Political Science B.A.
Minimum Requirements for Political Science B.A.: 120 credits
Students must earn a C- grade or better in each course.
| Credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| General University Requirements | ||
| Complete the general university requirements. | ||
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Complete the general education requirements. | 35-40 | |
| As part of the general education requirements, complete at least one of the following Political Science courses: | ||
| Political Economy | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| International Politics | ||
| B.A. Degree Requirements | ||
| Complete the B.A. degree requirements. | 37 | |
| As part of the B.A. requirements, complete the following: | ||
| Ethics and Society | ||
| Political Science Program Requirements | ||
| Complete the following: | ||
| PS F101X | Introduction to American Government and Politics | 3 |
| PS F222 | Political Science Research Methods | 3 |
| Complete one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Internship in Public Affairs | ||
| Senior Thesis | ||
The Alaska Universities Legislative Internship Program | ||
Other approved internship earning at least 3 transferable upper-division credits | ||
| Political Science | ||
| Complete 12 credits from the following (at least one course from four of the following sub-disciplinary groups) | 12 | |
| American Government and Politics | ||
| American Presidency | ||
| Congress and Public Policy | ||
| Politics and the Judicial Process | ||
| Political Behavior | ||
| U.S. Environmental Politics | ||
| Public Law | ||
| Introduction to Public Administration | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| Constitutional Law I: Federalism | ||
| Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties | ||
| Alaska Government and Politics | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| Democracy and Global Society | ||
| Comparative Indigenous Rights and Policies | ||
| Comparative Environmental Politics | ||
| Government and Politics of Canada | ||
| Political Development in Latin America and the Caribbean | ||
| Government and Politics of Russia | ||
| International Politics | ||
| International Politics | ||
| International Security | ||
| International Law and Organization | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| United States Foreign Policy | ||
| International Relations of the North | ||
| International Law and the Environment | ||
| Political Theory | ||
| Political Ideologies | ||
| American Political Thought | ||
| Classical Political Theory | ||
| Modern Political Theory | ||
| Contemporary Political Philosophy | ||
| PS elective courses | 12 | |
| Electives | ||
| General Electives | 10-15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
Fulfills the baccalaureate capstone requirement.
Roadmaps
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH F113X (*)6 | 3 | ECON F101X (*)19 | 3 |
| PS F201X (*)5 | 3 | ENGL F270X (*)3 | 3 |
| WRTG F111X1 | 3 | LS F101X15 | 1 |
| General Education Requirement - Natural Sciences | 4 | PS F101X19,20 | 3 |
| Complete one of the following:4 | 3 | General Education Requirement - Natural Sciences | 4 |
PS F100X (*) | Complete one of the following:1 | 3 | |
COM F121X (*) | |||
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ANS F161X (*)8 | 3 | ART F200X (*)2 | 3 |
| PS F221X (*)14 | 3 | ENGL F200X (*)12 | 3 |
| PS F22220 | 3 | PS F314 (*)20,25 | 3 |
| RD F200X (*)4 | 3 | Degree Requirement - Humanities | 3 |
| Complete one of the following:1 | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
WRTG F211X (*) | |||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PS F300X11,25 | 3 | PS F323 (*)20,25 | 3 |
| PS F301 (*)20,25 | 3 | PS F403 (*)20,25 | 3 |
| Program Elective | 3 | Degree Requirement - Humanities or Social Sciences | 3 |
| Program Elective | 3 | Program Elective25 | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Program Elective | 3 | Minor Course25 | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | General Elective25 | 3 |
| General Elective25 | 3 | General Elective25 | 3 |
| General Elective25 | 3 | Complete one of the following: (*)20,25 | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Footnote Definitions
| General Education Requirements | Degree Requirements | Program & Other Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 1--Communication | 8--Alaska Native-themed | 20--Program Requirement |
| 2--Arts | 9--Communication | 21--Capstone Requirement |
| 3--Humanities | 10--Computation | 22--Concentration Course |
| 4--Social Sciences | 11--Ethics | 23--General Elective |
| 5--Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences | 12--Humanities | 24--Minor Course |
| 6--Mathematics | 13--Human Relations | 25--Upper Division |
| 7--Natural Sciences | 14--Humanities or Social Sciences | 26--Program Elective |
| 15--Library & Information Research | ||
| 16--Mathematics | ||
| 17--Natural Sciences | ||
| 18--Other | ||
| 19--Social Sciences |
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes are specific, measurable statements that define the knowledge and skills students will gain by the end of the program.
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of core concepts and theories of the main political science sub-fields of American Government and Politics, Public and Constitutional Law, Comparative Politics, Political Theory and International Relations
- Demonstrate exposure to different ways of thinking about government and politics associated with diverse historical and cultural contexts, ideologies, economic systems and governing structures
- Demonstrate awareness of theories and practices related to contemporary studies of political science; demonstrate familiarity with a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods used to produce, understand and analyze the data used in governance, policymaking and political science scholarship
- Recognize assumptions, evaluate arguments and draw conclusions; this includes an awareness of how politics and policy shape problem definition and solution sets
- Develop a paper using cogent arguments and opinions supported by evidence on topics pertaining to their field of study
- Deliver a professional presentation and answer questions related to it with confidence
