Political Science, Bachelor of Arts

Program of Study

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements for the Political Science Major:

POL 101Foundations of Politics and Government

3

POL 220American National Government

3

POL 233International Politics

3

POL 291/PHL 391Ancient/Medieval Political Philosophy

3

POL 292/PHL 392Modern Political Philosophy

3

POL 293/PHL 393Contemporary Political Philosophy

3

POL 320Comparative Politics

3

POL 358American Constitutional Law

3

POL 361American State and Local Government

3

POL 435Coordinating Seminar

1

POL
Upper-level POL courses

6

HST 290Historical Methods

3

PHL 113/PHL 503Philosophy of the Human Person

3

PHL 211/PHL 511Metaphysics

3

PHL 212/PHL 512Foundations of Ethics

3

HST 207History of the United States I

3

HST 208History of the United States II

3

Intermediate Foreign Language Requirement

6

Note: POL 101, HST 207, HST 208, HST 290, PHL 113, PHL 211, and PHL 212 must be taken by the end of the student's fourth semester as a political science major.

Freshman Year

First Semester

POL 101Foundations of Politics and Government

3

HST 207History of the United States I

3

PHL 113/PHL 503Philosophy of the Human Person

3

THE 101Foundations of Catholicism

3

Elementary Foreign Language

3

Second Semester

POL 220American National Government

3

HST 208History of the United States II

3

HST 290Historical Methods

3

PHL 211/PHL 511Metaphysics

3

Elementary Foreign Language

3

 

Sophomore Year

First Semester

POL 233International Politics

3

POL 291/PHL 391Ancient/Medieval Political Philosophy

3

PHL 212/PHL 512Foundations of Ethics

3

THE 110The Word of God: Scripture and Tradition

3

Natural Science Core

3

Intermediate Foreign Language OR Elective

3

Intermediate Foreign Language: indicate the 6 credit intermediate language requirement for all university B.A. programs. If students are not qualified to enter at the intermediate level, they must first take 6 credits of the language at the elementary level. The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by examination or other verification of proficiency,

Second Semester

POL 292/PHL 392Modern Political Philosophy

3

ENG 211Lyric and Dramatic Voices

3

THE 115/THE 515Christian Moral Principles

3

Natural Science Core

3

Intermediate Foreign Language OR Elective

3

Junior Year

First Semester

POL 293/PHL 393Contemporary Political Philosophy

3

POL 361American State and Local Government

3

ENG 210Epic and the Person

3

Catholic Traditions in Fine Arts Core

3

HST
History Core

3

 

Second Semester

POL 320Comparative Politics

3

POL 358American Constitutional Law

3

POL
Political Science Elective

3

Elective

3

Elective

3

Senior Year

First Semester

POL
Political Science Elective

3

MTH/ECO
Math or Economics Core

3

Electives

9

ECO 121 is recommended. The University’s Social Science and American Founding Principles Core requirements are satisfied by the required courses for the political science major.

Second Semester

POL 435Coordinating Seminar

1

Electives

15

POL 435: Coordinating Seminar is offered only once a year in the spring; under no circumstances will it also be offered in the fall. Students are permitted to enroll in it only if they are political science majors with senior status (at least 88 credits completed) and have completed the following required courses above: HST 207, HST 208, HST 290; PHL 113, PHL 211, PHL 212; and 7 of the 8 specifically required 3 credit political science courses above (POL 101, POL 220, POL 233, POL 291, POL 292, POL 293, POL 320, POL 358, POL 361).

Students should understand that all of the specifically stated courses above both in Political Science and other fields are required for the major in political science. Substitutions will not be made and students must pass all these courses. Students are required to take all courses required for the major in the sequence stated above –exceptions in sequencing are made only for very good reasons. (The sequence in the junior year will be slightly altered for students spending a semester in Austria.)