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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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  • Journalism and Political Science, BA

Journalism and Political Science, BA

2021-2022 Edition

  • Undergraduate
    • Admission
    • Information for Entering Students
    • College Expenses
    • Academic Policies and Procedures
    • University Academics
    • College of Arts, Media and Design
      • School of Architecture
      • Art + Design
      • Communication Studies
      • School of Journalism
        • Journalism, BA
        • Journalism and English, BA
        • Journalism and Political Science, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Journalism, BA
        • Computer Science and Journalism, BS
        • Criminal Justice and Journalism, BS
        • Data Science and Journalism, BS
        • Journalism and Interaction Design, BS
        • Journalism Practice, Minor
        • Journalism Studies, Minor
        • Photojournalism, Minor
        • Public Relations, Minor
        • Sports, Media, Communication, Minor
      • Music
      • Theatre
      • Interdisciplinary
      • Accelerated Bachelor/​Graduate Degree Programs
    • D'Amore-​McKim School of Business
    • Khoury College of Computer Sciences
    • College of Engineering
    • Bouvé College of Health Sciences
    • College of Science
    • College of Social Sciences and Humanities
    • Faculty
    • Appendix
  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
  • Catalog Archives
  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

This interdisciplinary combined major offers students an opportunity to integrate the study and practice of journalism and political science. Successful students will gain a deep understanding of both disciplines, allowing them to seek out areas such as political writing, campaigns, and law school.

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

University-Wide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide Requirements.

BA Language Requirements

All BA students are required to complete the BA language requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

NUpath requirements Creative Expression/Innovation (CI), Interpreting Culture (IC), Understanding Societies and Institutions (SI), Analyzing and Using Data (AD), Engaging Difference and Diversity (DD), and Employing Ethical Reasoning (ER) are met through the major requirements. All other Nupath requirements must be met through electives. 

Journalism Major Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Journalism Introductory Course
JRNL 1150Understanding Today’s News4
Journalism Foundations
Must receive a C or better in the following:
JRNL 1101
and JRNL 1102
Journalism 1: Fundamentals of Reporting
and Journalist’s Toolbox
5
JRNL 2201Journalism 2: Intermediate Reporting4
JRNL 2301Visual Storytelling in Journalism4
JRNL 3610Digital Storytelling and Social Media4
Ethics
JRNL 4650Ethics and Issues in Journalism4
Journalism Electives
Take three JRNL courses.12

Political Science Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Political Science Foundation Courses
POLS 1150American Government4
POLS 1155Comparative Politics4
POLS 1160International Relations4
POLS 2399Research Methods in Political Science4
POLS 2400Quantitative Techniques4
Political Thought
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 2325
Ancient Philosophy and Political Thought
POLS 2328
Modern Political Thought
POLS 2330
American Political Thought
POLS 2332
Contemporary Political Thought
Political Science Capstone or Thesis
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 4701
Political Science Senior Capstone
POLS 4703
Senior Thesis
Political Science Electives
Complete three POLS electives or complete a concentration from the following list:12
POLS 2000 to POLS 5999

Political Science Concentrations (Optional)

If you are working toward one of the following concentrations, declare it with your adviser so that it may be added to your record. 

  • American Political Institutions
  • Campaigns and Elections
  • Comparative Politics
  • Identity, Culture, and Politics
  • International Relations and Diplomacy
  • Law and Legal Studies
  • Public Policy
  • Security Studies

Integrative Requirement

Course List
Code Title Hours
JRNL 3550The First Amendment and the Media4
COMM 3320Political Communication4
or POLS 3320 Politics and Mass Media

Journalism and Political Science Combined Major Credit Requirement

Complete 84 semester hours in the major.

Experiential Liberal Arts

All undergraduate students in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities are required to complete the Experiential Liberal Arts Requirement.

