Community & Visitors Parents & Families Future Students Current Students Alumni & Friends Faculty & Staff

Majors and More

Political Science

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

The study of political science provides students with an understanding of politics, law, international relations, government and public administration. Recent graduates have gone to work for local, state, national and international organizations. A large percentage of our graduates go to graduate or law school.

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
General Education Courses		Semester Hours
ACAD 101	Principles of the Learning Academy	1
Critical Skills
Writing and Critical Thinking
WRIT 101	Composition	3
CRTW 201	Critical Reading, Thinking, & Writing	3
Quantitative Skills
MATH 105 or 150 or or 151 or 201		3
Logic/Language/Semiotics
Foreign Language	At the 102 level	3-4^†
	See approved list	3
Oral Communication	May be met in major	0-3
Technology	See approved list; may be met by another req	0-3
Skills for a Common Experience and Thinking Across Disciplines
HMXP 102	The Human Experience: Who Am I?	3
Global Perspectives	May be met in major	0
Historical Perspectives	See approved list,	3
Developing Critical Skills Applying them to Disciplines
Natural Science	See approved list; from 2 categories and one must be a lab science	7
Social Science	3-6 met in major, 3-6 from other designators	3-6*
Humanities and Arts	3 may be met in major, 3-6 from other designators	6-9*
*a total of 12 semester hours from these two categories must be taken
Intensive Writing	Met in major with PLSC 490	0
Constitution Requirement	Met in major by PLSC 201	0
Required Program		30-36
PLSC 201	American Government	3

PLSC 350	Scope and Methods	3

PLSC 490, PLSC 450H, or HONR 450H	Sr Capstone, Thesis Research	3

American Government		3
Select from
PLSC 202	State and Local Government	3

PLSC 305	The National Executive	3

PLSC 306	Congress	3

PLSC 307	American Parties and Practical Politics	3

PLSC 310	The Judiciary	3

PLSC 311	Constitutional Law: Federalism and Institutions	3

PLSC 312	Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties	3

PLSC 313	Public Opinion and Political Participation	3

PLSC 314	Media and Politics	3

PLSC 371	Women and Politics in the U S	3

PLSC 518	Politics of the American South	3

Comparative Government and International Relations		3
Select from
PLSC 205	International Politics	3

PLSC 207	Comparative Politics	3

PLSC 260	The United Nations	3

PLSC 332	Government and Politics of Asia	3

PLSC 335	Environmental Politics	3

PLSC 336	Post Soviet Politics and Society: Inside the Enigma	3

PLSC 337	Women and Global Politics	3

PLSC 338	Government and Politics of Africa	3

PLSC 345	European Politics	3

PLSC 505	Government and Politics of Modern China	3

PLSC 506	International Political Economy	3

Political Theory		3
Select from
PLSC 351	Ancient and Medieval Political Thought	3

PLSC 352	Modern and Contemporary Political Thought	3

PLSC 355	Political Ideologies	3

PLSC 356	American Political Thought	3

PLSC 551	African American Political Thought	3

PLSC 553	Feminist Theory	3

Public Administration		3
Select from
PLSC 317	African American Politcs and Pol	3

PLSC 319	Race and Ethnic Politics	3

PLSC 321	Public Policy and Policy Anlys	3

PLSC 323	Public Administration	3

PLSC 324	Health Politics and Policy	3

PLSC 325	Environmental Politics	3

PLSC 504	American Foreign Policy	3

PLSC 508	National Security Policy	3

PLSC 512	Education Politics and Policy	3

PLSC 515	Urban Politics and Policy	3

Experiential Learning Requirement		0-3
Select from
(Course may also be used to meet another degree requirement.)
PLSC 260	The United Nations	3

PLSC 307	American Parties and Practical Politics	3

PLSC 337	Women and Global Politics	3

PLSC 470	Experiential Learning in Political Science	3

PLSC 471, PLSC 472 or PLSC 473	Academic Internship in Political Science	1-3



PLSC 501, PLSC 502 or PLSC 503	Academic Research in Political Science	1-3



PLSC 514	Survey Research and Data Management	3

PLSC electives (to total a minimum of 30 hours in PLSC)		6-15
Foreign Language Requirement		0-4
Minor		15-24
General Electives		5-38
Total		124

Note: Students are limited to a total of nine hours in the major in PLSC 450H, 471, 472, 473, 498, 501, 502, and 503 combined.

†This requirement may be met by a satisfactory score on a recognized examination or by passing any foreign language course numbered 102 or any course with 102 as a prerequisite. A maximum of one course may be counted in the Logic/Language/Semiotics Area.

The student must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours of PLSC courses in residence at Winthrop University.

Go to the complete Majors & More list.