New Curriculum in Political Science

Starting fall 2023, students will have more freedom to plan their courses around their career goals. The new curriculum gets rid of the subfield distribution requirements and gives students the opportunity, if they choose, to be recognized for completion of one or more career paths: Law, Justice, and Politics; Public Policy and Political Action; Global Engagement; Politics and Business; Environmental Politics and Policy. Other changes include a redesign of POL S 101 Introduction to Political Science and replacing the required methods course POL S 301 with a choice of POL S 261 Thinking Like a Political Scientist: Qualitative Methods, POL S 262 Thinking Like a Political Scientist: Quantitative Methods, or POL S 401 Political Analysis and Research.  Students will also complete at least one capstone experience: POL S 491 Senior Thesis, POL S 499 Internship, a 500-level political science class, or a department-approved study abroad. Here is a link to the new graduation requirements, and here is a FAQ for current students.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I do more than one career path?
Yes, but you can only double count one class.

2. Do I have to do career path?
No, they are not a graduation requirement.

3. Can I complete a career path even if I am graduating under the old catalog?
Yes, if you have taken the required classes you can still get a completion letter if you are graduating Fall 2023 or later.

4. Can I complete a career path if I am not a political science major?
Yes. You can also consider taking one additional class to get a minor!

5. How do I complete a career path:
– Take the Gateway Course for that path
– Take at least three additional courses from the list of upper-level courses for that Path with a grade of C- or higher in each course.
– Fill out an application showing that you have taken the necessary courses —Career Path Completion Form
– Receive a letter of completion for the path from the Department of Political Science and list your emphasis area on your resume! We are exploring creating digital badges for LinkedIn and similar platforms.

6. Can I apply transfer credit to a career path?
Yes, with approval from your advisor.

7. Who should I contact with additional questions?
One of the political science advisors: Jason Chrystal, Terry Kruse, or Zack Bonner.

Career Path Completion Form

Law, Justice, and Politics

Possible Careers: Judge or judicial clerk, Civil rights attorney, FBI, Prosecuting attorney, Public defender, Legislative analyst, Environmental advocate, Community organizer, Police/security officer, Immigration lawyer

Gateway Course: 235 Introduction to Ethics and Politics

Upper-level Courses:

319      Law and Politics
320      American Judicial Process
333      Democracy and Diversity in America
334      Politics and Society
339      Liberty and Law in America
353      Immigration Policy
354      War and the Politics of Humanitarianism
402      Legal Analysis
420      Constitutional Law
421      Constitutional Freedoms
422      International Law
430      Foundations of Western Political Thought
431      Modern Political Thought
435      Contemporary Political Philosophy
453      International Organizations
480      Ethics and Public Policy
487      Electronic Democracy

 

Public Policy and Political Action

Gateway Course: 271 Public Organizations and Leadership

Possible Careers: Local, state, or federal government; PAC director; American Government teacher; Policy analyst; Director of civic engagement; Campaign manager; Business lobbyist; Investigative journalist; Manager for community initiatives; Aide to congressperson; Pollster; Nonprofit professional

Upper-level Courses:

306      Public Opinion and Voting Behavior
310      State and Local Government
318      Campaigns and Elections
334      Politics and Society
335      Science, Technology, and Public Policy
337X    Health Politics and Policy
344      Public Policy
353      Immigration Policy
354      War and the Politics of Humanitarianism
360      American Institutions: Congress
361      American Institutions: The Presidency
363      American Institutions: Media
364      Political Parties and Interest Groups
382      Health Politics and Policy
385      Women in Politics
387      First Ladies in U.S. History
407      Proseminar in Public Policy
408      Policy Implementation
409      Political Game Theory
410      State Government and Politics
417      Campaign Rhetoric
419      Intergovernmental Relations
419      The Judiciary
425      Mass Political Behavior
443      Energy Policy
460      American Political Institutions
471      Organizational Theory in the Public Sector
475      Management in the Public Sector
477      Government, Business, and Society
480      Ethics and Public Policy
487      Electronic Democracy

 

Global Engagement

Possible Careers: Foreign Service Officer, Teacher, International business executive, International lawyer, Peace Corps, Activist for refugees, Expert for an international organization, International journalist, Military service, Military contractor, NGO worker, Human rights advocate

Gateway Course: 222X Global Engagement

Upper-level Courses:

305      Comparative Political Behavior
340      Politics of Developing Areas
342      Chinese Politics
343      Latin American Government and Politics
346      European Politics
348      British Government and Politics
349      Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe
350      Politics of the Middle East
352      War and Film
353      Immigration Policy
354      War and the Politics of Humanitarianism
355      War and Politics
356      Theories of International Politics
357      International Security Policy
358      United States Foreign Policy
359      Current Issues in American Foreign Policy
370      Religion and Politics
381      International Political Economy
404X    Proseminar in International Relations
405X    Proseminar in Comparative Politics
409      Political Game Theory
422      International Law
443      Energy Policy
452      Comparative Foreign Policy
453      International Organizations

 

Politics and Business

Possible Careers: Chief Operations Officer (COO), Communications director, Director of business development, Marketing director, Management consultant, Project manager, Union leader

Gateway Course: 232X Politics of Business

Upper-level Courses:

310      State and Local Government
333      Democracy and Diversity in America
335      Science, Technology, and Public Policy
336X    Climate Change Policy
340      Politics of Developing Areas
342      Chinese Politics
343      Latin American Government and Politics
344      Public Policy
346      European Politics
348      British Government and Politics
349      Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe
350      Politics of the Middle East
381      International Political Economy
407      Proseminar in Public Policy
408      Policy Implementation
409      Political Game Theory
413      Intergovernmental Relations
422      International Law
453      International Organizations
475      Management in the Public Sector
477      Government Business and Society

 

Environmental Politics and Policy

Possible Careers: Sustainability director, Environmental policy analyst, Environmental activist, Social organizer, Conservation advocate, Nonprofit professional, Environmental impact analyst

Gateway Course: 283 Introduction to Environmental Politics and Policy

Upper-level Courses:

305      Comparative Political Behavior
335      Science, Technology, and Public Policy
336X    Climate Change Policy
340      Politics of Developing Areas
342      Chinese Politics
343      Latin American Government and Politics
344      Public Policy
346      European Politics
356      Theories of International Politics
358      United States Foreign Policy
370      Religion and Politics
381      International Political Economy
383      Environmental Politics and Policy
407      Proseminar in Public Policy
408      Policy Implementation
443      Energy Policy
452      Comparative Foreign Policy
460      American Political Institutions
477      Government, Business, and Society
480      Ethics and Public Policy