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Academic Catalog 2023-2024

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  • Computer Science and Political Science, BS

Computer Science and Political Science, BS

2023-2024 Edition

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      • Khoury Combined Majors
        • Chemical Engineering and Computer Science, BSChE
        • Chemical Engineering and Data Science, BSChE
        • Civil Engineering and Computer Science, BSCE
        • Computer Engineering and Computer Science, BSCmpE
        • Computer Science and Behavioral Neuroscience, BS
        • Computer Science and Biology, BS
        • Computer Science and Business Administration, BS
        • Computer Science and Cognitive Psychology, BS
        • Computer Science and Communication Studies, BS
        • Computer Science and Criminal Justice, BS
        • Computer Science and Design, BS
        • Computer Science and Economics, BS
        • Computer Science and English, BS
        • Computer Science and Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, BS
        • Computer Science and Game Development, BS
        • Computer Science and History, BS
        • Computer Science and Journalism, BS
        • Computer Science and Linguistics, BS
        • Computer Science and Mathematics, BS
        • Computer Science and Media Arts, BS
        • Computer Science and Music with Concentration in Music Technology, BS
        • Computer Science and Philosophy, BS
        • Computer Science and Physics, BS
        • Computer Science and Political Science, BS
        • Computer Science and Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, BS
        • Computer Science and Sociology, BS
        • Computer Science and Theatre, BS
        • Cybersecurity and Business Administration, BS
        • Cybersecurity and Criminal Justice, BS
        • Cybersecurity and Economics, BS
        • Data Science and Biochemistry, BS
        • Data Science and Biology, BS
        • Data Science and Behavioral Neuroscience, BS
        • Data Science and Business Administration, BS
        • Data Science and Chemistry, BS
        • Data Science and Criminal Justice, BS
        • Data Science and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, BS
        • Data Science and Economics, BS
        • Data Science and Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, BS
        • Data Science and Health Science, BS
        • Data Science and International Affairs, BS
        • Data Science and Journalism, BS
        • Data Science and Linguistics, BS
        • Data Science and Mathematics, BS
        • Data Science and Philosophy, BS
        • Data Science and Physics, BS
        • Data Science and Psychology, BS
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  • Plan of Study

The computer science and political science combined major offers both a strong computer science foundation and a deep understanding of global and societal needs. You will become an engaged citizen of the world, participating in interdisciplinary scholarship and translational research to address regional and global issues.

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.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Computer Science Courses

Course List
Code Title Hours
Computer Science Overview
Must be taken in alignment with your home college:
CS 1200First Year Seminar1
or POLS 1000 Political Science at Northeastern
CS 1210Professional Development for Khoury Co-op1
or EESH 2000 Professional Development for Co-op
Computer Science Fundamental Courses
CS 1800
and CS 1802
Discrete Structures
and Seminar for CS 1800
5
CS 2500
and CS 2501
Fundamentals of Computer Science 1
and Lab for CS 2500
5
CS 2510
and CS 2511
Fundamentals of Computer Science 2
and Lab for CS 2510
5
Computer Science Required Courses
CS 3000Algorithms and Data4
CS 3200Database Design4
CS 3500
and CS 3501
Object-Oriented Design
and Lab for CS 3500
5
IS 2000Principles of Information Science4
Khoury Elective Courses
With advisor approval, directed study, research, project study, and appropriate graduate-level courses may also be taken as upper-division electives.
Complete 12 semester hours of upper-division CS, CY, DS, or IS courses that are not already required. Choose courses within the following ranges:12
CS 2500 or higher, except CS 5010
CY 2000 or higher, except CY 4930
DS 2500 or higher, except DS 4900
IS 2000 or higher, except IS 4900

Political Science Courses

Course List
Code Title Hours
Political Science Requirements
POLS 1150American Government4
POLS 1155Comparative Politics4
POLS 1160International Relations4
POLS 2399Research Methods in Political Science4
POLS 2400Quantitative Techniques4
Political Theory
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
POLS 4701Political Science Senior Capstone4
Political Science Electives
Complete four courses in the following range:16
POLS 2000 to POLS 5999

Political Science Concentrations (Optional)

If you are working toward one of the following concentrations, declare it with your advisor 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
Integrative Requirement
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 2390
Science, Technology, and Public Policy
POLS 3405
International Political Economy
POLS 3406
International Law

