BA in Political Science

Area of Study Overview

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The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree program in Political Science prepares adults for career change, advancement, or graduate education, while providing personal enrichment. The program examines the study of power in society; particularly with the analysis of authority, power, and influence in the making of public policy. Students develop a broad general knowledge of the traditional liberal arts disciplines while developing a greater depth of knowledge in political science.

Credit Distribution

I. General Education Featured Courses (45 Credits)

TESU Featured Courses are listed as a guide. Other courses may satisfy the areas and can be viewed on our website under General Education Courses.  For more information see About Our General Education Program.  To plan your program please contact an Advisor.

A. Intellectual and Practical Skills (15 Credits)

ENC-101	English Composition I	3
ENC-102	English Composition II	3
COM-209	Public Speaking	3
MAT-105	Applied Liberal Arts Mathematics	3
SOS-110	Critical Information Literacy	3

For all TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Intellectual and Practical Skills.

B. Civic and Global Leadership (9 Credits)

SOC-101	Our Changing World An Introduction to Sociology	3
ETH-230	Ethics in the Digital Age	3
GLB-301	Global Issues and Society	3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Civic and Global Leadership.

C. Knowledge of Human Cultures (15 Credits)

SOC-210	Marriage and the Family	3
HIS-113	American History I	3
FIL-110	American Cinema	3

Select two featured courses from the list below

SOC-291	Criminology	3
HIS-114	American History II	3
HIS-121	Introduction to World History I	3
HUM-103	Introduction to the Humanities III: Music	3
PHI-130	Introduction to Critical Reasoning	3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Knowledge of Human Cultures.

D. Scientific Knowledge (6 Credits)

EAS-101	General Earth Science	3
BIO-208	The Science of Nutrition	3

For additional TESU course options that will satisfy this area of the degree, go to Scientific Knowledge.

II. Area of Study (45 Credits)

A. Required Courses (18 Credits)

POS-282	Introduction to Comparative Politics	3
POS-315	International Relations I	3
SOS-492	Research Methods in Social Sciences	3
ECO-111	Macroeconomics	3
POS-110	American Government	3
-TRSFR REQ.	Political Theory OR Political Process	3

B. Political Science Electives (15 Credits)

-TRSFR REQ.

Political Science Electives

15

C. Social Science Electives (9 Credits)

-

Social Science Electives

9

Complete any 9 credits in the Social Science area.

D. Capstone (3 Credits)

LIB-495

Liberal Arts Capstone

3

III. Electives (30 Credits)

For TESU course options, go to Elective Courses.

TRANSFER REQUIREMENT: TESU accepts credits in transfer from accredited institutions as well as non-collegiate providers. View information and resources on where you may find additional learning experiences.

Total Credit Hours: 120

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Political Science program will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of the major fields in political science;
• describe the major forms of government, legal systems, and political ideologies;
• demonstrate knowledge of the basic structures, functions, and processes of the government and political system of the United States;
• explain the formation and structure of the international system theory as related to political science; and
• articulate and apply appropriate political science research methodologies.