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Political Science - B.A. Program Requirements PDFDownload to print

Type Legend: DD Diversity–Domestic; DG Diversity–Global; ELR Experiential Learning; KAD Kent Core Additional; KBS Kent Core Basic Sciences; KCM Kent Core Composition; KFA Kent Core Fine Arts: KHU Kent Core Humanities; KMC Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning; KSS Kent Core Social Sciences; WIC Writing Intensive

Please read the sections in the University Catalog on Kent Core, diversity, writing-intensive and the experiential learning requirements.

I.   DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE  (1 credit)
Type Course Title Credits
  US 10097 Destination Kent State: First Year Experience 1
II. MAJOR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (18 credits)*  Courses count in major GPA 
Type Course Title Credits
KAD/DG POL 10004

10500
Comparative Politics
or
World Politics
3
KSS/DD   10100

10300
American Politics**
or
Public Policy
3
ELR   20001 Political Methods 3
    20002

20003
Political Thought
or
Political Economy
3
  Political Science electives (minimum 3 upper-division credit hours) 6
III. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (84 credits)  
Type Course Title Credits
  Foreign Language**** 14-20
  Kent Core Composition 6-8
  Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning 3-5
  Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 9
  Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 3
  Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) 6-7
  Kent Core Additional 3-6
  College General Requirements (must be from Kent Core Basic Science)***** 3
  College General Requirements (mus be from Kent Core Social Sciences)****** 3
  General Elective*** (21 upper-division credit hours)
Credits required depends on meeting minimum 121 credit hours and minimum 42 upper-division credit hours
31-34
IV.  CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (18 credits) 
  American Politics (18)
  General (18)
  International Relations - Comparative Politics (18)
  Public Policy (18)
MINIMUM TOTAL 
121


* All courses taken from the list of major program requirements are used in the calculation of the major GPA.

** POL 10100 American Politics is a Domestic Diversity and a Kent Core Social Science course.

*** The following courses may be applied toward upper-division electives as approved by department:
POL 30991 Seminar: Columbus Program in Intergovernmental Issues (6-12)
  40991 Washington Program in National Issues (15)
  40995 Special Topics in Political Science (1-3)


**** Fulfills College General Requirement

*****One additional course taken from the Kent Core Basic Science courses in the following Arts and Sciences disciplines: Anthropology (ANTH), Biological Sciences (BSCI), Chemistry (CHEM), Geography (GEOG), Geology (GEOL) or Physics (PHY). Students may take the courses listed in the "introductory" sequences with the restrictions noted above in the Kent Core Basic Science section. The course may not be from the student's major.

******One additional course taken from the Kent Core Social Sciences courses in the following Arts and Sciences disciplines: Anthropology (ANTH), Applied Conflict Management (CACM), Geography (GEOG), Criminology and Justice Studies (JUS), Political Science (POL), Psychology (PSYC) or Sociology (SOC). The course may not be from the student's major.

Foreign Language Note: Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must have the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options:

a. Intermediate I and II of the same language
b. Elementary I and II of a second language
c. Any combination of two courses from the following list:
    -Intermediate I of the same language
    -MCLS 10001 Introduction to Structural Concepts for Language Students
    -MCLS 20000 Global Literacy and Cultural Awareness
    -MCLS 20091 Seminar: Global Literacy Case Studies

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may begin their university foreign language experience beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by: (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level or (2) receiving credit through Credit by Exam (CBE), the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Advanced Placement (AP) exam or credit through the International Baccalaureate (IB) program; or (3) being designated a "native speaker" of a non-English language (consult with the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office for additional information). When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining hours with general electives.

 

 

American Politics Concentration

For semester-by-semester sequencing for this program, view the 2013-2014 Roadmap.

I.  CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS  (18 credits)* Courses count in major GPA
Type Course Title Credits
WIC POL 40191 Seminar in American Politics** 3
  Choose from the following: Concentration elective 15
  POL 30100 American Political Theory (3)  
    30110 The Congress (3)  
    30120 Presidency and Executive Bureaucracy (3)  
    30130 Courts (3)  
    30430 Ohio Politics (3)  
    30450 Urban Politics and Policy (3)  
    30460 State Politics and Policy (3)  
    40112 Politics and the Mass Media (3)  
    40116 Public Opinion and Political Behavior (3)  
    40118 Political Parties and Interest Groups (3)  
    40182 Constitutional Law: Government Powers (3)  
    40183 Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties (3)  
    40410 Regulatory Policy (3)  
    40440 U.S. Environmental Politics and Policies (3)  
    40450 Health Care and Social Policy (3)  
    40470 Women, Politics and Policy (3)  
    40620 Politics of Social Movements (3)  
    40930 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)  
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
18


* All courses taken from the list of major program requirements are used in the calculation of the major GPA.

** A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

 

 

General Concentration

For semester-by-semester sequencing for this program, view the 2013-2014 Roadmap.

I.  CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS  (18 credits)* Courses count in major GPA
Type Course Title Credits
  Political Science upper-division electives 15
  Choose from the following:* 3
WIC POL 40191 Seminar in American Politics (3)  
WIC   40391 Seminar in Public Policy (3)  
WIC   40591 Seminar in International Relations-Comparative Politics (3)  
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
18


*One course must be earned with a minimum C (2.000) grade to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

 

 

International Relations—Comparative Politics Concentration

For semester-by-semester sequencing for this program, view the 2013-2014 Roadmap.

I.  CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS  (18 credits)* Courses count in major GPA
Type Course Title Credits
WIC POL 40591 Seminar in International Relations-Comparative Politics** 3
  Choose from the following: Concentration elective 15
  POL 30500 International Relations Theory (3)  
    30520 European Politics (3)  
    30530 Asian Politics (3)  
    30540 African Politics (3)  
    30550 Latin American Politics (3)  
    30551 U.S. - Latin American Relations (3)  
    30560 Middle East Politics (3)  
    30810 Politics of the Global Economy (3)  
    30820 International Organization and Law (3)  
    30840 Nongovernmental Organizations (3)  
    40530 Politics of War (3)  
    40540 Politics of Development (3)  
    40560 Human Rights and Social Justice (3)  
    40620 Politics of Social Movements (3)  
    40840 Comparative Foreign Policy (3)  
    40930 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)  
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
18


* All courses taken from the list of major program requirements are used in the calculation of the major GPA.

** A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

 

 

Public Policy Concentration

For semester-by-semester sequencing for this program, view the 2013-2014 Roadmap.

I.  CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS  (18 credits)* Courses count in major GPA
Type Course Title Credits
WIC POL 40391 Seminar in Public Policy** 3
  Choose from the following: Concentration elective 15
  POL 30300 Public Policy Theory (3)  
    30301 Introduction to Public Administration (3)  
    30310 Public Policy Analysis (3)  
    30350 Environmental Conflict Resolution (3)  
    30430 Ohio Politics (3)  
    30450 Urban Politics and Policy (3)  
    30460 State Politics and Policy (3)  
    30810 Politics of the Global Economy (3)  
    30820 International Organization and Law (3)  
    30840 Nongovernmental Organizations (3)  
    40320 Ethics and Public Policy (3)  
    40410 Regulatory Policy (3)  
    40440 U.S. Environmental Politics and Policies (3)  
    40450 Health Care and Social Policy (3)  
    40470 Women, Politics and Policy (3)  
    40840 Comparative Foreign Policy (3)  
    40930 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)  
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
18


* All courses taken from the list of major program requirements are used in the calculation of the major GPA.

** A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.