Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Politics, Policy, and Public Service)
Website: https://twu.edu/political-science/undergraduate-programs/bachelors-degrees-in-political-science//
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science (Politics, Policy, and Public Service track) provides an excellent foundation for proceeding to graduate programs in the field (M.A. and Ph.D.), to law school admission, or to careers in the public sector. Specifically, this degree provides a background for professional preparation in the following fields: library science, teaching at middle school, secondary school, or college level; work with archives; journalism; criminal justice administration; legal assistance; law school; 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 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 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 stills. 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.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120
Major: 36 SCH
Program Code: POLSCIENCE.BA CIP Code: 45.1001.00
(The student may choose from two separate emphases. Each requires thirty semester credit hours of government.)
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 3173 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3303 | The American Legislative Process | 3 |
| POLS 3723 | Modern Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 4533 | International Relations | 3 |
| POLS 4813 | Seminar in Public Policy | 3 |
| POLS 4933 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Plus 18 more semester credit hours from the following courses | 18 | |
| Community Conversation in Sustainability | ||
| The American Presidency | ||
| Women in Politics | ||
| Law, Politics, and Public Policy | ||
| Media and Politics | ||
| Police, Policies, and Practices | ||
| Japanese Culture and Politics | ||
| The Politics of Food in America | ||
| Constitutional Law: Governmental Structure | ||
| Public Administration | ||
| Women in Leadership | ||
| Women, Elections, and Strategy | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| Modern Nationalism | ||
| Global Law and Legal Systems | ||
| Comparative Government: Europe | ||
| Comparative Government: Africa and Asia | ||
| German Politics Since 1945 Through Film | ||
| Government Internship | ||
or POLS 4806 | Government Internship | |
| Political Science: Scope and Methods | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Total SCHs | 36 | |
Departmental Requirements
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| English Literature (2000 level or higher if not already completed) | 3 | |
| Foreign Language (12 SCH of the same language) | 12 | |
| Global Perspectives (if not already completed) | 3 | |
| Electives (select with academic advisor) | 24 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
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 |
| Creative Arts Core | 3 | ||
| CAO: Wellness or Mathematics Core | 2 | ||
| Elective | 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 | ||
| Elective (Global Perspectives course) | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| English Literature | 3 | ||
| Foreign Language | 3 | ||
| Life & Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| Social & Behavioral Science Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | ||
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core | 3 | ||
| Life & Physical Science Core | 3 | ||
| CAO: Women's Studies Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| POLS 3173 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| POLS 4533 | International Relations | 3 | |
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| POLS 3723 | Modern Political Thought | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 3 | ||
| POLS 4813 | Seminar in Public Policy | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| POLS 3303 | The American Legislative Process | 3 | |
| Political Science Elective | 3 | ||
| Political Science Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| POLS 4933 | Senior Seminar | 3 | |
| Political Science Elective | 3 | ||
| Political Science Elective | 3 | ||
| Political Science Elective | 3 | ||
| Political Science Elective | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 120 | ||
