for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, Public Policy and Democratic Institutions Concentration

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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

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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

Course List

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

Course List

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

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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 and General Education Requirements page.

First Year
First Semester	Hours
Free Elective course	1
PS 100	3
General Education course	3
Language Other Than English (3rd level)	4
Composition I or General Education course	4
	15
Total Hours 15

First Year
Second Semester	Hours
PS 101	3
PS 100- or 200-level course	3
Free Elective course	2
Language Other Than English (4th level)	4
General Education course or Composition I	3
	15
Total Hours 15

Second Year
First Semester	Hours
PS 100- or 200-level course	3
PS 100- or 400-level course	3
General Education course	3
General Education course	3
Free Elective course	3
	15
Total Hours 15

Second Year
Second Semester	Hours
PS 100- or 400-level course	3
General Education course	3
General Education course	3
General Education course	3
Free Elective course	3
	15
Total Hours 15

Third Year
First Semester	Hours
PS Public Policy & Democratic Institutions 300- or 400- level course	3
PS 300- or 400-level course	3
Thematic related coursework	3
General Education course	3
Free Elective course	3
	15
Total Hours 15

Third Year
Second Semester	Hours
PS Public Policy & Democratic Institutions 300- or 400- level course	3
Thematic related coursework	3
General Education course	3
Free Elective course	3
Free Elective course	3
	15
Total Hours 15

Fourth Year
First Semester	Hours
PS Public Policy & Democratic Institutions 300- or 400- level course	3
PS 300- or 400- level course	3
General Education course	3
Free Elective course	3
Free Elective course	3
	15
Total Hours 15

Fourth Year
Second Semester	Hours
Thematic related coursework	3
Thematic related coursework	3
Free Elective course	3
Free Elective course	3
Free Elective course	3
	15
Total Hours 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

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1. Students will be able to apply central concepts of the scientific method to the study of politics, and demonstrate an ability to draw inferences from data.
2. Students will have a foundational knowledge of facts, concepts, and typologies in their chosen subfield in political science.
3. Students will be able to demonstrate basic knowledge of central theories in their chosen subfield and show how to evaluate those theories.
4. Students will be able to define political science and its subfields, drawing contrasts with other social sciences.
5. Students will be able to apply concepts, methods, and theories to research projects, internships, and/or off-campus experiences. 

Students completing the concentration will be able to analyze U.S. political institutions and processes, examining their historical foundations, organizational structures, and patterns of behavior, including elections, lobbying, and policymaking.

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, Public Policy and Democratic Institutions Concentration

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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/