The online Bachelor of Science in Political Science is a liberal arts program, requiring 120 credits for completion.
The online Bachelor of Science in Political Science is a liberal arts program, requiring 120 credits for completion.
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Study of Politics | PL SC 010 | This course introduces students to both the scientific study of politics and the way that study advances our understanding of political actors, events, processes, and institutions. | 3 credits |
| Introduction to Political Research | PL SC 308 | Introduction to conceptualization, research design, and measurement in political research. Prerequisite: any 3 credits in political science |
3 credits |
| Quantitative Political Analysis | PL SC 309 | Data analysis and statistical applications in political research, including data processing; inferential statistics; contingency analysis; correlation and regression; multivariate analysis. Prerequisite: any 3 credits in political science |
3 credits |
| Techniques of Calculus or Calculus With Analytic Geometry I |
MATH 110 or MATH 140 |
Functions, graphs, derivatives, integrals, techniques of differentiation and integration, exponentials, improper integrals, applications. Prerequisite: MATH 022 or satisfactory performance on the mathematics placement examination Functions, limits; analytic geometry; derivatives, differentials, applications; integrals, applications. |
4 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to C++ Programming | CMPSC 101 | Properties of algorithms, languages, and notations for describing algorithms, applications of a procedure-oriented language to problem solving. Prerequisite: 2 entrance units in mathematics |
3 credits |
| Introduction to Programming Techniques | CMPSC 121 | Design and implementation of algorithms. Structured programming. Problem solving techniques. Introduction to a high-level language, including arrays, procedures, and recursion. Prerequisite: MATH 110 or prerequisite or concurrent MATH 140 |
3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to American National Government | PL SC 001 | Introduction to development and nature of American political culture, constitution/structural arrangements, electoral/policy processes; sources of conflict and consensus. | 3 credits |
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | PL SC 003 | Introduction to study of comparative government and politics: normative/empirical theories; government functions in modern societies; representative structures and processes. | 3 credits |
| Contemporary Political Ideologies | PL SC 007 | Critical analysis of contemporary political ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, socialism, anarchism, fascism, feminism, and environmentalism. | 3 credits |
| International Relations | PL SC 014 | Characteristics of modern nation-states and forces governing their international relations; nationalism; imperialism; diplomacy; current problems of war and peace. | 3 credits |
| Introduction to Political Theory | PL SC 017 | Introduction to basic issues in political theory through analysis of selected major political thinkers. | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyzing of Public Policy in the American States | PL SC 404 | This course provides students with the tools to empirically evaluate policy proposals and outcomes in the American states. Prerequisite: PL SC 001, PL SC 309 (concurrent) |
3 credits |
| Analysis of Elections | PL SC 429 | The new politics, its technology, and the strategic perspectives that underlie it. Prerequisite: PL SC 001, PL SC 309 |
3 credits |
| Analysis of Public Opinion and Political Attitudes | PL SC 447 | This course engages students in the empirical study of public opinion. Prerequisite: PL SC 001, PL SC 309 |
3 credits |
| Empirical Legal Studies | PL SC 476 | This course engages students in the empirical study of law and the courts. Prerequisite: PL SC 001, PL SC 309 |
3 credits |
| Title | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Capstone | Select 3 credits from LA 495, or PLSC 494, 496, 404, 429, 447, or 476 (Sem: 7-8) | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Relations Theory | PL SC 418W | A survey of traditional and contemporary conceptual frameworks and theoretical approaches for the analysis of international relations. Prerequisite: PL SC 014 |
3 credits |
| The Politics of Terrorism | PL SC 439 | Analysis of political terrorism as a violent alternative for peaceful change and traditional warfare in the nuclear age. Prerequisite: CRIMJ 100 or PL SC 014 or permission of program |
3 credits |
| American Foreign Policy | PL SC 442 | Principles of American foreign policy; processes of policy formulation; roles of the President, Congress, the State Department and other government agencies. Prerequisite: PL SC 014 |
3 credits |
| Governments and Politics of Western Europe | PL SC 455 | Comparative analysis of political and governmental structures of major West European nations; main functions and processes of such structures. Prerequisite: PL SC 003 or PL SC 020 |
3 credits |
| Politics and Institutions of Latin-American Nations | PL SC 456 | Social forces and processes, governmental institutions, foreign policies of major states of Latin America. Prerequisite: PL SC 003 or PL SC 020 |
3 credits |
| Politics and the Media | PL SC 468 | An examination of how politics and public policy affect and are shaped by the news media, as a political institution, in America. Prerequisite: PL SC 001 or PL SC 003 |
3 credits |
| American Constitutional Law | PL SC 471 | The origins of judicial review, landmark decisions of the Supreme Court, and their impact on the American form of government. Prerequisite: PL SC 001 |
3 credits |
| The American Legal Process | PL SC 472 | Analysis of the roles, procedures, and policies characterizing the American legal system. Prerequisite: PL SC 001 |
3 credits |
| Congress and the Presidency | PL SC 480W | Basic characteristics and processes of the national legislature and executive; roles and interaction of these institutions in the policy process. Prerequisite: PL SC 001 |
3 credits |
| Policy Making and Evaluation | PL SC 490 | Advanced analysis of public policy, emphasizing policy evaluation and the factors that determine policy success and failure. Prerequisite: PL SC 001 |
3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analysis of Variance | STAT 461 | Analysis of variance for single and multifactor designs; response surface methodology. Prerequisite: STAT 200 |
3 credits |
| Applied Regression Analysis | STAT 462 | Introduction to linear and multiple regression; correlation; choice of models, stepwise regression, nonlinear regression. Prerequisite: STAT 200 |
3 credits |
| Applied Time Series Analysis | STAT 463 | Identification of models for empirical data collected over time; use of models in forecasting. Prerequisite: STAT 462 |
3 credits |
| Survey Sampling | STAT 466 | Introduction to design and analysis of sample surveys, including questionnaire design, data collection, sampling methods, and ratio and regression estimation. Prerequisite: STAT 200 |
3 credits |
Supporting and Related Area Courses
Select 12 credits from a department-approved list of courses in the arts, humanities, languages, social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, and related fields in consultation with your adviser. Students can take a range of courses across disciplines or concentrate their selection to complete a minor in a supporting field.* (Semesters 1–8)
| Subject | Course Numbers |
|---|---|
| African Studies and African American Studies | all courses at the 400-level and above |
| Anthropology | all courses at the 300-level and above |
| Communication | 403, 405, 409, 410 |
| Communication Arts and Sciences | 404, 452, 455, 475 |
| Criminology 482 or Criminal Justice | 304, 435, 465 |
| Economics | all courses at the 300-level and above |
| Geography | all courses at the 300-level and above |
| History | all courses at the 400-level and above |
| Philosophy | all courses at the 200-level and above |
| Political Science | all courses at the 300-level and above |
| Psychology | all courses at the 400-level and above |
| Sociology | all courses at the 400-level and above |
| Women's Studies | all courses at the 400-level and above |
| IST | 235, 250 |
* Courses used to satisfy Required or Supporting and Related Area requirements may not be double-counted as General Education or electives.
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.