits: 3
POLS 371 - The United Nations
Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 383 - Government and Politics of Latin America
Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
Credits: 3
POLS 384 - The Middle East

USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Global


Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 385 - European Politics

USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Global


Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 399 - Advanced Topics in Political Science
Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
Credits: 3
POLS 404 - Indiana Constitutional Law
Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
Credits: 3
POLS 405 - Constitutional Law
Term(s) Offered: Fall
Credits: 3
POLS 406 - Constitutional Rights
Term(s) Offered: Spring
Credits: 3
POLS 407 - The Legislative Process
Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 410 - Interest Groups and Public Policy
Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
Credits: 3
POLS 427 - Urban Politics and Governance
Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 445 - Ancient Political Theory

USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Writing


Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 446 - Modern Political Theory

USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Writing


Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 464 - Environmental Politics and Policy
Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 465 - Comparative Public Policy

USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Global


Term(s) Offered: Irregularly offered
Credits: 3
POLS 471 - International Organizations
Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 473 - International Law
Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 487 - The Politics of Russia and China

USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Global


Term(s) Offered: Every other year
Credits: 3
POLS 490 - Political Science Internship
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 3
POLS 497 - Legislative Internship
Term(s) Offered: Spring
Credits: 6
POLS 498 - Research in Political Science
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 3

Choose 9 credits of general electives from any POLS prefix courses not previously counted.

Notes: