Political Science: Citizen Politics, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, Citizen Politics Concentration
Citizen politics is the study of mass politics. Topics include how and why citizens form political attitudes, beliefs, and identities; how people engage in political decision-making; and what political behaviors individuals choose to participate in.
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, Citizen Politics Concentration
See the Political Science BALAS page for departmental distinction information.
A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your advisor. The plan will consist of the selection of a concentration and 12 hours of supporting coursework approved by an advisor.
Restrictions: Except as otherwise noted, or by petition to the department, PS 191, PS 291, PS 292, PS 490, PS 491, and PS 492 are excluded from all concentration lists maintained by the department. These courses may be used only for requirements of courses “at any level” without respect to concentration. As an exception, these courses may be used toward the General Concentration or the Civic Leadership Concentration.
Students may include in the major no more than nine hours from any combination of PS 291, PS 292, PS 490, PS 491, and PS 492. Of these, only six hours from PS 490, PS 491, and PS 492 within that group can count toward the major.
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.
Citizen Politics Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PS 100 | Intro to Political Science | 3 |
| Select at least one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Intro to US Gov & Pol | ||
| Intro to Comp Politics | ||
| Comp Politics in Dev Nations | ||
| Select any additional 100- or 200-level Political Science Courses | 6 | |
| Select 300- or 400-level Political Science courses, at least nine hours of which comes from the Citizen Politics Concentration list (below). The other six hours may be any 300- or 400-level Political Science course. | 15 | |
| Select Political Science courses at any level, at least three hours of which comes from the Citizen Politics Concentration list. The other three hours may be any Political Science course. | 6 | |
| 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 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Citizen Politics Course List | ||
| PS 101 | Intro to US Gov & Pol | 3 |
| PS 201 | US Racial & Ethnic Politics | 3 |
| PS 202 | Religion & Politics in the US | 3 |
| PS 230 | Intro to Pol Research | 3 |
| PS 231 | Strategic Models | 3 |
| PS 240 | Intro to Comp Politics | 3 |
| PS 241 | Comp Politics in Dev Nations | 3 |
| PS 300 | Special Topics (as appropriate) | 3 |
| PS 311 | Political Parties in the US | 3 |
| PS 312 | Politics and the Media | 3 |
| PS 314 | Political Psychology | 3 |
| PS 315 | African American Politics | 3 |
| PS 316 | Latina/Latino Politics | 3 |
| PS 317 | Asian American Politics | 3 |
| PS 318 | Interests Grps & Soc Movements | 3 |
| PS 319 | Campaigns and Elections | 3 |
| PS 320 | Public Opinion | 3 |
| PS 323 | Law and Representation | 3 |
| PS 328 | Introduction to Biology and Politics | 3 |
| PS 329 | Immigration & Citizenship | 3 |
| PS 330 | Intro to Political Behavior | 3 |
| PS 331 | Intro to Electoral Behavior | 3 |
| PS 357 | Ethnic Conflict | 3 |
| PS 358 | Comparative Political Behavior | 3 |
| PS 411 | Campaigning to Win | 3 or 4 |
| PS 456 | Democracy and Identity | 3 or 4 |
| PS 494 | Junior Honors Seminar (as appropriate) | 3 |
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, Citizen Politics 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 | PS 101 (or PS 240 or PS 241) | 3 |
| PS 100 | 3 | PS 100- or 200-level course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Language Other than English (4th level) | 4 |
| Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PS 100- or 200-level course | 3 | PS 100-400 level course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | PS Citizen Politics 100-400 level course | 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 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PS Citizen Politics 300-400 level course | 3 | PS Citizen Politics 300-400 level course | 3 |
| PS 300- or 400-level course | 3 | PS 300- or 400-level course | 3 |
| Thematic related coursework | 3 | Thematic related coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 2 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PS Citizen Politics 300-400 level course | 3 | Thematic related coursework | 3 |
| Thematic related coursework | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective 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, Citizen Politics Concentration