Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Politics, Policy, and Public Service)

Website: https://twu.edu/political-science/undergraduate-programs/bachelors-degrees-in-political-science//

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science (Politics, Policy, and Public Service track) provides an excellent foundation for proceeding to graduate programs in the field (M.A. and Ph.D.), to law school admission, or to careers in the public sector. Specifically, this degree provides a background for professional preparation in the following fields: library science, teaching at middle school, secondary school, or college level; work with archives; journalism; criminal justice administration; legal assistance; law school; foreign service, non-profit organizations; and administrative, federal and state civil service.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

Employers want employees who can work collaboratively in groups. The B.A. in Political Science develops these skills by requiring students to work on group projects (presented in front of the instructor and peers), identify clear roles within the group (e.g., spokespersons/team leaders), and present the findings of the group in a public forum.
Employers want employees who have solid writing and compositional skills. The B.A. in Political Science develops this skill by requiring students to engage in clear, persuasive, and grammatically and stylistically correct writing projects (research papers, policy briefs, reaction papers, memos, position papers, etc.).
Employers want employees who have solid oral communication skills. The B.A. in Political Science develops these skills by requiring students to present their research in a public forum (that is, in front of a class of peers and the instructor) using visual aids (slides, charts, graphs, etc.) and/or to role-play in a public forum requiring extensive research on that role.

Admissions

All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120

Major: 36 SCH

Program Code: POLSCIENCE.BA CIP Code: 45.1001.00

(The student may choose from two separate emphases. Each requires thirty semester credit hours of government.)

Texas Core Curriculum

Course List
Code	Title	SCHs
ENG 1013	Composition I (10)	3
ENG 1023	Composition II (10)	3
Mathematics (20)		3
Life & Physical Sciences (30)		6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture (40)		3
Creative Arts (50)		3
HIST 1013	History of the United States, 1492-1865 (60)	3
HIST 1023	History of the United States, 1865 to the Present (60)	3
POLS 2013	U.S. National Government (70)	3
POLS 2023	Texas Government (70)	3
Social & Behavioral Sciences (80)		3
CAO: Multicultural-Women's Studies (90)		3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics (91)		3
Total SCHs		42

Courses Required for Major

Course List
Code	Title	SCHs
POLS 3063	Women in Politics	3
POLS 3173	Introduction to Comparative Politics	3
POLS 3303	The American Legislative Process	3
POLS 3723	Modern Political Thought	3
POLS 4533	International Relations	3
POLS 4813	Seminar in Public Policy	3
POLS 4933	Senior Seminar	3
POLS Elective Options
Select 15 SCH from the following		15
POLS 3053	The American Presidency
POLS 3153	Law, Politics, and Public Policy
POLS 3163	Media and Politics
POLS 3513	Japanese Culture and Politics
POLS 4073	Constitutional Law: Governmental Structure
POLS 4133	Women in Leadership
POLS 4263	Women, Elections, and Strategy
POLS 4563	Global Law and Legal Systems
POLS 4613	Comparative Government: Europe
POLS 4633	Comparative Government: Africa and Asia
POLS 4653	German Politics Since 1945 Through Film
POLS 4803	Government Internship
or POLS 4806	Government Internship
*can take POLS 4803 twice for credit, but POLS 4806 only once
POLS 4833	Political Science: Scope and Methods
POLS 4903	Special Topics
Total SCHs		36

Departmental Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	SCHs
English Literature (2000 level or higher if not already completed)		3
Foreign Language (12 SCH of the same language)		12
Global Perspectives (if not already completed)		3
Electives (select with academic advisor)		24
Total SCHs		42

Recommended Plan of Study

*The example below is only a suggestion. It is recommended to see an advisor for a personalized Plan of Study.

First Year
Fall		TCCN	SCHs
ENG 1013	Composition I	ENGL 1301	3
HIST 1013	History of the United States, 1492-1865	HIST 1301	3
UNIV 1231	Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar	EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300	1
Creative Arts Core			3
CAO: Wellness or Mathematics Core			2
Elective			3
	SCHs		15
Spring		TCCN
ENG 1023	Composition II	ENGL 1302	3
HIST 1023	History of the United States, 1865 to the Present	HIST 1302	3
Mathematics Core			3
Elective or Global Perspectives			3
Elective			3
	SCHs		15
Second Year
Fall		TCCN
POLS 2013	U.S. National Government	GOVT 2305	3
English Literature			3
Foreign Language			3
Life & Physical Science Core			3
Social & Behavioral Science Core			3
	SCHs		15
Spring		TCCN
POLS 2023	Texas Government	GOVT 2306	3
Foreign Language			3
Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core			3
Life & Physical Science Core			3
CAO: Multicultural-Women's Studies Core			3
	SCHs		15
Third Year
Fall		TCCN
POLS 3173	Introduction to Comparative Politics		3
POLS 4533	International Relations		3
Foreign Language			3
Electives			6
	SCHs		15
Spring		TCCN
POLS 3723	Modern Political Thought		3
POLS 4813	Seminar in Public Policy		3
Foreign Language			3
Electives			6
	SCHs		15
Fourth Year
Fall		TCCN
POLS 3303	The American Legislative Process		3
POLS 3063	Women in Politics		3
POLS Elective Options			3
Electives			6
	SCHs		15
Spring		TCCN
POLS 4933	Senior Seminar		3
POLS Elective Options			12
	SCHs		15
	Total SCHs:		120