Political Science, B.A.

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Political science has long been part of the liberal arts tradition in North American higher education, and AU’s Bachelor of Arts in Political Science will prepare you to thrive in the future as a principle-driven leader in a global society where Christian thinking and values are less valued than in the twentieth century.

Our program examines forms of national, state and local government, as well as their constitutional underpinnings, in the United States and around the world. You’ll also learn the qualitative and quantitative research methods used in political science. In addition, you will study the legal and ethical concepts that societies use to organize and wield power at all levels.

No grade below a “C” in a course required for the major (including cognates and specified electives) will count toward satisfying that course requirement. This policy does not refer to university core requirements or elective courses.

Curriculum Summary - Political Science, B.A.

General Education Core	41 hours
Major Core	12 hours
Major Electives	22 hours
Cognate Courses	3 hours
General Electives	42 hours
Total	120 hours

Degree Requirements (120 Cr. Hrs.)

University Core Requirements (41 Cr. Hrs.)

University Core Curriculum (Traditional)

Specified Course Requirements:

Historical Inquiry: HIS 161 or HIS 181
Social Inquiry: PS 101
Intercultural Inquiry: FOR LANG 112 or higher

Major Core Requirements (12 Cr. Hrs.)

PS 102 - State and Local Government 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 201 - Research Methods for Political Science 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 220 - International Relations 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 251 - Comparative Politics 3 Cr. Hrs.

Major Electives (21 Cr. Hrs.)

Choose 21 Cr. Hrs. of PS 300/400 level courses. PS majors are required to take at least two upper-level classes outside of United States Politics.

Major electives include but are not limited to the following:

PS 301 - Public Policy 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 302 - International Political Economy 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 303 - United States Political Institutions 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 304 - Interest Groups and Political Parties 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 305 - War and Peace in World Politics 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 306 - United States Foreign Policy 3 Cr. Hrs.

Cognate Requirements (3 Cr. Hrs.)

HIS 162 - United States History 2 3 Cr. Hrs.
OR
HIS 182 - The Modern World 3 Cr. Hrs.

General Electives (43 Cr. Hrs.)

Suggested Eight Semester Sequence

Sixth Semester (15 Cr. Hrs.)

CTI 4** - Contemporary Issues 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS Electives 6 Cr. Hrs.
Electives 6 Cr. Hrs.

Seventh Semester (12 Cr. Hrs.)

CHR 305 - Christian Worldview and Contemporary Application 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS Electives 3 Cr. Hrs.
Electives 6 Cr. Hrs.

Eighth Semester (16 Cr. Hrs.)

PS Electives 3 Cr. Hrs.
Electives 13 Cr. Hrs.