Political Science Requirements

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The School of Anthropology, Political Science, and Sociology offers a curriculum that provides students both a broad understanding of politics in the world today and the knowledge and skills that help students to specialize and advance in their own areas of interest. The school offers a political science major, a political science minor, a Dual Degree program with the School of Law, a pre-law minor, and a legal studies minor for the Bachelor of Arts degree. Within the major, students may take a general track or choose one of two specializations: pre-law or international affairs. The major provides students the flexibility to choose from a wide range of courses that prepare them for their future plans and careers. Students are encouraged to link their academic study with practical experience through internships and study abroad programs.

Students planning to major in political science should consult with an academic advisor as early as possible to plan their program of study. Students majoring in political science must complete core and elective requirements listed below for a minimum of 33 hours of which at least 15 must be earned at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Political Science majors must complete all coursework in the major with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in order to graduate. A minimum of three of these courses must be taken at the 400 level. POLS 405, POLS 406, POLS 416, POLS 418, POLS 435, POLS 436, POLS 437, POLS 439, POLS 455, POLS 459, POLS 460, POLS 466, POLS 475, or POLS 480 also satisfy the College of Liberal Arts Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) requirement.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science Degree Requirements

Degree RequirementsCredit Hours
University Core Curriculum Requirements 39
College of Liberal Arts Academic Requirements 11
Requirements for Major in Political Science 33
Core Courses: POLS 114, POLS 250, POLS 270, and POLS 300 12
Political Science 400 level courses 9
Political Science electives 12
Electives 37
Total 120

International Affairs Specialization

Political Science majors preparing for careers in international affairs may specialize in international affairs. This specialization includes political science core courses, the international affairs course sequence, two 400-level political science courses and two political science electives.

B.A. Political Science - International Affairs Specialization Degree Requirements

Degree RequirementsCredit Hours
University Core Curriculum Requirements 39
College of Liberal Arts Academic Requirements 11
Requirements for Major in Political Science 33
Core Requirements: POLS 114, POLS 250, POLS 270, and POLS 300 12
International Affairs Course Sequence POLS 372I, POLS 375, POLS 480 9
Political Science 400 level courses 6
Political Science electives 6
Electives 37
Total 120

Pre-Law Specialization

Political Science majors preparing for law school may specialize in pre-law. This specialization includes political science core courses, the pre-law course sequence, one 400-level political science course and one political science elective.

B.A. Political Science - Pre-Law Specialization Degree Requirements

Degree RequirementsCredit Hours
University Core Curriculum Requirements 39
College of Liberal Arts Academic Requirements 11
Requirements for Major in Political Science 33
Core Requirements: POLS 114, POLS 250, POLS 270, and POLS 300 12
Pre-Law Course Sequence POLS 230, POLS 333A, POLS 333B, and any two of the following: POLS 435, POLS 436, POLS 437, POLS 438, or POLS 475 15
Political Science 400 level electives 3
Political Science 300-400 level electives 3
Electives 37
Total 120

Legal Studies Minor

The Legal Studies Minor provides an interdisciplinary education to students interested in matters related to law and legal, political, and social change. The minor consists of eighteen hours of coursework, of which at least three must be upper-division (300 or 400 level) courses. There are two required courses (six hours) and four electives (twelve hours). One course from each of the remaining themes is required. Students may apply no more than six hours of credit from their major toward the minor. No more than six hours can be taken from any one program. At least twelve of the required eighteen credit hours must be earned at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The minor includes courses from Paralegal Studies, but the Legal Studies Minor is not intended to prepare a student for a career as a paralegal nor is it approved by the American Bar Association to prepare a student for a career as a paralegal. The American Bar Association does not make recommendations for any undergraduate majors or group of courses to prepare for a legal education. The minor is built on this broad understanding of legal studies as a cross-disciplinary field.

Legal Studies Minor Requirements

Degree RequirementsCredit Hours
Foundation courses: POLS 230 and ENGL 290 6
Reasoning, Theory, and Methods. One of the following ANTH 240D, CMST 221, CMST 262, CMST 280, CMST 325, CMST 326, CCJ 201, ECON 350, PHIL 105, PHIL 310, PHIL 445, SOC 301, or SOC 312 3
Institutions and Social Practices. One of the following: CCJ 310, JRNL 332, JRNL 399, PARL 320, PARL 350, PARL 360, POLS 323, POLS 333A, POLS 333B, POLS 334, POLS 435, POLS 436, POLS 438, POLS 439, or POLS 475 3
History, Culture, and Diversity. Choose one: AFR 311A, AFR 311B, AFR 330, AFR 332, AFR 334, AFR 339, AD 101, AD 267, ANTH 410L, ANTH 410T, CCJ 203, CCJ 374, CCJ 460, CMST 416, CMST 447, ECON 302I, ECON 329, HIST 110, HIST 112, HIST 201, HIST 202, HIST 300, HIST 301, HIST 324, HIST 437, HIST 460, HIST 487, LING 341, LING 320I, PHIL 211, POLS 215, POLS 326, POLS 332I, POLS 352I, PSYC 223, PSYC 233, PSYC 333, PSYC 470, SOC 223, SOC 215, SOC 340, SOC 407, SOC 424, SOC 435, SOC 455, SOC 473, SOC 475, WGSS 201, WGSS 223, WGSS 233, WGSS 302, WGSS 438, or WGSS 440 3
Justice and Ethics. Choose one: JRNL 334, JRNL 434, PARL 365, PHIL 104, PHIL 344, PHIL 474, or POLS 437 3
Total 18

Political Science Minor

A minor in Political Science consists of 15 hours to be approved by the program advisor. At least nine of the required 15 credit hours must be earned at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Pre-Law Minor

The Pre-Law minor provides a course of study for students interested in matters related to the law to pursue a more focused course of study and help to prepare them for law school. The minor consists of eighteen hours of coursework. There are three required courses (nine hours) and three electives (nine hours). Students may apply no more than nine hours of credit from their major toward the minor. At least twelve of the required eighteen credit hours must be earned at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Pre-Law Minor Requirements

Degree RequirementsCredit Hours
Three required courses: POLS 230, POLS 333A, and POLS 333B 9
Three of the following: POLS 323, POLS 334, POLS 435, POLS 436, POLS 437, POLS 438, POLS 439, or POLS 475 9
Total 18

Dual B.A./J.D. Degrees

Dual Degree Program with School of Law: Political Science majors can participate in the dual Political Science B.A./School of Law J.D. program, which allows students to earn both degrees in as few as six years. Please consult with an academic advisor for minimum admissions requirements and undergraduate course planning.