Program Requirement

129 total semester hours required


 

Concentration in American Political Institutions

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete four of the following:16
POLS 2350
State and Local Politics
POLS 3300
The U.S. Congress
POLS 3302
Judicial Process and Behavior
POLS 3307
Public Policy and Administration
POLS 3310
Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections
POLS 3160
Campaign Strategy

 

Concentration in Campaigns and Elections

Course List
Code Title Hours
Required Courses
POLS 3160Campaign Strategy4
POLS 3302Judicial Process and Behavior4
Campaigns and Elections Electives
If POLS 4947 was replaced by a co-op or internship, an additional elective must be taken.
Complete two of the following:8
POLS 2345
Urban Policies and Politics
POLS 2350
State and Local Politics
POLS 2355
Intergovernmental Relations
POLS 3310
Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections
POLS 3320
Politics and Mass Media
POLS 3304
Presidential Nominating Process

 

Concentration in Comparative Politics

Course List
Code Title Hours
Theoretical Requirement
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 2370
Religion and Politics
POLS 3418
Nationalism
POLS 3430
Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection
POLS 3487
Politics of Developing Nations
Regional Requirements
Complete two of the following:8
POLS 3435
Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union
POLS 3465
Government and Politics in the Middle East
POLS 3470
Arab-Israeli Conflict
Experiential/Practicum Requirement
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 4915
Model Arab League
POLS 4918
Model NATO
POLS 4937
Dialogue of Civilizations: Government and Politics Abroad

 

Concentration in Identity, Culture, and Politics 

Course List
Code Title Hours
Core Course
POLS 3418Nationalism4
Electives
Complete three of the following:12
POLS 2368
Music and Politics in America and Abroad
POLS 2370
Religion and Politics
POLS 2375
Gender and Politics
POLS 3309
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Public Policy
POLS 3324
Law and Society

Concentration in International Relations and Diplomacy

Course List
Code Title Hours
Experiential/Practicum Requirement
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 4910
Model United Nations
POLS 4915
Model Arab League
POLS 4938
Dialogue of Civilizations: International Politics Abroad
Core Courses
Complete three of the following:12
POLS 3405
International Political Economy
POLS 3406
International Law
POLS 3408
International Security
POLS 3435
Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union
POLS 3470
Arab-Israeli Conflict

Concentration in Law and Legal Studies

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete four of the following:16
POLS 2330
American Political Thought
POLS 3300
The U.S. Congress
POLS 3302
Judicial Process and Behavior
POLS 3324
Law and Society
POLS 3406
International Law
POLS 3409
Global Governance
POLS 4500
U.S. Constitutional Law
POLS 4505
U.S. Civil Liberties

 

Concentration in Public Policy

Course List
Code Title Hours
Core Requirement
POLS 3307Public Policy and Administration4
Electives
Complete three of the following:12
POLS 2335
Budgeting and Taxation
POLS 2340
Business and Government
POLS 2345
Urban Policies and Politics
POLS 2350
State and Local Politics
POLS 2357
Growth and Decline of Cities and Suburbs
POLS 2390
Science, Technology, and Public Policy
POLS 2395
Environmental Politics and Policy
POLS 3425
U.S. Foreign Policy

 

Concentration in Security Studies

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete four of the following:16
POLS 3408
International Security
POLS 3420
U.S. National Security Policy
POLS 3423
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
POLS 3425
U.S. Foreign Policy
POLS 3430
Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection
POLS 3470
Arab-Israeli Conflict
POLS 3487
Politics of Developing Nations

Sample 4 Years, 2 Co-ops

Summer 2/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
JRNL 10001JRNL 11014Foreign language4Foreign language4
JRNL 11504JRNL 11021Elective4Elective4
POLS 11504POLS 11554  
ENGW 11114POLS 11604  
Elective4Foreign language4  
 17 17 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
JRNL 22014JRNL 23014Elective4Co-op0
Journalism elective 14Journalism elective 24Elective4 
POLS 23994POLS 24004  
Political science elective 14Political science elective 24  
 EEAM 2000 or EESH 20001  
 16 17 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0JRNL 36104Elective4Co-op0
 Journalism elective 34Elective4 
 Political thought requirement4  
 Politcal science elective 34  
 0 16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours Summer 2Hours
Co-op0JRNL 35504 
 JRNL 46504  
 POLS 4701 or 47034  
 POLS 3320 or COMM 33204  
 0 16  0
Total Hours: 131
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