Political Science 4-Year Plan

The 4-Year Plan is a model for completing your Political Science degree in a timely manner. The plan below is one of several possible ways for you to complete the Political Science degree. Your individualized plan may look different if you have already fulfilled some requirements. Check your Financial Aid as it may require additional term credits for full-time funding. You must complete all university and program requirements successfully to complete this degree (GPA, 120 credits, LASC, WI, residency).

PDF version of the BA in Political Science Roadmap

  • Program: Bachelor of Arts: Political Science
  • Total Credits: 120
  • Catalog: 2023-2024

First Year

Curriculum Course Course Title Credits
Fall (1st Fall)
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 5 POL 105 Making Sense of Politics 3
First-Year Experience Course FYE 101 First Year Experience 1
LASC Goal 1B ENGL 101 English Composition 3
LASC Goal     3
LASC Goal     3
LASC Goal     3
Total Credits: 16
Spring (1st Spring)
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 5 and 9 POL 120 American National Government & Politics 3
POL Elective: POL ***   3
LASC Goal 1A COMM 100 Speech Communication 3
LASC Goal/WI     4
LASC Goal     3
Total Credits: 16

 

Second Year

Curriculum Course Course Title Credits
Fall (2nd Fall)
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 5 and 8 POL 160 International Relations 3
Core Requirement: POL 230 Introduction to the Law (OR POL 322 Fall 23) 3
POL Elective: POL ***   3
LASC Goal     3
LASC Goal     3
Total Credits: 15
Spring (2nd Spring)
Core Requirement: WI for major POL 349 Great Power Politics (OR POL 350 Spr 24) 3
POL Elective: POL ***   3
Writing Intensive: 200-level or higher     3
LASC Goal     3
LASC Goal     3
Total Credits: 15

 

Third Year

Curriculum Course Course Title Credits
Fall (3rd Fall)
Core Requirement: POL 210 Introduction to Political Science 3
Core Requirement: POL 322 Executive & Legislative Process (if not POL 230) 3
POL Elective: POL ***   3
Writing Intensive: 200-level or higher     4
General Elective/Minor Course:     3
Total Credits: 16
Spring 2024 (3rd Spring)
Core Requirement: POL 310 Political Science Research Methods 3
Core Requirement: WI for major POL 350 Comp Gov Western Europe (if not POL 349) 3
Core Requirement: POL 341 Public Policy (if not POL 340) 3
General Elective/Minor Course:     3
General Elective/Minor Course:     3
Total Credits: 15

 

Fourth

Curriculum Course Course Title Credits
Fall (4th Fall)
POL Elective: POL *** Probably will be POL 340 or 350 if both are taken 3
POL Elective: POL ***   3
General Elective/Minor Course:     3
General Elective/Minor Course:     3
General Elective/Minor Course:     3
Total Credits: 15
Spring 2025 (4th Spring)
Core Requirement: POL 340 Public Administration (if not POL 341) 3
General Elective/Minor Course:     3
General Elective/Minor Course:     3
General Elective/Minor Course:     3
Total Credits: 12