Political Science: Civic Leadership, BALAS
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
| 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 | |
| Washington Experience | ||
| Topics in Civic Leadership | ||
| Select any additional 100- or 200-level Political Science courses | 6 | |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Intro Internship Seminar | ||
| 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 | |
| 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