Bachelor of Science in Political Science
NOTE: These details are for students who declared their major before fall 2023.
The BS with a major in political science requires 30 semester hours of political science courses passed with a grade of C-or-higher and a maximum of 13 hours below the 30000 level. Any topics courses may be repeated provided the specific subject matter changes.
Students intending to purse graduate work in the social sciences or business are encouraged to pursue the BS degree. This program is also recommended for students wishing to work in government or politics. A minor is required; any minor approved for the BS degree is acceptable.
Degree Requirements
POSC 20093: Scope and Methods of Political Science
Choose one (1) of the following:
- POSC 20123: Introduction to American Politics
- POSC 20144: Practicing American and Texas Politics
Choose one (1) of the following:
- POSC 20203: Introduction to Political Theory
- POSC 20303: International Politics
- POSC 20403: Introduction to Political Law
- POSC 20503: Introduction to Comparative Politics
Choose one (1) of the following:
- POSC 39003 Topics in Political Science Methods
- POSC 39013 Survey Research
- POSC 39023 Game Theory in International Relations
- POSC 39033 Foreign Policy Analysis
- POSC 39043 Case Study Research
- POSC 39053 Experimental Methods in Political Science
Choose one (1) of the following:
- POSC 31003 Topics in American Politics
- POSC 31113 Campaigns and Elections
- POSC 31123 Public Opinion
- POSC 31133 Political Participation
- POSC 31143 Political Psychology
- POSC 31213 Congress
- POSC 31223 Presidential Leadership
- POSC 31233 Congress and the Presidents
- POSC 31313 Parties and Interest Groups
- POSC 31323 Media and Politics
- POSC 31413 Public Policy
- POSC 31423 Health Care Policy
- POSC 31443 Human Trafficking in the United States: Public Policy and Political Discourse
- POSC 31513 Women and Politics
- POSC 31523 The Civil Rights Movement in America
- POSC 31533 American Identity Politics
- POSC 31543 The Chicano/a Movement, Latino/a Politics, and Immigration Rights
- POSC 31613 Texas Politics in Comparative Perspective
- POSC 31623 Urban Politics
- POSC 31713 Freedom, Order and Equality in American Politics
- POSC 31723 Science Fiction and Politics
- POSC 31803 Transnational Human Trafficking
- POSC 31903 U.S. Intelligence Bureaucracy
Choose four (4) upper-level (at 30000 level or above) courses
- ECON 10233: Introductory Macroeconomics
Choose one (1) of the following:
- MATH 10283: Applied Calculus
- MATH 10043: Elementary Statistics
- MATH 10524: Calculus I
- INSC 20153: Statistical Analysis
A maximum of 6 hours, maybe applied toward major requirements:
- POSC 31990 International Residential Study
- POSC 33023 International Organizations Research
- POSC 34073 Moot Court
- POSC 40003 Senior Honors in Political Science
- POSC 40910 Washington Internships
- POSC 40960 Civic Literacy Internships
- POSC 40970 Independent Study in Political Science
The three-hour seminar taken in conjunction with the Washington Center Internship Program may be counted in addition to six hours of internship credit.