for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, Civic Leadership Concentration

---

The Civic Leadership concentration aims to provide students interested in careers in public life with an informed appreciation for American democracy, the values and structures on which it is based, and the challenges and opportunities it faces in the 21st century.

See the Political Science BALAS page for departmental distinction information.

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, Civic Leadership Concentration

---

See the Political Science Distinction page for departmental distinction information.

Students may count a maximum of six (6) hours of credit of any combination of hours from PS 494 toward the advanced hours requirement. Not more than 6 hours of individual study courses in political science (PS 490) or 6 hours of internships (PS 491) or 6 hours of supervised research (PS 492) may be included in the major; a student with any mix of independent study hours and internship hours and supervised research hours may include a maximum of 9 hours of such credit in the major. (PS 496) is reserved for those seniors doing honors theses for distinction in political science and may not be counted in the 45-hour minimum required for the major.

General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements including the campus general education language requirement.

Minimum required major and supporting course work: Normally equates to 70 hours. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level in the major must be taken on this campus.

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.

Civic Leadership Concentration Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PS 100	Intro to Political Science	3
PS 101	Intro to US Gov & Pol	3
Select one course from the following:		1-3
PS 125	Washington Experience
PS 191	Topics in Civic Leadership
Select any additional 100- or 200-level Political Science courses		6
Select one course from the following:		3
PS 291	Intro Internship Seminar
PS 491	Internship
Select 300- or 400-level Political Science courses, at least nine hours of which come from the Civic Leadership Concentration list (below). The other six hours may be any 300- or 400-level Political Science course.		15
To reach 33 hours of Political Science coursework, select up to two additional hours of any Political Science course at any level.		0-2
Students will select a second major, or a minor, or a set of courses of at least 12 hours of thematically-related coursework outside political science, developed in conjunction with an academic advisor.		12
Total Hours		45

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Civic Leadership Course List
PS 201	US Racial & Ethnic Politics	3
PS 202	Religion & Politics in the US	3
PS 220	Intro to Public Policy	3
PS 270	Intro to Political Theory	3
PS 300	Special Topics (as appropriate)	3
PS 315	African American Politics	3
PS 316	Latina/Latino Politics	3
PS 317	Asian American Politics	3
PS 321	Principles of Public Policy	3
PS 322	Law and Public Policy	3
PS 371	Classical Political Theory	3
PS 372	Modern Political Theory	3
PS 373	Democratic Theory	3
PS 374	Future Politics	3
PS 376	American Political Theory	3
PS 494	Junior Honors Seminar	3

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, Civic Leadership Concentration

---

Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree General and Education Requirements page.

First Year
First Semester	Hours	Second Semester	Hours
Free elective course	1	Political Science 100- or 200- level course	3
PS 100	3	General Education course	3
PS 101	3	Free elective course	3
Language Other than English (3rd level)	4	General Education course or Composition 1	3
Composition I or General Education course	4	Language Other than English (4th level)	4
	15		16
Second Year
First Semester	Hours	Second Semester	Hours
Political Science 100- or 200- level course	3	Civic Leadership 300- or 400-level course	3
Political Science 100- or 400-level course	2	Thematic related coursework	3
General Education course	3	General Education course	3
General Education course	3	General Education course	3
Free elective course	3	Free elective course	3
Free elective course	3
	17		15
Third Year
First Semester	Hours	Second Semester	Hours
PS 125 or 191	3	Civic Leadership 300- or 400- level course	3
PS 291 or 491	3	Thematic related coursework	3
Free elective course	3	General Education course	3
Free elective course	3	General Education course	3
		Free elective course	3
	12		15
Fourth Year
First Semester	Hours	Second Semester	Hours
Political Science 300- or 400-level course	3	Political Science 300- or 400- level course	3
Civic Leadership 300- or 400-level course	3	Thematic related coursework	3
General Education course	3	Thematic related coursework	3
Free elective course	3	General Education course	3
Free elective course	3	Free elective course	3
	15		15
Total Hours 120

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, Civic Leadership Concentration

---

department website: https://www.pol.illinois.edu

department faculty: Political Science Faculty

advising: Political Science advising

overview of college admissions & requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences

college website: https://las.illinois.edu/