< College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Political Science

The Department of Political Science encourages students to acquire a broad understanding of political science and to pursue selected subfields of the discipline in depth. To accomplish these objectives, the department provides courses of study that introduce students to the discipline and to its principal fields. Among these are American government and politics, comparative government and politics, international relations, and political philosophy. Supporting courses are an integral part of the program and should be selected with a view toward building a coherent selection adapted to the student's particular interests.

Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum

E-mail: mham@.uiuc.edu

Web address for most current program requirements:
http://www.las.uiuc.edu/students/programs/POL_S/f_POL_S.shtml

Degree title: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Minimum required major and supporting course work equates to 50 hours including 30 hours of Political Science courses

General education: The LAS General Education requirements are set up so students automatically complete the Campus General Education requirements.

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours

Departmental distinction: The department may award distinction, high distinction, or highest distinction to any political science major whose grade point average in the major is 3.25 or higher and who successfully completes 4 hours of POL S 293 (senior honors thesis). See the departmental academic adviser for details.

HOURS     REQUIREMENTS
3         POL S 150-American Government: Organization and 
           Powers
9         Select three from the following:
          POL S 100-Introduction to Political Science
          POL S 240-Introduction to Comparative Politics
          POL S 250-Introduction to Public Policy
          POL S 260-Introduction to Political Theory
          POL S 270-Introduction to Political Research
          POL S 280-Introduction to International Relations
12        At least four courses at the 300 level1
6         Political Science courses at any level
20        Supporting course work is required and must be 
           selected in consultation with the student's 
           adviser. Supporting courses should complement 
           subfields in political science chosen by the 
           student. At least 12 of these 20 hours must be in 
           courses numbered 200 or above.
50        Total

Twelve hours advanced-level (300- and approved 200-level) courses in the major must be taken on this campus.

All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.

A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your adviser.

Not more than 6 hours of individual study courses in political science or 6 hours for internships may be included in the major; a student with

both independent study hours and internship hours may include a maximum of 9 hours of such credit in the major. POL S 293 is reserved for those seniors doing honors theses for distinction in political science and may not be counted in the 30-hour minimum required for the major.

1. Most 300-level courses will require as prerequisites the appropriate 200-level courses (or, in the case of American politics courses, POL S 150) or the consent of the instructor. Up to 6 hours of credit in POL S 299 may be substituted for 300-level credit. POL S 296 and 297 count for this purpose as 300-level courses.

< College of Liberal Arts and Sciences