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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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  • Political Science, BS

Political Science, BS

2021-2022 Edition

  • Undergraduate
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      • International Affairs
      • Jewish Studies
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      • Political Science
        • Political Science, BA
        • Africana Studies and Political Science, BA
        • English and Political Science, BA
        • Environmental Studies and Political Science, BA
        • History and Political Science, BA
        • Journalism and Political Science, BA
        • Political Science and Communication Studies, BA
        • Media and Screen Studies and Political Science, BA
        • Political Science and Economics, BA
        • Political Science and Human Services, BA
        • Political Science and International Affairs, BA
        • Political Science and Philosophy, BA
        • Sociology and Political Science, BA
        • Political Science, BS
        • Biology and Political Science, BS
        • Computer Science and Political Science, BS
        • Criminal Justice and Political Science, BS
        • Mathematics and Political Science, BS
        • Political Science and Business Administration, BS
        • Political Science and Communication Studies, BS
        • Political Science and Economics, BS
        • Political Science and Human Services, BS
        • Political Science and Philosophy, BS
        • Political Science, Minor
        • American Political Institutions, Minor
        • International Security Studies, Minor
      • Sociology and Anthropology
      • Accelerated Bachelor/​Graduate Degree Programs
    • Faculty
    • Appendix
  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
  • Catalog Archives
  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

The Bachelor of Science in Political Science provides a set of introductory courses to the discipline, followed by methodology courses, electives, and a capstone course. Students explore and analyze the many facets of American government, comparative politics, international relations, and political philosophy. With elective courses, students may choose from among a number of concentrations or follow their own curricular path. 

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.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Introduction to College

Complete “Introduction to College” for your major.

Political Science Major Requirements

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 2330
American Political Thought
POLS 2328
Modern Political Thought
POLS 2332
Contemporary Political Thought
Political Science Capstone
POLS 4701Political Science Senior Capstone4
or POLS 4703 Senior Thesis

Political Science Experiential Learning Requirement

Course List
Code Title Hours
Note: Up to two credit-bearing courses count toward political science electives.
Complete one course or experience from the following:4
POLS 4910
Model United Nations
POLS 4915
Model Arab League
POLS 4918
Model NATO
POLS 4942
Internship in Politics
Co-op or Study Abroad
Complete one cooperative education experience or one study-abroad experience.4

Political Science Electives

Note: You may use four courses from the elective area to fulfill a concentration.

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete eight political science electives with a minimum of six numbered 2000 or above.32

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. Requirements for the concentrations are listed below.

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

Political Science Major Credit Requirement

Complete 60 semester hours in the major.

Upper-Division Electives

Course List
Code Title Hours
Note: Courses used as upper-division electives do not count toward the major or the NU Core.
Complete three general electives numbered 3000 or above.12

Experiential Liberal Arts

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

Program Requirements

128 total semester hours required


Concentrations

 

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

Five Years, Three Co-ops in Summer 2/Fall

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
POLS 11554POLS 11504Vacation0Vacation0
POLS 11560POLS 11510  
Elective4MATH 12154  
Elective4Elective4  
POLS 10001POLS 11604  
ENGW 11114   
 17 16 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
POLS 23994POLS 24004Vacation0Co-op0
POLS intermediate/advanced undergraduate elective4Elective4  
Elective4POLS intermediate/advanced undergraduate elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
EESH 20001EESH 20001  
 17 17 0 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0Political theory course4POLS intermediate/advanced undergraduate elective4Co-op0
 POLS intermediate/advanced undergraduate elective4Elective4 
 Elective4  
 Elective4  
 0 16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0ENGW 33154Upper-division elective4Co-op0
 POLS intermediate/advanced undergraduate elective4POLS intermediate/advanced undergraduate elective4 
 Upper-division elective4  
 Elective4  
 0 16 8 0
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0POLS 4701 (or POLS 4703 Senior Thesis)4  
 POLS intermediate/advanced undergraduate elective4  
 Upper-divison elective4  
 Elective4  
 0 16  
Total Hours: 131

Five Years, Three Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
POLS 11554POLS 11504Vacation0Vacation0
POLS 11560POLS 11510  
Elective4MATH 12154  
Elective4Elective4  
POLS 10001POLS 11604  
ENGW 11114   
 17 16 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
POLS 23994Co-op0Co-op0Elective4
Elective4  Elective4
POLS intermediate/advanced undergraduate elective4   
POLS intermediate/advanced undergraduate elective4   
EESH 20001   
 17 0 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Political theory course4Co-op0Co-op0POLS intermediate/advanced undergraduate elective4
Elective4  Elective4
Elective4   
POLS 24004   
 16 0 0 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 33154Co-op0Co-op0Vacation0
POLS intermediate/advanced undergraduate elective4   
Upper-division elective4   
Elective4   
 16 0 0 0
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
POLS intermediate/advanced undergraduate elective4POLS 4701 (or POLS 4703 Senior Thesis)4  
POLS intermediate/advanced undergraduate elective4POLS intermediate/advanced undergraduate elective4  
Upper-division elective4Upper-divison elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 130
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