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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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  • Political Science and Communication Studies, BA

Political Science and Communication Studies, BA

2021-2022 Edition

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        • 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
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  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
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  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

The combined major in political science and communication studies offers students the opportunity to integrate the study of politics and government with different forms and mediums of communication. Students complete the core courses in political science along with core courses in communication studies that cover public speaking and persuasion. This combined major highlights the important role played by different forms of communication in shaping politics and government. 

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.

Political Science Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Core Courses in Political Science
POLS 1150American Government4
POLS 1155Comparative Politics4
POLS 1160International Relations4
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
Methodology
POLS 2399Research Methods in Political Science4
or COMM 2301 Communication Research Methods
Political Science Upper-Division Electives
Complete two courses in the following range:8
POLS 3300 to POLS 5999
Political Science Electives
Complete two courses in the following range:8
POLS 2000 to POLS 5999

Political Science Concentration (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. 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

Communication Studies Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
COMM 1101Introduction to Communication Studies4
COMM 1112Public Speaking4
or COMM 2301 Communication Research Methods

Communication Studies Electives

Course List
Code Title Hours
Foundation Course
Complete one of the following:4
COMM 1210
Persuasion and Rhetoric
COMM 1225
Communication Theory
COMM 1231
Principles of Organizational Communication
COMM 1255
Communication in a Digital Age
Cluster Course
Complete one of the following:4
COMM 1131
Sex, Relationships, and Communication
COMM 2303
Global and Intercultural Communication
COMM 2304
Communication and Gender
COMM 2501
Communication Law
COMM 2551
Free Speech in Cyberspace
Writing-Intensive
Complete two of the following:8
COMM 3200
Mobile Communication
COMM 3201
Health Communication
COMM 3230
Interpersonal Communication
COMM 3304
Communication and Inclusion
COMM 3320
Political Communication
COMM 3414
Great Speakers and Speeches
COMM 3415
Communication Criticism
COMM 3445
Public Relations Principles
COMM 3500
Environmental Issues, Communication, and the Media
COMM 3501
Free Speech: Law and Practice
COMM 3530
Communication and Sexualities
COMM 3532
Theories of Conflict and Negotiation
COMM 4535
Nonverbal Social Interaction
COMM 4605
Youth and Communication Technology
COMM 4631
Crisis Communication and Image Management
Communication Studies Electives
Complete three additional communication studies courses.12

Integrative Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Integrative Courses
POLS 3320Politics and Mass Media4
or COMM 3320 Political Communication
Capstone Requirement
Complete one of the following. This course also counts toward the political science or communication studies elective requirement:4
COMM 4102
Health Communication Campaigns
COMM 4530
Communication and Quality of Life
COMM 4533
Consultation Skills
COMM 4602
Contemporary Rhetorical Theory
COMM 4608
Strategic Communication Capstone
COMM 4625
Online Communities
COMM 4755
Production Capstone
POLS 4701
Political Science Senior Capstone
POLS 4703
Senior Thesis

Political Science and Communication Studies Combined Major Credit Requirement

Complete 84 semester hours in the major.

Communication Studies Major Grade Requirement

No more than two grades below a C in communication studies courses may be used to satisfy degree requirements.

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

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

Sample Four Years, Two Co-ops

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
POLS 1000 or COMM 10001POLS 11554Communication Studies Foundation Course4Communication Studies Cluster Course4
POLS 11504COMM 1112 or 23014Communication Studies Elective4Elective4
COMM 11014Foreign Language 24  
ENGW 11114Elective4  
Foreign Language 14   
 17 16 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
POLS 11604Co-opCo-opCommunication Studies Writing Intensive4
POLS 24004  Elective4
Communication Studies Elective4   
Foreign Language Culture Course4   
EESH 2000 or EEAM 20001   
 17 0 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Political Thought Course4Co-opCo-opCommunication Studies Writing Intensive4
POLS 2399 or COMM 23014  Political Science Elective4
Communication Studies Elective4   
POLS Upper-Division Elective 14   
 16 0 0 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
POLS Upper-Division Elective 24Capstone4  
Political Science Elective 4Elective4  
Integrative Course4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 130
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