The Bachelor of Arts in Political Science does more than teach about politics – it empowers you with the skills needed to inquisitively question political systems. Questions like: How does a federal republic differ from a democracy? How does a party system affect governance? These are the types of questions that political scientists explore, but they also represent issues that require ordinary citizens to make informed judgments. Knowledge gained in this online program can be applied to the gaining and holding of elected positions, or to government and military service or other professions where strong interpersonal and communication skills are required.
Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:
Political Theory and Systems
- Analyze the fundamental theories and philosophies of government, governance, economy, and civil society.
- Compare and contrast the political elements of representative democracy and with other political systems.
The United States Political System
- Assess the three institutions of government that create and implement federal policy.
- Analyze the historical evolution and contemporary manifestations of the federal system.
Political Parties and Interest Groups
- Analyze the various roles of interest groups in the United States in both historical and modern democratic processes.
- Assess the impact of political parties on federal, state, and local government.
- Analyze the concept of diversity in American politics, to include gender, ethnicity, and age.
Degree at a Glance
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 30 | |
| Major Required | 27 | |
| Select one of the following concentrations: | 15 | |
| Final Program Requirements | 3 | |
| Elective Requirements | 45 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120 | |
Degree Program Requirements
General Education Requirements (30 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Humanities (6 semester hours) 1 | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Arabic I | ||
| Arabic II | ||
| Art Appreciation | ||
| Survey of Photography | ||
| Film and Literature | ||
| Image Enhancement using Adobe Photoshop® | ||
| French I | ||
| French II | ||
| German I | ||
| German II | ||
| Introduction to Japanese | ||
| Literature of American Encounters, Revolution, and Rebellion | ||
| From Abolition to #MeToo: Literature of the American Civil Rights Movement | ||
| Pivotal Figures in Early British Literature | ||
| British Literature from Wordsworth through the Wasteland | ||
| Leadership in World Literature: Antiquity to the Early Modern Period | ||
| Literature of the Newly Globalized World: The Individual’s Struggle to Adapt | ||
| Music Appreciation | ||
| Jazz and Rock | ||
| World Music and Cultures | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Critical Thinking | ||
| Introduction to Ethics | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Introduction to Brazilian Portuguese | ||
| Introduction to the Study of Religion | ||
| Introduction to World Religions | ||
| Russian I | ||
| Spanish I | ||
| Spanish II | ||
| Thinking and Acting Ethically | ||
| Civics, Political and Social Sciences (6 semester hours) 1 | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| World Archaeology | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Planning Your Future with Purpose in Security & Global Studies | ||
| Social Media and Society | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Microeconomics | ||
| Macroeconomics | ||
| Humane Education: A Global Interdisciplinary Perspective | ||
| Introduction to Geography | ||
| Practical Food Safety and Awareness | ||
| International Relations I | ||
| Forgotten America--Under Represented Cultures in American Literature | ||
| Introduction to Political Science | ||
| American Government I | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Death and Dying | ||
| Race & Religion | ||
| Hope and Resilience | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| American Popular Culture | ||
| Exploring Society and Cultures via Science Fiction | ||
| Communication: Writing, Oral, and Multimedia (9 semester hours) | ||
| COMM120 | Information and Digital Literacy | 3 |
| ENGL110 | Making Writing Relevant | 3 |
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| Public Speaking | ||
| Proficiency in Writing | ||
| Argumentation and Rhetoric | ||
| Introduction to Literature | ||
| Technical Writing | ||
| Scientific Writing | ||
| Effective Business Communication | ||
| Human Relations Communication | ||
| Introduction to Information Technology Writing | ||
| Human Relations | ||
| History (3 semester hours) | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| American History to 1877 | ||
| American History since 1877 | ||
| World Civilization before 1650 | ||
| World Civilization since 1650 | ||
| Western Civilization before The Thirty Years War | ||
| Western Civilization since The Thirty Years War | ||
| African-American History before 1877 | ||
| African-American History since 1877 | ||
| History of the American Indian | ||
| History of Science | ||
| The History and Context of STEM | ||
| Mathematics and Applied Reasoning (3 semester hours) | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| Accounting for Non Accounting Majors | ||
| Fundamentals of Programming | ||
| College Algebra | ||
| College Trigonometry | ||
| Pre-Calculus | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Math for Liberal Arts Majors | ||
| Calculus | ||
| Natural Sciences (3 semester hours) | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Biology | ||
| Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Introduction to Chemistry | ||
| Introduction to Meteorology | ||
| Introduction to Geology | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Science | ||
| Introduction to Physics | ||
| Introduction to Astronomy | ||
| Introduction to STEM Disciplines | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101 - Proficiency in Writing or ENGL110 - Making Writing Relevant. |
Major Required (27 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| IRLS200 | Information Literacy and Global Citizenship | 3 |
| POLS210 | American Government I | 3 |
| POLS213 | Political Theory | 3 |
| IRLS300 | Comparative Political Systems | 3 |
| POLS301 | Ethics in Politics | 3 |
| POLS311 | Political Parties and Interest Groups | 3 |
| POLS312 | State, Local, and Community Politics | 3 |
| SOCI311 | Political Sociology | 3 |
| POLS410 | Public Policy | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 27 | |
Students must choose a concentration for this degree program and may select from the Concentration in American Government, Concentration in International Relations, or Concentration in Political Theory.
