Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Legal Studies)
Website: https://twu.edu/political-science/undergraduate-programs/bachelors-degrees-in-political-science//
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science (Legal Studies track) provides an excellent foundation for proceeding to graduate programs in the field or to careers in the public or nonprofit sector. In addition, this degree provides an excellent background and professional preparation in the following fields: legal assistance; law school; teaching at middle school, secondary school, or college level; library science; work with archives; journalism; criminal justice administration; foreign service; non-profit organizations; and administrative, federal and state civil service.
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 (Legal Studies) 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.
- Employers want employees who have solid writing and compositional skills. The B.A. in Political Science (Legal Studies) 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.).
- Employers want employees who have solid oral communication skills. The B.A. in Political Science (Legal Studies) 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.
- Employers in the legal field want employees who have well-developed analytical skills, especially in dealing with legal issues. The B.A. in Political Science (Legal Studies) develops these skills through coursework content that extensively discusses legal issues and requires students to analyze information.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120
Major: 36 SCH Minor (optional): 18 SCH
Program Code: POLSCIENCE.BA.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 4933 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Plus 18 more semester credit hours from the following courses | 18 | |
| 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 | 36 | |
Departmental Requirements
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| English Literature (2000 level or higher if not already completed) | 3 | |
| Global Perspectives (if not already completed) | 3 | |
| Foreign Language (12 SCH of the same language) | 12 | |
| *Electives (select with academic advisor) | 24 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
*Students are encouraged to select internship credit as part of the electives.
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 | |
| Creative Arts Core | 3 | ||
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| UNIV 1231 | Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| Wellness/Mathematics CAO Core | 2 | ||
| Social/Behavioral Science 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 | ||
| Multicultural Women's Studies CAO Core | 3 | ||
| Elective (Global Perspectives course) | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| English Literature | 3 | ||
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| Life/Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| Elective (or minor) | 3 | ||
| Foreign Language | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy, and Culture Core | 3 | ||
| Life/Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| Foreign Language | 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 (or minor) | 3 | ||
| Foreign Language | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| POLS 3723 | Modern Political Thought | 3 | |
| POLS 4073 | Constitutional Law: Governmental Structure | 3 | |
| Political Science Elective for major (advanced) | 3 | ||
| Elective (or minor) | 3 | ||
| Foreign Language | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| POLS 3153 | Law, Politics, and Public Policy | 3 | |
| Political Science required for major (advanced) | 3 | ||
| Elective (or minor) | 3 | ||
| Elective (advanced) | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| POLS 4933 | Senior Seminar | 3 | |
| Political Science elective required for major (advanced) | 3 | ||
| Political Science elective required for major (advanced) | 3 | ||
| Political Science elective required for major (advanced) | 3 | ||
| Political Science elective required for Major (advanced) | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 120 | ||
