Academic Catalog 2026-2027

Political Science, Bachelor of Arts

Summary

Core Curriculum Requirements42
Major Requirements (30 hours)
POLS 250Intro To Political Science3
POLS 330Comparative Politics3
POLS 340International Relations3
POLS 390Classical and Medieval Theory If both POLS 390 and 391 are taken with a C or better, one course can be applied as a POLS elective.3
or POLS 391 Modern Political Theory
POLS 410African American Politics3
POLS 413Constitutional Law(LS)3
Select four of the following:12
State and Local Government
Legislative Politics
Judicial Politics (LS)
Politics/Environ Justice
International Organization
Pol Systems Of Africa
US Latino Politics
Pol Systems Of Latin Am
American Political Thought
African Amer Pol Thought
ExecutivePolitics
Public Policy
Amer Political Parties
Civil Rights
American Foreign Policy
Selected Topics in Polit Sci
Urban Politics
Women and Politics
Religion and American Politics
Public Opinion
Voters and Elections
Internship
Capstone Sem in Polsc
Other Requirements (27 hours)
ECON 2301Principles Of Economics I3
ECON 2302Principles Of Economics II3
MATH 1316Plane Trigonometry3
or MATH 1324 Math and Business and Econ I
or MATH 1325 Elements of Calculus
or MATH 1333 Contemporary Mathematics II
or MATH 2312 Precalculus Math
Select one of the following:3
Research Methods In Polsc
Research Methods in AJ
Res Methods In Pub Admin
Select one of the following:3
Quantitative Methods in Polsc
Statistics in AJ
Quantitative Methods
FS 102Freshman Seminar/ first Year Experience1
SOCI 1301Introduction To Sociology3
Free Elective (2 hours)2
Foreign Language (6 hours)6
Minor (21 hours)
Please declare a minor after being admitted as a Political Science Major21
Total Hours120
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterHours
ENGL 1301 Freshman English I 3
Math CORE Course (select one of the following): 3
Contemporary Mathematics I ((Suggested CORE MATH Course))  
College Algebra ((Suggested CORE MATH Course))  
COSC 1301
Intro To Compr Science I
or Fundamentals of Information Systems
or Instructional Technology
3
POLS 2305 American Government 3
HIST 1301 Soc & Pol Hist US to 1877 3
FS 102 Freshman Seminar/ first Year Experience 1
 Hours16
Second Semester
ENGL 1302 Freshman English II 3
MATH 1316
Plane Trigonometry
or Math and Business and Econ I
or Elements of Calculus
or Contemporary Mathematics II
or Precalculus Math
3
SOCI 1301 Introduction To Sociology 3
POLS 2306 Texas Government 3
HIST 1302 Soc & Pol Hist US Since 1877 3
 Hours15
Second Year
Third Semester
Language, Philosophy & Culture CORE Course 3
Creative Arts CORE Course 3
BIOL 1308 Survey of Life Science 3
Foreign Language 3
POLS 250 Intro To Political Science 3
 Hours15
Fourth Semester
COMM 1321
Business & Professional Comm
or Public Address
3
GEOL 1303 Introduction To The Earth 3
Social and Behavioral Sciences CORE Course 3
Foreign Language 3
POLS 330 Comparative Politics 3
 Hours15
Third Year
Fifth Semester
ECON 2301 Principles Of Economics I 3
Select one of the following: 3
Research Methods In Polsc  
Res Methods In Pub Admin  
Research Methods in AJ  
POLS 340 International Relations 3
POLS 390
Classical and Medieval Theory
or Modern Political Theory
3
Minor 3
 Hours15
Sixth Semester
ECON 2302 Principles Of Economics II 3
Select one of the following: 3
Quantitative Methods in Polsc  
Quantitative Methods  
Statistics in AJ  
POLS Elective 3
POLS Elective 3
Minor 3
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Seventh Semester
POLS 413 Constitutional Law(LS) 3
POLS Elective 3
Minor 3
Minor 3
Minor 3
 Hours15
Eighth Semester
POLS 410 African American Politics 3
POLS Elective 3
Minor 3
Minor 3
FREE Elective 2
 Hours14
 Total Hours120

Political Science 4+1

The accelerated 4+1 program in Political Science is available for students currently admitted in the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in the Political Science program. Students entering the 4+1 accelerated program will be admitted to the Master of Public Administration program.

The five-year MPA program includes 145 (MPA) academic hours of coursework with an embedded undergraduate degree in Public Administration.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterHours
ENGL 1301 Freshman English I 3
HIST 1301 Soc & Pol Hist US to 1877 3
FS 102 Freshman Seminar/ first Year Experience 1
MATH 1332
Contemporary Mathematics I
or College Algebra
3
COSC 1301
Intro To Compr Science I
or Fundamentals of Information Systems
or Instructional Technology
3
POLS 2305 American Government 3
 Hours16
Second Semester
ENGL 1302 Freshman English II 3
HIST 1302 Soc & Pol Hist US Since 1877 3
MATH 1316 Plane Trigonometry 3
SOCI 1301 Introduction To Sociology 3
POLS 2306 Texas Government 3
 Hours15
Sophomore
Third Semester
Language/Philosophy/Culture 3
Foreign Language 3
Creative Arts 3
Life/Physical Science 3
POLS 250 Intro To Political Science 3
 Hours15
Fourth Semester
COMM 1315
Public Address
or Business & Professional Comm
3
POLS 330 Comparative Politics 3
Life/Physical Science 3
Social/Behavioral Science 3
Foreign Language 3
 Hours15
Junior
Fifth Semester
ECON 2301 Principles Of Economics I 3
POLS 301
Research Methods In Polsc
or Res Methods In Pub Admin
or Research Methods in AJ
3
POLS 340 International Relations 3
POLS 390
Classical and Medieval Theory
or Modern Political Theory
3
Minor Class 3
 Hours15
Sixth Semester
POLS 302
Quantitative Methods in Polsc
or Quantitative Methods
or Statistics in AJ
3
POLS Elective 3
POLS Elective 3
Minor Class 3
ECON 2302 Principles Of Economics II 3
Students should apply for the 4+1 program  
 Hours15
Senior
Seventh Semester
Minor Class 3
Minor Class 3
POLS 413 Constitutional Law(LS) 3
PAD 500 Theory & Practice 3
PAD 502 Research Meth In Pub Adm 3
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Eighth Semester
Minor Class 3
Minor Class 3
POLS 410 African American Politics 3
PAD 503 Quantitative Methods I 3
PAD 507 Organization Behavior & Theory 3
Students should apply for BA graduation  
Students should apply for MPA program  
 Hours15
Fifth Year
Ninth Semester
PAD 640 Pub Pers Admin Th & Pract 3
PAD 650 Intergovernmental Relations 3
PAD 700 Internship 3
MPA Concentration Course 3
 Hours12
Tenth Semester
PAD 631 Gov Budgeting & Financial Mgmt 3
PAD 710 Capstone (MPA Concentration Course) 3
MPA Concentration Course 3
MPA Concentration Course 3
Students Should apply for MPA graduation  
 Hours12
 Total Hours145