B.A. in Political Science

BA in Political Science Degree Plan (120 Hours )
Core Requirements (42 hours)
First Year Seminar3
First Year Seminar
Freshmen Composition I3
Rhetoric and Composition
Rhetoric and Composition for International Students
Literature3
Any EN 23XX literature course
History3
Any 1000, 2000, or 3000-level HS course
Social Science *3
Mathematics3
MT 1301 or MT 1302 highly recommended
Natural or Physical Sciences3
Fine Arts3
Foreign Language and International Engagement 6
This requirement is satisfied through one of four ways: 1) One 3-hour course in any language at the 3000 level or above, with a grade of B or better; 2) Two courses (1311 and 1312) in a language not previously studied; 3) Two courses (2311 and 2312) in a language previously studied at the high school or college level; 4) Qualifying scores on an AP or CLEP exam, or both the ACTFL OPI and WPT exams
Philosophy - Self3
Intro to Philosophy
Philosophy - Ethics3
Foundations of Ethics
Theology - God3
Introduction to Theology
Intermediate Theology3
Any TH 33xx course
Political Science Major Courses (36 hours)
PO 1311American National Government3
PO 1312Texas State & Local Government3
or PO 1314 Introduction to Global Affairs
PO 2302Civic Engagement and Social Action3
PO 2310Political Research Methodology3
PO 2311Applied Research Methods3
PO 5301Senior Seminar in Political Science3
American/ Political Behavior –Select one from the following:3
PO 3300, PO 3301, PO 3302, PO 3303, PO 3310, PO 3312, PO 3313, PO 3314, PO 3315, PO 3316, PO 3317
Public Administration /Public Law–Select one from the following:3
PO 3320, PO 3321, PO 3322, PO 3323, PO 3324, PO 3325, PO 3330, PO 3331, PO 3332, PO 3335, PO 3370, PO 3375, PO 4325, PO 4332, PO 4333, PO 4334
Political Theory–Select one from the following:3
PO 3340, PO 3341, PO 3342, PO 3343, PO 3344
Comparative/International Politics–Select one from the following:3
PO 3360, PO 3361, PO 3362, PO 3363, PO 3364, PO 3365, PO 3366, PO 3367, PO 3368, PO 3369, PO 3371, PO 3372, PO 3373, PO 3374, PO 3378, PO 4334, PO 4368, PO 4369, PO 4370
Advanced PO Electives6
Select six credit hours from any 3000,4000, or 5000-level PO courses
Electives (42 hours)42
An elective can be any course taken from any discipline. However, the Political Science Department strongly encourages the choice of a minor and/or internships.
Total Semester Hours120
First Year
FallSemester HoursSpringSemester Hours
PO 13113Social Science3
FYE 13013PO 1312 or 13143
EN 13113Literature 3
Fine Arts3PL 13013
History3Elective3
 15 15
Second Year
FallSemester HoursSpringSemester Hours
PO 23103PO 23113
Foreign Language3PO 23023
Mathematics3Foreign Language3
Elective3Natural or Physical Sciences3
PL 23013Elective3
 15 15
Third Year
FallSemester HoursSpringSemester Hours
Advanced PO (Am/Admin/Theory/IR)3Elective3
TH 13013Elective3
Advanced PO 3Elective3
Elective3Intermediate Theology3
Elective3Advanced PO (Am/Admin/Theory/IR)3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallSemester HoursSpringSemester Hours
PO 53013Advanced PO (Am/Admin/Theory/IR)3
Advanced PO (Am/Admin/Theory/IR)3Advanced PO (Am/Admin/Theory/IR)3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Total Semester Hours 120