Political Science, BA

Political Science (BA) Offered by the Department of Government, School of Public Affairs. Admission to the Program New freshmen and transfer students are admitted through the university's Admissions Office. Students currently enrolled in the university who wish to transfer into the Department of Government or develop a double major or minor should have a grade point average of 2.50 or higher and the approval of the undergraduate academic advisor. 120 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better Completion of college writing requirement Completion of university mathematics requirement General Education Requirements A total of ten courses, consisting of two courses from each of the five foundational areas At least one course from Area Five: The Natural and Mathematical Sciences must include a laboratory science component No more than two courses may be taken in the same discipline Major Requirements 58 credit hours with grades of C or better Portfolio requirement: all students submit a portfolio of 2-4 papers of their best written work from upper-level major courses in the final semester of their program for departmental assessment Course Requirements Foundation (12 credit hours) GOVT-105 Individual Freedom vs. Authority FA2 (3) GOVT-110 Politics in the United States FA4 (3-4) GOVT-130 Comparative Politics FA3 (3) SISU-105 World Politics FA3 (3) Research Methods (7 credit hours) GOVT-310 Introduction to Political Research (3) STAT-202 Basic Statistics (4) Major Related Social Science (12 credit hours) 12 credit hours above the introductory level from at least two of the following disciplines: economics, history, international studies, sociology, and specified courses in American studies, anthropology, communication, justice, philosophy, psychology, and women's and gender studies. The list of approved courses is available in the Department of Government office. Concentration (27 credit hours) 27 credit hours in the Department of Government with 6 credit hours at the 400 or 500 level. Students complete 15 credits in one concentration. The remaining credits are selected from other Government courses; courses may not be double counted. Additional courses may be used with prior approval of the department. Up to 9 credit hours may be taken from the following: internship, independent study, independent reading, honors thesis, international service (SISU) courses, Washington Semester, and American University study abroad programs, with a maximum of 6 credit hours from any one area. Up to three 1 credit hour courses may be used toward the completion of a concentration. American Government With prior department approval, in addition to the courses below, up to 9 credit hours may be taken from the following: internship, independent study, independent reading, honors thesis, international service (SIS/SISU) courses, Washington Semester, and American University study abroad programs, with a maximum of 6 credit hours from any one area. Up to three 1 credit hour courses may be used toward the completion of a concentration. GOVT-210 Political Power and American Public Policy FA4 (3) GOVT-240 Metropolitan Politics (3) GOVT-315 Elections and Voting Behavior (3) GOVT-320 The Presidency (3) GOVT-321 Congress and Legislative Behavior (3) GOVT-322 American Political Parties (3) GOVT-323 Interest Group Politics (3) GOVT-325 Minority Politics in the United States (3) GOVT-352 Law and the Political System (3) GOVT-422 Studies in Political Behavior (3) (topics) GOVT-423 Advanced Studies in Public Policy (3) : Politics of Civil Rights GOVT-426 U.S. Intelligence Community (3) GOVT-427 Government Regulation and Deregulation (3) GOVT-430 Principles of Homeland Security (3) GOVT-431 Watergate: A Constitutional Crisis (3) GOVT-440 Minority Representation and Ethnic Conflict (3) GOVT-441 The Politics of Mass Communication (3) GOVT-443 Applied Political Writing (3) GOVT-444 Political Speechwriting (3) GOVT-445 Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Lobbying (3) GOVT-455 Equal Protection (3) GOVT-461 Politics in the Television Age (3) GOVT-469 Media and Political Intervention: Vietnam to Iraq (3) GOVT-482 Women and Politics (3) GOVT-483 Women, Politics, and Public Policy (3) GOVT-484 Women and Political Leadership (3) GOVT-485 Topics in Women and Politics (1-4) GOVT-520 Advanced Studies in Campaign Management (4) GOVT-521 Topics in Campaign Management (1) GOVT-523 The Art and Craft of Lobbying (3-4) GOVT-524 Topics in Public Affairs and Advocacy (1) PUAD-260 Administrative Politics (3) SPA-220 The American Constitution FA4 (3) SPA-350 Constitutional Law I: Powers and Federalism (3) SPA-351 Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties (3) Comparative Politics With prior department approval, in addition to the courses below, up to 9 credit hours may be taken from the following: internship, independent study, independent reading, honors thesis, international service (SIS/SISU) courses, Washington Semester, and American University study abroad programs, with a maximum of 6 credit hours from any one area. GOVT-231 Politics in the Developing World (3) GOVT-232 Politics of State and Society (3) GOVT-233 Communism and Capitalism in East Asia (3) GOVT-235 Political Conflict FA3 (3) GOVT-332 Comparative Environmental Politics (3) GOVT-335 Democratization: Theory and Practice (3) GOVT-339 Leaders in Comparative Perspective (3) GOVT-438 Mexico and the World in the 21st Century (3) GOVT-440 Minority Representation and Ethnic Conflict (3) GOVT-442 