The combined major in Africana studies and political science offers students the opportunity to integrate their studies of both disciplines and explore the historical, practical, and theoretical relationships between the two disciplines. In addition to considering the significant points of contention, students explore the ways in which insights from Africana studies can be brought to bear on the disciplinary issues and questions of political science. Within the combined major, students may also choose to concentrate their studies on a range of topics related to political behaviors and institutional developments in the United States, the Americas, Europe, Africa, and across the global African Diaspora.
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.
BA Language Requirements
All BA students are required to complete the BA degree language requirements, for a total of 12 semester hours of language study or demonstrated equivalent proficiency, as described in Additional Requirements for BA students. Successful demonstration of proficiency does not reduce total minimum semester hours of study required to earn the BA degree.
NUpath Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.
Africana Studies Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 4 |
| Introduction to African American and Africana Studies | |
| Introduction to African Studies | |
| 4 |
| The African-American Experience through Music | |
| Black Popular Culture | |
| John Coltrane and the History of Jazz in the United States | |
| Gender, Race, and Medicine | |
| Introduction to Global Health | |
| 8 |
| Early African-American Literature | |
| Boston in Literature | |
| Possession, Sacrifice, and Divination in African Diasporic Religions | |
| Gender and Black World Literatures | |
| 8 |
| Africa Today | |
| Natural Resources and Sustainable Development | |
| Epidemiology of Pandemic Diseases and Health Disparities in the African Diaspora | |
| 4 |
| 4 |
Political Science Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
POLS 1150 | American Government | 4 |
POLS 1155 | Comparative Politics | 4 |
POLS 1160 | International Relations | 4 |
POLS 2399 | Research Methods in Political Science | 4 |
POLS 2400 | Quantitative Techniques | 4 |
| 4 |
| Ancient Philosophy and Political Thought | |
| Modern Political Thought | |
| American Political Thought | |
| Contemporary Political Thought | |
| 12 |
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.
Supporting Courses for Political Science
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 4 |
| Interactive Mathematics | |
| Mathematical Thinking | |
| Calculus for Business and Economics | |
| Calculus 1 | |
| Calculus and Differential Equations for Biology 1 | |
| Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering | |
Integrative Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| |
| 4 |
| Special Topics in Race and the Law | |
| Contemporary Government and Politics in Africa | |
| 4 |
| U.S. Health and Welfare Policy | |
| Race, Inequality, and the Law | |
| Law and Society | |
| Nationalism | |
| Politics of Developing Nations | |
| 4 |
| Capstone | |
| Political Science Senior Capstone | |
| Senior Thesis | |
Major Credit Requirement
Complete 84 semester hours in the major.
Experiential Liberal Arts
All students in this College of Social Sciences and Humanities program are required to complete the Experiential Liberal Arts Requirement.
Program Requirement
128 total semester hours required
Concentration in American Political Institutions
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 16 |
| State and Local Politics | |
| The U.S. Congress | |
| Judicial Process and Behavior | |
| Public Policy and Administration | |
| Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections | |
| Campaign Strategy | |
Concentration in Campaigns and Elections
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
POLS 3160 | Campaign Strategy | 4 |
POLS 3302 | Judicial Process and Behavior | 4 |
| 8 |
| Urban Policies and Politics | |
| State and Local Politics | |
| Local Campaigns and Elections | |
| Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections | |
| Politics and Mass Media | |
Concentration in Comparative Politics
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 8 |
| The Holocaust and Comparative Genocide | |
| Democratic Erosion | |
| Immigration Politics | |
| Religion and Politics | |
| Nationalism | |
| Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection | |
| Politics of Developing Nations | |
| 4 |
| Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union | |
| Government and Politics in the Middle East | |
| 4 |
| Model Arab League | |
| Model NATO | |
| Dialogue of Civilizations: Government and Politics Abroad | |
Concentration in Identity, Culture, and Politics
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
POLS 3418 | Nationalism | 4 |
| 12 |
| Immigration Politics | |
| Music and Politics in America and Abroad | |
| Religion and Politics | |
| Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Public Policy | |
| Law and Society | |
Concentration in International Relations and Diplomacy
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 4 |
| Model United Nations | |
| Model Arab League | |
| Dialogue of Civilizations: International Politics Abroad | |
| 12 |
| International Political Economy | |
| International Law | |
| Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union | |
| International Security | |
Concentration in Law and Legal Studies
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 16 |
| American Political Thought | |
| The U.S. Congress | |
| Judicial Process and Behavior | |
| Race, Inequality, and the Law | |
| Race, Inequality, and the Law |
| Law and Society | |
| International Law | |
| Global Governance | |
| U.S. Constitutional Law | |
| U.S. Civil Liberties | |
Concentration in Public Policy
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
POLS 3307 | Public Policy and Administration | 4 |
| 12 |
| Business and Government | |
| Urban Policies and Politics | |
| State and Local Politics | |
| Growth and Decline of Cities and Suburbs | |
| Science, Technology, and Public Policy | |
| Environmental Politics and Policy | |
| U.S. Foreign Policy | |
Concentration in Security Studies
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 16 |
| U.S. National Security Policy | |
| Terrorism and Counterterrorism | |
| U.S. Foreign Policy | |
| Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection | |
| Politics of Developing Nations | |
| International Security | |