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