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Political Science

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Certification as Secondary School Teacher for Social Studies

Students desiring Certification as teachers of social studies should consult with the social studies teacher certification adviser and the College of Education section of the catalog for specific requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program.

The Teacher Education Professional Education Sequence is undergoing significant change. At the time of this publication, the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education is reviewing these changes. Please see your academic advisor or Student Services Director for updated course information.

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Certification as Secondary School Teacher for Social Studies
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 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	Met in major with EDUC 305 (pending Gen Ed approval)	0
Skills for a Common Experience and Thinking Across Disciplines
HMXP 102	The Human Experience: Who Am I?	3
Global Perspectives	Met in major GEOG 101	0
Historical Perspective	Met in major with HIST	0
Developing Critical Skills/Applying them to Disciplines
Natural Science	See approved list,; one must be a lab science	7
Social Science	Met in major with PLSC 201 and ECON 215 & 216	0
Humanities and Arts	3 hours met in major; remaining 3 from second designator; See approved list,	0-3
Intensive Writing	See approved list; may be met in major	0-3
Constitution Requirement	Met in major by PLSC 201	0
Requirements in Major		57-63
PLSC 201	American Government	3

PLSC 350	Scope and Methods	3

PLSC 490 or PLSC 450H or HONR 450H	Senior Capstone in Political Science, Honors: Selected Topics, Thesis Research	3



ECON 215	Principles of Microeconomics	3

ECON 216	Principles of Macroeconomics	3

GEOG 101	Human Geography	3

GEOG 201 or GEOG 303 or GEOG 304 or GEOG 306	The Geography of World Regions, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean	3




HIST 211	United States History to 1877	3

HIST 212	United States History since 1877	3

2 of HIST 111, HIST 112, HIST 113	World Civilizations to 950, from 950 - 1750, since 1750	6



SOCL 101 or 201	Social Problems and Social Policy; Principles of Sociology	3

American Government		3
Select one course from		3
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 one course from		3
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	Government and Politics of Latin America	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 one course from		3
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 one course 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
	Met in major with EDUC 402	0

PLSC electives		9-15
Professional Education Sequence		36^%
EDUC 101	Observation and Analysis	1

EDUC 200	Developmental Sci and Poverty	3

EDUC 401	Internship: Contextual Factors	1

EDUC 402	Internshp: Assess and Instruct	9

EDUC 410	Education in a Democracy	2

EDCO 201	Literacy and the Eng Lang Learnr	2

EDCO 202	Disabilities in Gen Ed	2

EDCO 203	Support the Gifted Student	1

EDUC 220	Assessment and Diverse Needs	2

EDCO 305	Tech in the Classroom	2

EDCO 306	Inclusive Classroom	2

EDCO 350	Examining Classrm Climate	1

EDCO 351	Est Positive Classrm Climate	1

SCST 390	Princ Teaching Soc Studies I	3

SCST 391	Principles of Teaching Social Studies II	3

SCST 392	Field Experience in Teaching Social Studies	1

Foreign Language Requirement		0-4
General Electives		0-5
Total		124-140

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.

^%A grade of C or better is required and may not be taken on the S/U basis (except for EDUC 402).

In addition to the requirements for their major, students must meet requirements for the Teacher Education Program, which include the requirements for Admission to Teacher Education, Entry to the Professional Stage, and Program Completion. For information on these requirements, consult the Student Academic Services in the College of Education.

Passage of the PRAXIS II Series content area examinations is required prior to entry into the professional stage for all candidates in the teacher education program. For the most current PRAXIS information required for test(s) in your content area, visit the South Carolina Department of Education website: http://www.scteachers.org/cert/exam.cfm.

The student must attain a cumulative grade-point average of 2.75 or better in courses taken at Winthrop and a minimum of a 2.0 in the 57-63 semester hours of the required program. The student must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours of PLSC courses in residence at Winthrop University.

For additional degree requirements, please visit the Degree Requirements page.

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