Bottom-up Comparative Politics (3) GOVT-450 Politics in Cuba (3) GOVT-487 Gender and Politics in the Middle East (3) GOVT-523 The Art and Craft of Lobbying (3-4) : European Public Affairs and Advocacy Institute (3) JLC-402 Comparative Systems of Law and Justice (3) JLC-405 Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice (3) Gender, Race, and Politics With prior department approval, in addition to the courses below, up to 9 credit hours may be taken from the following: internship, independent study, independent reading, honors thesis, international service (SIS/SISU) courses, Washington Semester, and American University study abroad programs, with a maximum of 6 credit hours from any one area. Up to three 1 credit hour courses may be used toward the completion of a concentration. GOVT-231 Politics in the Developing World (3) GOVT-240 Metropolitan Politics (3) GOVT-325 Minority Politics in the United States (3) GOVT-423 Advanced Studies in Public Policy (3) : Politics of Civil Rights GOVT-440 Minority Representation and Ethnic Conflict (3) GOVT-455 Equal Protection (3) GOVT-482 Women and Politics (3) GOVT-483 Women, Politics, and Public Policy (3) GOVT-484 Women and Political Leadership (3) GOVT-485 Topics in Women and Politics (1-4) GOVT-486 Feminist Political Theory (3) GOVT-487 Gender and Politics in the Middle East (3) SPA-220 The American Constitution FA4 (3) SPA-351 Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties (3) Law and Politics With prior department approval, in addition to the courses below, up to 9 credit hours may be taken from the following: internship, independent study, independent reading, honors thesis, international service (SIS/SISU) courses, Washington Semester, and American University study abroad programs, with a maximum of 6 credit hours from any one area. GOVT-226 The Constitution, Presidential Power, and the War on Terror (3) GOVT-352 Law and the Political System (3) GOVT-423 Advanced Studies in Public Policy (3) : Politics of Civil Rights GOVT-455 Equal Protection (3) GOVT-545 Landmark Law Cases (3) SPA-220 The American Constitution FA4 (3) SPA-350 Constitutional Law I: Powers and Federalism (3) SPA-351 Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties (3) Political Theory With prior department approval, in addition to the courses below, up to 9 credit hours may be taken from the following: internship, independent study, independent reading, honors thesis, international service (SIS/SISU) courses, Washington Semester, and American University study abroad programs, with a maximum of 6 credit hours from any one area. GOVT-403 Ancient Political Thought (3) GOVT-405 Modern Political Thought (3) GOVT-406 American Political Thought (3) GOVT-408 The Idea of America in European Political Thought: 1492-Present (3) GOVT-409 Contemporary Political Thought (3) GOVT-486 Feminist Political Theory (3) Policy With prior department approval, in addition to the courses below, up to 9 credit hours may be taken from the following: internship, independent study, independent reading, honors thesis, international service (SIS/SISU) courses, Washington Semester, and American University study abroad programs, with a maximum of 6 credit hours from any one area. Up to three 1 credit hour courses may be used toward the completion of a concentration. GOVT-210 Political Power and American Public Policy FA4 (3) GOVT-240 Metropolitan Politics (3) GOVT-315 Elections and Voting Behavior (3) GOVT-321 Congress and Legislative Behavior (3) GOVT-323 Interest Group Politics (3) GOVT-423 Advanced Studies in Public Policy (3) (topics) GOVT-427 Government Regulation and Deregulation (3) GOVT-445 Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Lobbying (3) GOVT-464 Politics and Policy in the Electronic Age (3) GOVT-483 Women, Politics, and Public Policy (3) GOVT-523 The Art and Craft of Lobbying (3-4) : Public Affairs and Advocacy Institute (4) or European Public Affairs and Advocacy Institute (3) SPA-370 American Environmental Policy and Politics (3) Non-Specialization 27 credit hours in the Department of Government with 21 credit hours at the 200 or 300 level and 6 credit hours at the 400 or 500 level Combined BA and MA in Political Science American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor's/master's programs. See Combined Bachelor's and Master's Degrees for more information. This program enables qualified students to earn, in a continuous plan of study, both the BA in Political Science and the MA in Political Science. Requirements Admission to the combined BA/MA program requires junior standing, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.30, a completed application form, a written faculty recommendation, an essay on the student's interests and abilities in political science, and an interview with a Department of Government graduate advisor. Students must apply for admission to the graduate program no later than the last undergraduate semester. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for admission to the MA program. All requirements for the BA in Political Science Undergraduate students may apply up to 9 credit hours of approved graduate-level coursework to satisfy the requirements for both degrees. All requirements for the MA in Political Science, including a minimum of 18 credit hours completed in residence in graduate status after the undergraduate degree has been awarded. Students must finish the master's degree requirements within three years from the date of first enrollment in the master's program.