Political Science, Public Administration Concentration, B.A.

Political Science and International Relations
615-898-2708
Stephen Morris, program coordinator
Stephen.Morris@mtsu.edu

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

The Public Administration concentration is for those seeking administrative careers in government or public service agencies. A combination of general political science courses, core public administration courses, pertinent political science electives, and courses in related disciplines provides a sound background for an administrative career.

Academic Map

Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Political Science, Public Administration, B.A., Academic Map

Degree Requirements

General Education (41 hours)

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

The following General Education course is recommended for this major.

PS 1005 or PS 1010 (Soc/Beh Sci)

Major Requirements (37 hours)

PS 1005 - Introduction to American Politics 3 credit hours
PS 1010 - Introduction to Global Politics 3 credit hours
PS 2000 - Political Science and International Relations as a Profession 1 credit hour
PS 3001 - Research Methods in Political Science 3 credit hours
PS 3250 - Public Administration 3 credit hours
PS 4290 - Public Service Internship 1 to 12 credit hours
PS 4800 - Senior Seminar 3 credit hours
Choose two courses from:
PS 3270 - NGOs and Non-Profits 3 credit hours
PS 3440 - Governmental Budgeting and Finance Administration 3 credit hours
PS 4590 - Administrative Law 3 credit hours
PS 4630 - Personnel Management 3 credit hours
Choose two courses from:
PS 2020 - State and Local Government 3 credit hours
PS 2440 - Law and the Legal System 3 credit hours
PS 3160 - American Public Policy 3 credit hours
PS 3400 - Municipal Government 3 credit hours
PS 3490 - Alternative Dispute Resolution 3 credit hours
PS 4120 - Tennessee Government 3 credit hours
Choose two Political Science electives from:
- American Government 3 credit hours
- Comparative Government 3 credit hours
- International Relations 3 credit hours
- Political Theory 3 credit hours

Public Administration Cognate (18 hours)

This cognate takes the place of one minor (18 hours). Complete six of the following courses in consultation with advisor.

ACTG 3020 - Managerial Accounting 3 credit hours
COMM 3220 - Small Group Communication 3 credit hours
ECON 2410 - Principles of Economics, Macroeconomics 3 credit hours
ECON 2420 - Principles of Economics, Microeconomics 3 credit hours
ECON 4390 - Employee Benefits 3 credit hours
ECON 4420 - Labor and Human Resource Economics 3 credit hours
ECON 4510 - Unions and Collective Bargaining 3 credit hours
MGMT 3610 - Principles of Management 3 credit hours
MGMT 4200 - Leadership in Organizations 3 credit hours
MGMT 4680 - Organization Behavior 3 credit hours
LEAD 3010 - Leadership Theories and Practices 3 credit hours
ORCO 3240 - Introduction to Organizational Communication 3 credit hours
ORCO 3250 - Organizational Communication in Communities 3 credit hours
ORCO 3500 - Strategic Communication in Organizations 3 credit hours
ORCO 3650 - Conflict and Organizations 3 credit hours
PSY 4380 - Group Dynamics 3 credit hours

Foreign Language Requirement (6 hours)

Students must successfully complete 2010 and 2020 or any courses numbered above the 2000 level in a single foreign language.

Electives (24-27 hours)

Total hours in program: 120

Curriculum: Political Science, Public Administration, B.A.

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)
PS 1005 - Introduction to American Politics 3 credit hours
PS 1010 - Introduction to Global Politics 3 credit hours (Soc/Beh Sci)
Mathematics 3 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
Natural Sciences (2 prefixes) 8 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
General elective 3 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)
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
Foreign language courses 6 credit hours
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
PS 2000 - Political Science and International Relations as a Profession 1 credit hour
PS 3001 - Research Methods in Political Science 3 credit hours
PS 3250 - Public Administration 3 credit hours
PS 3440 - Governmental Budgeting and Finance Administration 3 credit hours OR
PS 4590 - Administrative Law 3 credit hours OR
PS 4630 - Personnel Management 3 credit hours
PS 2020 - State and Local Government 3 credit hours OR
PS 2440 - Law and the Legal System 3 credit hours OR
PS 3160 - American Public Policy 3 credit hours OR
PS 3400 - Municipal Government 3 credit hours OR
PS 3490 - Alternative Dispute Resolution 3 credit hours OR
PS 4120 - Tennessee Government 3 credit hours OR

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Junior

PS 4290 - Public Service Internship 1 to 12 credit hours (3 credit hours required)
PA cognate 9 credit hours
PS elective 3 credit hours
General elective 3 credit hours
Foreign language courses 6 credit hours
PS 3440 - Governmental Budgeting and Finance Administration 3 credit hours OR
PS 4590 - Administrative Law 3 credit hours OR
PS 4630 - Personnel Management 3 credit hours
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

Senior

PS 4800 - Senior Seminar 3 credit hours
PS elective 3 credit hours
General electives 9 credit hours
PA cognate 9 credit hours
PS 2020 - State and Local Government 3 credit hours OR
PS 2440 - Law and the Legal System 3 credit hours OR
PS 3160 - American Public Policy 3 credit hours OR
PS 3400 - Municipal Government 3 credit hours OR
PS 3490 - Alternative Dispute Resolution 3 credit hours OR
PS 4120 - Tennessee Government 3 credit hours OR