Accelerated B.S./M.A. in Political Science (Legal Studies)
The Accelerated Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts in Political Science provides exceptional undergraduate students in the Political Science program an avenue toward accelerated completion of a Master’s degree. This degree program mirrors the curricular and assessment requirements of the existing Master’s degree program and allows undergraduates to begin taking graduate-level courses when they have completed 90 credit hours toward their baccalaureate degree, thus reducing the calendar time necessary to complete the degree. No undergraduate course may count toward the accelerated Master’s degree. The Accelerated Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts in Political Science is a highly competitive program.
Marketable Skills
Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."
- Employers want employees who can work collaboratively in groups. The B.A. in Political Science develops these skills by requiring students to work on group projects (presented in front of the instructor and peers), identify clear roles within the group (e.g., spokespersons/team leaders), and present the findings of the group in a public forum. The M.A. in Political Science further develops this skill.
- Employers want employees who have solid writing and compositional skills. The B.A. in Political Science develops this skill by requiring students to engage in clear, persuasive, and grammatically and stylistically correct writing projects (research papers, policy briefs, reaction papers, memos, position papers, etc.). The M.A. in Political Science further develops this skill, for example through developing literature reviews in their graduate classes.
- Employers want employees who have solid oral communication skills. The B.A. in Political Science develops these skills by requiring students to present their research in a public forum (that is, in front of a class of peers and the instructor) using visual aids (slides, charts, graphs, etc.) and/or to role-play in a public forum requiring extensive research on that role. The M.A. in Political Science further develops this skill.
- Employers want employees who can work independently on projects. The M.A. in Political Science develops this skill by requiring all students to complete an independent, original piece of scholarship in the form of a Master's thesis or professional paper.
- Employers want employees who can synthesize information (facts/data, concepts, terminology) into succinct language. The M.A. in Political Science develops these skills by requiring students to take a required course in research methods which involves reading the extensive literature on a topic in politics (e.g., voting behavior or literature on democratization), synthesizing the concepts presented, analyzing data and arguments, and discussing this orally in a public forum and/or in written form (reaction papers, summaries, literature reviews, etc.).
Admissions
All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.
Program Contact
Dr. Parker Hevron, POLS Program Director and Graduate Director for History and Political Science
Application Deadlines for the Accelerated Degree Program
Fall: March 1st
Spring: November 1st
**No summer admissions**
Admission Requirements
To apply to the program, students must:
- be a current TWU Political Science major.
- have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
- have successfully completed a minimum of 72 but no more than 90 hours of coursework toward the BA.
- have a minimum of 12 hours remaining in political science courses toward the major.
How to Apply
Students interested in applying to the accelerated program in Political Science are encouraged to contact Dr. Parker Hevron prior to applying.
- Complete the application form.
- Applicants must submit the following materials in a single email to Dr. Parker Hevron. Submit as PDFs; include the student’s name and "Political Science Accelerated Master's Degree" in the subject line.
- a statement of purpose
- an academic writing sample of 10-15 pages (double spaced). Writing samples should demonstrate the ability to make well-researched arguments with effective proofs; to use clear, articulate prose; and to employ a standard style such as MLA or APA to document sources.
- Applicants must provide one recommendation letter in support of application from a current History or Political Science faculty member in the TWU department. Recommenders should include the applicant's name and “Political Science Accelerated Master's Degree” in the subject line.
- Once admitted by the department, apply to the Graduate School. Students cannot enroll in graduate-level coursework until accepted by the Graduate School.
- Students interested in a graduate assistantship should also submit an application to the POLS Department Chair in the semester they complete the bachelor's degree.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120
Major: 27-33 SCH
Program Code: POLSCIENCE.BA.MA.LEGAL CIP Code: 45.1001.00
Texas Core Curriculum
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | 3 |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Life & Physical Sciences | 6 | |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture | 3 | |
| Creative Arts | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| CAO: Women's Studies | 3 | |
| CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics | 3 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Courses Required for Major
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 3153 | Law, Politics, and Public Policy | 3 |
| POLS 3173 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3723 | Modern Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 4073 | Constitutional Law: Governmental Structure | 3 |
| POLS 4533 | International Relations | 3 |
| POLS 4833 | Political Science: Scope and Methods | 3 |
| POLS 4933 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Select 6-12 SCH from the following | 6-12 | |
| Criminal Investigation | ||
| Criminal Law | ||
| Criminal Evidence and Procedure | ||
| The American Legislative Process | ||
| Gender, Identity, and the Law | ||
| Constitutional Law: Individual Rights | ||
| Constitutional Rights and Criminal Justice | ||
| Women, Elections, and Strategy | ||
| Global Law and Legal Systems | ||
| Legal Studies Internship | ||
| Legal Studies Internship | ||
| Total SCHs | 27-33 | |
Departmental Requirements
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| English Literature (2000 level or higher) | 3 | |
| Global Perspectives | 3 | |
| Electives (select with academic advisor) | 36 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Master's Level Courses
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Select 6-12 SCH from the following | 6-12 | |
| Comparative Politics | ||
| Seminar in Political Theory | ||
| American National Defense Policy | ||
or POLS 5053 | The Presidency and Public Policy | |
| Issues in Constitutional Law | ||
or POLS 5093 | Law, Gender, and Sexuality | |
or POLS 5133 | Leadership and Women | |
or POLS 5163 | Women in Politics | |
or POLS 5263 | Women, Elections, and Strategy | |
or POLS 5303 | Problems in the Legislative Process | |
or POLS 5473 | Vietnam War: Culture, History, and Law | |
or POLS 5493 | Women As Citizens | |
| Special Topics | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Research Methods in Government | ||
| Total SCHs | 6-12 | |
Recommended Plan of Study
*The example below is only a suggestion. It is recommended to see an advisor for a personalized Plan of Study.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| UNIV 1231 | Learning Frameworks: The First Year Experience | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| Social/Behavioral Science Core | 3 | ||
| CAO: Wellness or Mathematics Core | 2 | ||
| Creative Arts Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| Mathematics Core | 3 | ||
| CAO: Multicultural Women's Studies Core | 3 | ||
| Elective (Global Perspectives course) | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| English Literature | 3 | ||
| Life & Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective (or minor) | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core | 3 | ||
| Life & Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective (or minor) | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| POLS 3173 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 | |
| POLS 4533 | International Relations | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective (or minor) | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| POLS 3723 | Modern Political Thought | 3 | |
| POLS 4073 | Constitutional Law: Governmental Structure | 3 | |
| POLS Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective (or minor) | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| POLS 3153 | Law, Politics, and Public Policy | 3 | |
| POLS 4833 | Political Science: Scope and Methods | 3 | |
| Master's Level Course | 3 | ||
| Master's Level Course | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| POLS 4933 | Senior Seminar | 3 | |
| Elective (or minor) | 3 | ||
| Master's Level Course | 3 | ||
| Master's Level Course | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 120 | ||
