Political Science Major Coursework

The political science - liberal arts major requires a minimum of 120 total hours to graduate. This total includes Liberal Arts Core (LAC) requirements and the following specified major requirements, plus electives to complete the minimum of 120 hours.

Liberal Arts Core courses included in major program requirements are distinguished by italics. Prerequisites are listed in parentheses after the course title.

Four Year Plan
Political Science
REQUIRED COURSES

(3 CREDIT HOURS EACH)

  • POL GEN 2010 Analyzing Politics
  • POL AMER 1014 Introduction to American Politics*
  • POL COMP 1040 Comparative Politics
  • POL INTL 1024 International Relations**
  • POL THRY 1050 Intro to Political Theory: Freedom, Justice & Power
  • POL GEN 3184 Senior Seminar in Political Science
SUBFIELDS

(CHOOSE AT LEAST ONE UPPER-LEVEL COURSE IN EACH SUB-FIELD)

  • POL AMER 3xxx, 4xxx American Politics
  • POL COMP 3xxx, 4xxx Comparative Politics POL INTL 3xxx, 4xxx International Relations POL THRY 3xxx, 4xxx Political Theory
ELECTIVES

(COMPLETE NINE HOURS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSES FROM ANY SUBFIELD. THIS CAN INCLUDE AN INTERNSHIP.)

TOTAL HOURS FOR MAJOR: 18
TOTAL HOURS FOR SUBFIELDS: 12
TOTAL HOURS MAJOR ELECTIVES: 9
TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS: 39

Advising Calendar

FIRST & SECOND SEMESTERS

  • Meet with the Freshmen Advisor in Academic Advising as recommended in your Advising Syllabus.
  • Join the Political Science Society and/or the UNI Pre-law Club to meet other majors!
  • Concentrate your efforts on completing the Liberal Arts Core requirements.
  • Take Introduction to American Politics (POL AMER 1014), International Relations (POL INTL 1024) and Freedom, Justice and Power (POL THRY 1050) this year.
  • Declare your major in Political Science in your second semester.

THIRD & FOURTH SEMESTERS

  • Meet with your new advisor in the Department of Political Science at least once each semester.
  • Begin exploring career options. Consult the department’s “Careers & Grad School” link on csbs.uni.edu/polisci, talk to your advisor, schedule an appointment with the Career Services Office, or begin to research graduate and law school requirements.
  • Explore possible minors related to your career interests. For those interested in law school, look into the Legal Studies Minor. For those with an international focus, consider the International Affairs Minor.
  • Complete your Liberal Arts Core requirements (except Capstone).
  • Take Analyzing Politics (POL GEN 2010) and Comparative Politics (POL COMP 1040).

FIFTH & SIXTH SEMESTERS

  • Meet with your advisor each semester.
  • Explore internship and study abroad opportunities for the upcoming summer break and/or final year. Talk to Prof. Jayme Renfro (jayme.renfro@uni.edu) about internships. Head to studyabroad.uni.edu for information about UNI Study Abroad options.
  • Draft a resume and meet with Career Services to refine it. Attend career fairs, talks by alums to explore career interests.
  • If interested in law school, talk to pre-law advisor (scott.peters@uni.edu). If interested in grad school, talk to your advisor or other poli sci professors.
  • Complete upper-level course requirements in American Politics, Political Theory, International Relations and Comparative Politics.
  • Take university electives, political science electives and minor requirements

SEVENTH & EIGHTH SEMESTERS

  • Meet with your advisor each semester.
  • Take Senior Seminar (POL GEN 3184).
  • Complete university electives, capstone requirement, political science electives and course requirements for minor.
  • For those entering the job market, meet with the Career Services Office and attend job fair. Research opportunities on the web. For those entering graduate or law school, meet with advisors to help select schools and prepare applications in the fall semester.