Political Science, BA

Requirements

  • Students must complete 11 courses in the major, with at least five courses at the 300 level.
  • All courses in the major must be completed with a grade of C or higher (minimum GPA of 2.0).
  • Transfer students must take at least six Political Science courses at Roosevelt University.
  • Students planning to attend law school are strongly encouraged to pursue a minor in Legal Studies
  • Students planning to pursue graduate study in Political Science should discuss with their advisors appropriate courses of study in languages and statistics.
  • The major offers upper-level credit for internships. Please see your advisor for details.
Introductory courses
Select three of the following:9
UNITED STATES POLITICS
INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS
INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY
POS 2XXOne additional 200-level course in Political Science3
Major Electives21
Seven electives in political science, five at the 300 level
General Education, University Writing Requirement, and Electives
Courses to total 12087
Total Credit Hours120

CORE Requirements (General Education)

First Year Success Course or Transfer Success Course
FYS 101FIRST YEAR SUCCESS COURSE1
or TRS 101 TRANSFER SUCCESS 101
Communication Requirement
ENG 101COMPOSITION I: CRITICAL READING & WRITING3
ENG 102COMPOSITION II: INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC RESEARCH3
COMM 101PUBLIC SPEAKING (or program specific CORE communications course)3
Ideas of Social Justice
3 credits in coursework categorized as Ideas.3
Humanities and Fine and Performing Arts 2, 3
9 credits from the following subject areas: African-American Studies, Art History, English (excluding ENG 101 and ENG 102), History, Languages, Music, Philosophy, Theatre, Communication and Women's and Gender Studies9
Mathematics
MATH 110QUANTITATIVE LITERACY (or above) 13
Science
One biological science and one physical science required (one must include a one credit lab).7-8
Social Sciences 2,3
9 credits from the following subject areas: African-American Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, History, Journalism, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Women's and Gender Studies9
Experiential Learning
6 credits from coursework categorized as Experiential Learning. 6
Total Credit Hours47-48
1

Higher level of Math may be required by major

2

Coursework must come from outside of students' major discipline

3

A maximum of 9 credits can be applied from a single discipline towards humanities and social science requirements

These quantitative requirements also apply to degrees.

  • Students must earn a minimum of 120 semester hours.
  • Students may apply no more than 60 credit hours of 100-level courses toward the degree.
  • Students must apply no fewer than 60 credit hours of 200- and 300-level courses toward the degree.
  • Students must have at least 18 credit hours (of the 60 credit hours above) at the 300 level.
  • Students may transfer in no more than 70 credit hours from community colleges.
  • Students earning less than 60 total hours in residence must take their final 30 hours at Roosevelt University. Note that some majors have additional requirements for RU hours.
  • Students must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher to graduate. Note that some majors have additional GPA requirements.
  • Students may apply no more than 51 hours in the major (BA) or 57 hours in the major (BS)

Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change; however you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program so always consult your degree audit in Degree Works.

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different.

Year 1
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
FYS 1011ENG 1023
ENG 1013Ideas of Social Justice3
POS 101, 102, 103, or 1043POS 101, 102, 103, or 1043
MATH 1103Humanities #13
BIOL 111 or 11254Physical Science 53
 14 15
Year 2
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
COMM 1013POS 2XX23
POS 101, 102, 103, or 1043Experiential Learning Class #143
Humanities #23Social Science #33
Social Science #13Humanities #33
Social Science #23General Elective 13
 15 15
Year 3
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
POS Any Level3POS 3XX33
Experiential Course #243POS 3XX33
General Elective13General Elective13
General Elective 13General Elective13
General Elective13General Elective13
General Elective13 
 18 15
Year 4
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
POS 3XX33POS 3XX33
POS 3XX33POS Any Level3
General Elective13General Elective13
General Elective13General Elective13
General Elective13General Elective11
 15 13
Total Credit Hours 120
1

Or course towards an optional Minor.

2

Any course at the 200 level within the discipline.

3

Any course at the 300 level within the discipline.

4

Experiential Learning class must be 200/300 level. Satisfies CORE Experiential Learning requirement. EXL courses can satisfy major requirements/electives or CORE requirement.

5

One Natural Science course must have a lab.