Political Science: World Politics, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, World Politics Concentration
The World Politics concentration compares internal political dynamics of and patterns of political behavior in the world's more than 200 countries. Major comparative themes include democracy, dictatorship and regime change; political institutions (parties, elections, and decision-making); voting behavior, attitudes, and the creation and dissemination of political information; religious and ethnic identity politics; political economy of development and developing countries; social change and political violence; and the impact of globalization and transnational forces such as migration.
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, World Politics 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.
World Politics Concentration Coursework Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PS 100 | Intro to Political Science | 3 |
| Select at least one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Intro to Comp Politics | ||
| Comparative Politics in the Global South | ||
| 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 World Politics Concentration list maintained by the department. The other six hours may be any 300- or 400-level Political Science course. | 15 | |
| Select any additional 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 |
|---|---|---|
| World Politics Course List | ||
| PS 152 | The New Middle East | 3 |
| PS 180 | IntroPolitics of Globalization | 3 |
| PS 230 | Intro to Pol Research | 3 |
| PS 231 | Strategic Models | 3 |
| PS 242 | Introduction to Modern Africa | 3 |
| PS 282 | Governing Globalization | 3 |
| PS 300 | Special Topics (as appropriate) | 3 |
| PS 340 | Politics in Intl Development | 3 |
| PS 341 | Gov & Pol in Africa | 3 |
| PS 343 | Gov & Pol of China | 3 |
| PS 344 | Government and Politics of Japan | 3 |
| PS 345 | Gov & Pol of SE Asia | 3 |
| PS 346 | Gov & Pol of South Asia | 3 |
| PS 347 | Gov & Pol of Middle East | 3 |
| PS 348 | Gov & Pol in Western Europe | 3 |
| PS 351 | Gov & Pol Post-Soviet States | 3 |
| PS 352 | Gov & Pol of East Europe | 3 |
| PS 353 | Gov & Pol of Latin America | 3 |
| PS 355 | Democratization | 3 |
| PS 356 | Comparative Political Economy | 3 |
| PS 357 | Ethnic Conflict | 3 |
| PS 358 | Comparative Political Behavior | 3 |
| PS 379 | Intl Rel & Domestic Politics | 3 |
| PS 385 | Politics of the European Union | 3 |
| PS 397 | Authoritarian Regimes | 3 |
| PS 456 | Democracy and Identity | 3 or 4 |
| 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, World 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 240 or 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 1 | 3 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | Free elective course | 2 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| 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 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 World Politics 300-400 level course | 3 | PS World Politics 300-400 level course | 3 |
| PS 300- or 400- level course | 3 | PS 300- or 400- level course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Thematic related course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PS World Politics 300-400 level course | 3 | Thematic related coursework | 3 |
| Thematic related coursework | 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, World Politics Concentration