This bachelor's degree in Political Science will develop knowledge of American political institutions, world politics, political theory, and public administration and policy. Students will take a lower division foundation block that covers the fields listed above while developing their skills in critical thinking, communication, and research methods. After completion of the four class foundation block, students can individualize their course of study while fulfilling their upper division coursework requirements and a research design class.
Requirements for a degree in Political Science include:
- Completion of four Political Science lower division foundation courses;
- Completion of eight Political Science upper division courses with at least one course in each of the sub fields: American political institutions, political theory, world politics, and public administration/policy;
- Completion of either STAT 216Q- Introduction to Statistics OR three credits of a foreign language at a second semester first year level, or higher;
- Completion of PSCI 390R-Research Methods in Political Science your Junior year;
- Completion of MSU general graduation requirements of 120 credits, including 42 upper division credits, and the MSU Core.
*All Major requirements must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
Program Learning Outcomes
- Disciplinary knowledge: Majors in political science will understand fundamental issues in American Government, Political Theory, Public Administration, and International Relations.
- Analytical skills/Critical thinking: Students should be able to access a broad range of research material in their field, including both primary and secondary sources. Students should be able to read and critically evaluate literature central to their discipline. Students must demonstrate the ability to write, discuss, and defend a research project in their field based on these research materials.
- Technical and applied skills: Students should develop good written and verbal skills. They should be able to conduct research consistent with the practices of the discipline. They should be able to access and use web-based information. They should have familiarity with the disciplinary concepts and vocabulary employed by political scientists.
Curriculum
Before a Political Science major may enroll in any upper division course, the student must have taken the associated introductory sub-field prerequisite as indicated and achieved a grade of "C" or better.
First: Take all of the following lower division foundation courses:
| PSCI 210IS | Introduction to American Government | 3 |
| PSCI 230D | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| PSCI 240 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| PSCI 250IH | Introduction to Political Theory | 3 |
Second: Take either Introduction to Statistics or three credits of a foreign language at second semester first year, or higher.
Third: Take Research Methods
Fourth: Take eight of the following upper division courses, at least one from each of the four subfields:
Upper Division Electives by Subfield
| PSCI 323 | Modern Political Thought | 3 |
| PSCI 331 | International Relations Theory | 3 |
| PSCI 339 | Culture and Ideology: The Development of the Modern Prison | 3 |
| PSCI 354 | Contemporary Issues in Political Theory | 3 |
| PSCI 356 | Classical Political Thought | 3 |
| PSCI 454 | Cinema and Political Theory | 3 |
| PSCI 455 | Politics & Virtue | 3 |
B.A. in Political Science course trajectory
| Freshman Year | Credits |
|---|
| Fall | Spring |
|---|
| PSCI 210IS - Introduction to American Government | 3 | |
| W CORE - WRIT 101: College Writing I | 3 | |
| PSCI 250IH - Introduction to Political Theory | 3 | |
| US CORE - University Seminar | 3 | |
| First Semester Foreign Language or Q CORE (100 level math course or above) | 3 | |
| PSCI 230D - Introduction to International Relations | | 3 |
| PSCI 240 - Introduction to Public Administration | | 3 |
| Second Semester Foreign Language or STAT 216 | | 3 |
| University CORE | | 6 |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Sophomore Year | Credits |
|---|
| Fall | Spring |
|---|
| One upper division Political Science course | 3 | |
| Remaining PSCI Foundation courses and/or University CORE | 6 | |
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | 6 | |
| Two upper division Political Science courses | | 6 |
| Two remaining Political Science Foundation or University CORE requirements | | 6 |
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | | 3 |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Junior Year | Credits |
|---|
| Fall | Spring |
|---|
| Two upper division Political Science courses | 6 | |
| PSCI 390R - Research Methods | 3 | |
| Remaining PSCI electives and/or University CORE | 6 | |
| Two upper division Political Science courses | | 6 |
| Remaining Political Science electives and/or University CORE | | 3 |
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | | 6 |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Senior Year | Credits |
|---|
| Fall | Spring |
|---|
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | 12 | |
| One upper division Political Science course | 3 | |
| Internship and/or remaining electives, minor, double major requirements | | 15 |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Total Program Credits: | 120 |
