Political Science: Public Policy and Democratic Institutions, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, Public Policy and Democratic Institutions Concentration
This concentration explores political institutions and processes and how and why they work as they do. Courses use historical and contemporary examples to understand the political system the founders established and the ways it has shaped modern politics. Students study institutions such as the presidency, Congress, courts, the bureaucracy,and political parties, with a focus on their organization and on important patterns of behavior within them, such as interest group lobbying and campaigning.
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, Public Policy and Democratic Institutions 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.
Public Policy and Democratic Institutions Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PS 100 | Intro to Political Science | 3 |
| PS 101 | Intro to US Gov & Pol | 3 |
| 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 come from the Public Policy and Democratic Institutions Concentration list maintained by the department. The other six hours may be any 300- or 400-level Political Science course. | 15 | |
| Select any Political Science courses at any level | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Course List | ||
| PS 220 | Intro to Public Policy | 3 |
| PS 224 | Politics of the National Parks | 3 |
| PS 225 | Environmental Politics & Policy | 3 |
| PS 230 | Intro to Pol Research | 3 |
| PS 231 | Strategic Models | 3 |
| PS 282 | Governing Globalization | 3 |
| PS 300 | Special Topics (as appropriate) | 3 |
| PS 301 | The US Constitution I | 3 |
| PS 302 | The US Constitution II | 3 |
| PS 303 | The US Congress | 3 |
| PS 304 | The US Presidency | 3 |
| PS 305 | The US Supreme Court | 3 |
| PS 306 | Judicial Politics | 3 |
| PS 307 | Separation of Powers | 3 |
| PS 309 | State Gov in the US | 3 |
| PS 310 | Politics of Organizations | 3 |
| PS 311 | Political Parties in the US | 3 |
| PS 321 | Principles of Public Policy | 3 |
| PS 322 | Law and Public Policy | 3 |
| PS 323 | Law and Representation | 3 |
| PS 355 | Democratization | 3 |
| PS 356 | Comparative Political Economy | 3 |
| PS 379 | Intl Rel & Domestic Politics | 3 |
| PS 385 | Politics of the European Union | 3 |
| PS 395 | International Organization | 3 |
| PS 457 | Dem Gov in a Global Setting | 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, Public Policy and Democratic Institutions 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 | 3 |
| PS 100 | 3 | PS 100- or 200-level course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free elective course | 2 |
| Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | Language Other than English (4th level) | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | General Education course or Composition 1 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PS 100- or 200-level course | 3 | PS 100- or 400-level course | 3 |
| PS 100- or 400-level course | 3 | General Education 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 Public Policy & Democratic Institutions 300- or 400-level course | 3 | PS Public Policy & Democratic Institutions 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 | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PS Public Policy & Democratic Institutions 300- or 400-level course | 3 | Thematic related coursework | 3 |
| PS 300- or 400- level course | 3 | Thematic related coursework | 3 |
| General Education 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, Public Policy and Democratic Institutions Concentration