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

Attribute 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.

DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE  (1 credit)
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  US 10097 Destination Kent State: First Year Experience 1 1  
MAJOR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (18 credits)   Courses count in major GPA 
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
KSS/DG
KSS/DG
POL
POL
10004
10500
Comparative Politics (3)   or
World Politics (3)
3  
KSS/DD POL
POL
10100
10300
American Politics (3) 2  or
Public Policy (3)
3  
ELR POL 20001 Political Methods 3  
  POL
POL
20002
20003
Political Thought (3)    or
Political Economy (3)
3  
  Political Science (POL) electives (minimum 3 upper-division credit hours) 6  
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (83 credits)  
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  Foreign Language 3 14-20  
  Kent Core Composition 6  
  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 2  
  College General Requirements (must be from Kent Core Basic Science) 4 3  
  College General Requirements (mus be from Kent Core Social Sciences) 5 3  
  General Electives 6 (21 upper-division credit hours)
Credits required depend on meeting minimum 120 credit hours and minimum 42 upper-division credit hours
30-33  
IV.  CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (18 credits)   
  American Politics (18)  
  General (18)  
  International Relations - Comparative Politics (18)  
  Public Policy (18)  
MINIMUM TOTAL 
120
 
  1. US 10097 is not required of transfer students with 25 credits (excluding College Credit Plus and dual-enrollment) or students age 21+ at time of admission.
  2. Students who choose POL 10100 will need to take 3 credits of Kent Core Additional. Students who do not choose POL 10100 will need to take 6 credits of Kent Core Additional.
  3. Fulfills College General Requirement
  4. The following courses may be applied toward upper-division electives as approved by department: POL 30991 Seminar: Columbus Program in Intergovernmental Issues (6-12); POL 40991 Washington Program in National Issues (15); and POL 40995 Special Topics in Political Science (1-3)
  5. Fulfills College General Requirement
  6. 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.
  7. 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 (CRIM), 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:

  1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
  2. Elementary I and II of a second language
  3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:
    1. Intermediate I of the same language
    2. MCLS 10001 Introduction to Structural Concepts for Language Students
    3. MCLS 20000 Global Literacy and Cultural Awareness
    4. MCLS 20091 Seminar: Global Literacy Case Studies
    5. MCLS 21417 Multiculturalism in Today's Germany
    6. MCLS 22217 Diversity in Today's Russia
    7. MCLS 23217 The Francophone Experience
    8. MCLS 28404 The Latin American Experience
    9. MCLS 28405 The Spanish Experience

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

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS  (18 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
WIC POL 40191 Seminar in American Politics 3 C 1
  Choose from the following: Concentration electives 15  
  POL 30100 American Political Theory (3)    
  POL 30110 The Congress (3)    
  POL 30120 Presidency and Executive Bureaucracy (3)    
  POL 30130 Courts (3)    
  POL 30430 Ohio Politics (3)    
  POL 30450 Urban Politics and Policy (3)    
  POL 30460 State Politics and Policy (3)    
  POL 40112 Politics and the Mass Media (3)    
  POL 40116 Public Opinion and Political Behavior (3)    
  POL 40118 Political Parties and Interest Groups (3)    
  POL 40182 Constitutional Law: Government Structures and Functions(3)    
DD POL 40183 Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties (3)    
  POL 40410 Regulatory Policy (3)    
  POL 40440 U.S. Environmental Politics and Policies (3)    
  POL 40450 Health Care and Social Policy (3)    
DD POL 40470 Women, Politics and Policy (3)    
  POL 40620 Politics of Social Movements (3)    
  POL 40930 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)    
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
18  
  1. A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

 

 

General Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS  (18 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
  Political Science (POL) upper-division electives 15  
  Choose from the following: 3  
WIC POL 40191 Seminar in American Politics (3)   C 1
WIC POL 40391 Seminar in Public Policy (3)   C 1
WIC POL 40591 Seminar in International Relations-Comparative Politics (3)   C 1
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
18  
  1. One course must be earned with a minimum C (2.000) grade to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

 

 

International Relations—Comparative Politics Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS  (18 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
WIC POL 40591 Seminar in International Relations-Comparative Politics 3 C 1
  Choose from the following: Concentration electives 15  
  POL 30500 International Relations Theory (3)    
  POL 30520 European Politics (3)    
DG POL 30530 Asian Politics (3)    
DG POL 30540 African Politics (3)    
DG POL 30550 Latin American Politics (3)    
  POL 30560 Middle East Politics (3)    
  POL 30810 Politics of the Global Economy (3)    
  POL 30820 International Organization and Law (3)    
  POL 30840 Nongovernmental Organizations (3)    
  POL 40530 Politics of War (3)    
DG POL 40540 Politics of Development (3)    
DG POL 40560 Human Rights and Social Justice (3)    
  POL 40620 Politics of Social Movements (3)    
  POL 40840 Comparative Foreign Policy (3)    
  POL 40930 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)    
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
18  
  1. A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

 

 

Public Policy Concentration

CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS  (18 credits)  Courses count in major GPA
Attribute Course Title Credits Min. Grade
WIC POL 40391 Seminar in Public Policy 3 C 1
  Choose from the following: Concentration elective 15  
  POL 30300 Public Policy Theory (3)    
  POL 30301 Introduction to Public Administration (3)    
  POL 30310 Public Policy Analysis (3)    
  POL 30350 Environmental Conflict Resolution (3)    
  POL 30430 Ohio Politics (3)    
  POL 30450 Urban Politics and Policy (3)    
  POL 30460 State Politics and Policy (3)    
  POL 30810 Politics of the Global Economy (3)    
  POL 30820 International Organization and Law (3)    
  POL 30840 Nongovernmental Organizations (3)    
  POL 40320 Ethics and Public Policy (3)    
  POL 40410 Regulatory Policy (3)    
  POL 40440 U.S. Environmental Politics and Policies (3)    
  POL 40450 Health Care and Social Policy (3)    
DD POL 40470 Women, Politics and Policy (3)    
  POL 40840 Comparative Foreign Policy (3)    
  POL 40930 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)    
MINIMUM SUBTOTAL 
18  
  1. A minimum C (2.000) grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.