for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, World Politics Concentration

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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.

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for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, World Politics Concentration

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See the Political Science Distinction page for departmental distinction information.

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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

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
PS 100	Intro to Political Science	3
Select at least one course from the following:		3
PS 240	Intro to Comp Politics
PS 241	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

Course List

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

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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 240 or 241	3
PS 100- or 200-level course	3
Language Other Than English (4th level)	4
General Education course or Composition I	3
Free Elective course	2
	15
Total Hours 15

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

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

Third Year
First Semester	Hours
PS World Politics 300-400 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

Third Year
Second Semester	Hours
PS World Politics 300-400 level course	3
PS 300- or 400- level course	3
Thematic related course	3
General Education course	3
Free Elective course	3
	15
Total Hours 15

Fourth Year
First Semester	Hours
PS World Politics 300-400 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
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, World Politics 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 and compare political systems and behavior across countries, applying concepts related to democracy, regime change, political institutions, identity politics, political economy, social change, and the effects of globalization and transnational forces.

for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, World Politics 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/