Supporting Course

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete one of the following:4
AFAM 2600
Issues in Race, Science, and Technology
CY 4170
The Law, Ethics, and Policy of Data and Digital Technologies
CY 5240
Cyberlaw: Privacy, Ethics, and Digital Rights
ENGL 2150
Literature and Digital Diversity
HIST 2220
History of Technology
INSH 2102
Bostonography: The City through Data, Texts, Maps, and Networks
IS 1300
Knowledge in a Digital World
or PHIL 1300
Knowledge in a Digital World
PHIL 1145
Technology and Human Values
SOCL 1280
The Twenty-First-Century Workplace
SOCL 2485
Environment, Technology, and Society
SOCL 4528
Computers and Society

Computer Science Writing Requirement

Course List
Code Title Hours
College Writing
ENGW 1111First-Year Writing4
or ENGW 1102 First-Year Writing for Multilingual Writers
Advanced Writing in the Disciplines
Complete one of the following:4
ENGW 3302
Advanced Writing in the Technical Professions
ENGW 3308
Advanced Writing in the Social Sciences
ENGW 3311
Advanced Writing for Prelaw
ENGW 3315
Interdisciplinary Advanced Writing in the Disciplines

Required General Electives

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete 28 semester hours of general electives.28

Khoury College GPA Requirement

A minimum 2.000 GPA is required in all CS, CY, DS, and IS courses.

Computer Science and Political Science Major Credit Requirement

100 semester hours required in the major

NUpath Requirements Satisfied

  • Engaging with the Natural and Designed World
  • Conducting Formal and Quantitative Reasoning
  • Analyzing and Using Data
  • Writing in the First Year
  • Writing-Intensive in the Major
  • Advanced Writing in the Disciplines
  • Demonstrating Thought and Action in a Capstone

 Integrating Knowledge and Skills Through Experience is satisfied through co-op.

Program Requirement

133 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
Complete two of the following:8
POLS 2345
Urban Policies and Politics
POLS 2350
State and Local Politics
POLS 3162
Local Campaigns and Elections
POLS 3310
Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections
POLS 3320
Politics and Mass Media

 

Concentration in Comparative Politics

Course List
Code Title Hours
Theoretical Requirement
Complete two of the following:8
POLS 2282
The Holocaust and Comparative Genocide
POLS 2356
Democratic Erosion
POLS 2359
Immigration Politics
POLS 2370
Religion and Politics
POLS 3418
Nationalism
POLS 3430
Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection
POLS 3487
Politics of Developing Nations
Regional Requirements
Complete one of the following:4
POLS 3435
Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union
POLS 3465
Government and Politics in the Middle East
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 2359
Immigration Politics
POLS 2368
Music and Politics in America and Abroad
POLS 2370
Religion 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 3435
Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union
POLS 5408
International Security

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 3323
Race, Inequality, and the Law
or AFAM 3323
Race, Inequality, and the Law
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 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 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 3487
Politics of Developing Nations
POLS 5408
International Security

Sample Plan of Study

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 1200 or POLS 10001CS 2510
and CS 2511
5CS 3500
and CS 3501
5Elective4
CS 1800
and CS 1802
5IS 20004Elective4Elective4
CS 2500
and CS 2501
5POLS 11554  
ENGW 11114POLS 11604  
POLS 11504   
 19 17 9 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 1210 or EESH 20001Co-op0Co-op0Elective4
CS 30004  Elective4
CS 32004   
POLS 23994   
POLS thought elective4   
 17 0 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
POLS 24004Co-op0Co-op0ENGW 3302, 3308, 3311, or 33154
Khoury elective 14  Elective4
POLS elective 14   
POLS elective 24   
 16 0 0 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Computing and social issues4POLS 47014  
Khoury elective 24Khoury elective 34  
POLS elective 34POLS elective 44  
POLS integrative requirement4Elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 134

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 1200 or POLS 10001CS 2510
and CS 2511
5CS 30004Elective4
CS 1800
and CS 1802
5IS 20004Elective4Elective4
CS 2500
and CS 2501
5POLS 11554  
ENGW 11114POLS 11604  
POLS 11504   
 19 17 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CS 32004CS 1210 or EESC 20001Elective4Co-op0
CS 3500
and CS 3501
5POLS 24004Elective4 
POLS 23994Khoury elective 14  
POLS thought elective4POLS elective 14  
 POLS elective 24  
 17 17 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0Computing and social issues4ENGW 3302, 3308, 3311, or 33154Co-op0
 Khoury elective 24Elective4 
 POLS elective 34  
 POLS integrative requirement4  
 0 16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0POLS 47014  
 Khoury elective 34  
 POLS elective 44  
 Elective4  
 0 16  
Total Hours: 134
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