Concentration in American Government (15 semester hours)
Expands on the fundamental elements introduced in POLS210 - American Government. Includes a more in-depth look into the American federal system, details on the U.S. judicial system and constitutional law, the operation of U.S. intelligence community, and the factors that affect political decision making in the U.S.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Analyze the interdisciplinary field of political psychology and how it relates to the study of American politics.
- Explain the philosophical basis and functioning of the American republic.
- Analyze threats against the United States from nation states, non-state actors, and transnational groups.
- Identify historical events and figures that have contributed to the present-day court system in America.
- Describe how and why the Constitution developed.
Concentration Requirements (15 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| POLS211 | American Government II | 3 |
| LSTD204 | Introduction to the Courts | 3 |
| INTL301 | U.S. Intelligence Community | 3 |
| LSTD301 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
| POLS401 | The Psychology of American Politics | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 15 | |
Concentration in International Relations (15 semester hours)
Explores various international issues affecting the world today, such as human rights and the global economy. Topics include the United Nations, NATO, national and transnational justice, and international civil order. Completion of this concentration may lead to eligibility to obtain a Peace Operations Training Institute certificate.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Explain how global issues, such as globalization and human rights, affect international relations.
- Discuss how international organizations, such as the United Nations and NATO, define collective security, particularly regarding peacekeeping operations.
- Describe how international justice is established and enforced.
- Examine various global development initiatives to reverse failed and failing nation-states.
Concentration Requirements (15 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| IRLS211 | International Relations II | 3 |
| IRLS301 | International Organizations | 3 |
| IRLS302 | International Development | 3 |
| IRLS405 | National and Transnational Justice | 3 |
| IRLS417 | International Civil Order | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 15 | |
Concentration in Political Theory (15 semester hours)
This concentration includes a heavy grounding in philosophy, which is designed to help describe how political theory has evolved through the centuries. Courses cover ancient philosophers, such as Aristotle, to more modern figures like Marx, as well as major contemporary political issues like capital punishment, abortion, and freedom of thought.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Discuss the development and evolution of political theory from their origins to contemporary times.
- Analyze and evaluate political theoretical arguments from historical to contemporary sources.
- Apply political theoretical inquiry to contemporary events.
- Evaluate how philosophy influences political theory over time.
- Critique current political theories for validity.
Concentration Requirements (15 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL101 | Introduction to Philosophy (This course is required as the first course in the concentration.) | 3 |
| PHIL302 | Ancient Western Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL400 | Contemporary Issues in Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL401 | Modern Philosophy from Descartes to Kant | 3 |
| PHIL403 | Continental and Post-Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 15 | |
Final Program Requirements (3 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| POLS497 | Senior Seminar in Political Science (to be taken as the last course before graduation) 1 | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 3 | |
| 1 | Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all major courses prior to enrollment. |
Elective Requirements (45 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select any courses not already taken to fulfill the requirements listed above. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major. | 45 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 45 | |