Political Science, B.A.

Students majoring in Political Science can choose a general focus or a concentration in either Public Administration or Pre-law.

A general focus major in Political Science requires 36 semester hours of work, including:

Required Courses

Core (12 hours)

PS 1005 - American Government and Politics 3 credit hours (formerly PS 2010)
PS 1010 - Foundations of Government 3 credit hours
PS 3001 - Research Methods in Political Science 3 credit hours (formerly PS 4000)
PS 4800 - Senior Seminar 3 credit hours

One course from each of the following areas:

Electives (15 hours)

Curriculum: Political Science

Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

Freshman

ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
Mathematics 3 credit hours
PS 1010 - Foundations of Government 3 credit hours (Soc/Beh Sci)
PS 1005 - American Government and Politics 3 credit hours
Natural Sciences (2 prefixes) 8 credit hours
Foreign Language/Minor 6 credit hours *

Subtotal: 32 Hours

Sophomore

ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
HUM 2610 - Foreign Literature in Translation 3 credit hours (Hum/FA)
Foreign Language/Minor 6 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (2 prefixes) 6 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
PS 3001 - Research Methods in Political Science 3 credit hours
PS 3050 - The U.S. Presidency 3 credit hours OR
PS 3060 - The U.S. Congress 3 credit hours OR
PS 3250 - Public Administration 3 credit hours OR
PS 3330 - Political Parties 3 credit hours OR
PS 3370 - American Constitutional Law 3 credit hours
Choose 6 hours from:
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 30 Hours

Junior

PS elective 3 credit hours
Minors 12 credit hours
Electives 6 credit hours

PS 3210 - International Relations 3 credit hours OR
PS 3220 - Comparative Politics 3 credit hours
PS 4230 - Classical Political Theory 3 credit hours OR
PS 4700 - American Political Thought 3 credit hours OR
PS 4920 - Modern Political Theory 3 credit hours OR
PS 4930 - Introduction to Contemporary Political Philosophy 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 27 Hours

Senior

PS electives 12 credit hours
Electives 4 credit hours
Minors 12 credit hours

PS 4800 - Senior Seminar 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Total hours in program: 120

Note:

Students pursuing the B.S. degree rather than the B.A. degree should take a second minor.