Requirements

Political science advances our understanding of politics, power, governance, and public policy.

Course work is designed for students studying contemporary political processes as part of their general education, for students majoring in allied social sciences, for students planning to enter professions such as law and teaching, and for majors in political science.

Courses for Nonmajors

Any of the three introductory courses apply to College social sciences principal course requirements. Several Political Science courses qualify as Non-Western courses.

Requirements for the Political Science Major

First- and Second-year Preparation: Prospective majors should enroll in all three introductory courses, or their honors equivalents, in their first two years.

POLS 110/111 Introduction to U.S. Politics
POLS 150/151 Introduction to Comparative Politics
POLS 170/171 Introduction to International Politics

Enrollment in these courses counts toward College principal course distribution requirements in the social sciences.

A grade-point average of at least 2.3 in the three introductory courses is required for admission to the major. After this requirement is met, students should meet with departmental advisors to officially declare their major. Faculty advisors differentiated by their fields of expertise are listed on the political science undergraduate website, at http://www2.ku.edu/~kups/undergraduate/advising.shtml. Students are strongly urged to apply to the major by the beginning of the junior year.

Students who do not achieve a 2.3 grade-point average in the three introductory courses may repeat or retake these courses to attempt to improve the grade-point average. Please consult the University's policy on repeats and retakes.

Suggestions for completing the Political Science major in a timely manner are in the following Microsoft Excel (xls) files:

Requirements for the B.A. or B.G.S. Major: Undergraduate majors must complete a minimum of 33 credit hours of course work in the department, including the three introductory courses above and the following two courses or their honors equivalents:

POLS 301: Introduction to Political Theory
POLS 306: Political Science Methods of Inquiry

Of the remaining 18 required credit hours, 15 hours must be at the 400 level or above. These may be drawn from across the political science curriculum, with three limitations:

1. Students must take courses at the 400 level and above from at least two of five subfields:

Political Philosophy & Empirical Theory
U.S. Political Institutions and Processes
Public Policy
Foreign Governments and Comparative Politics
International Relations

2. A student may count no more than 6 hours toward the major from the following courses combined:

POLS 492: Fieldwork in Politics and Policymaking (1-6)
POLS 493: Directed Readings (no more than 3 hours)
POLS 494: Washington Semester Intern Seminar (3)
POLS 495: Topeka Semester Intern Seminar (3)
POLS 496: Washington Semester Fieldwork (3-6)
POLS 497: Topeka Semester Fieldwork (3-6)
POLS 498: Honors Thesis (3-6)

JUNIOR-SENIOR LEVEL

Choose at least five of the following courses - selections must be in at least 2 different fields

***Note - Those courses listed in two fields * will count for completion of only one field requirement.

FIELD I - Political Philosophy & Empirical Theory(in addition to the above political theory requirement)

POLS 501, 502, 503, 504, 600*, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 607, 608, 609, 626, 627, 644*, 680

FIELD II - U.S. Political Institutions and Processes

POLS 511, 512, 515, 516, 517, 520, 521, 566, 610, 611, 612*, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620*, 630, 645, 677*

FIELD III - Public Policy and Administration

POLS 528, 566*, 620*, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 628, 629, 631, 632, 634, 635, 640, 642

FIELD IV - Foreign Government & Comparative Politics

POLS 553, 561, 562, 563, 564, 565, 600*, 644*. 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661*, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669

FIELD V - International Law and Relations

POLS 612*, 660*, 661*, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677*, 678, 679, 680*, 681, 683, 684, 685, 689

TOTAL REQUIRED HOURS: 33 (15 hours required courses; 18 hours of electives, of which at least 15 hours must be 400-level or above.

Public Affairs Internship Program

The department supervises integrated internships for majors who are second-semester juniors or seniors. They are offered during the spring semester in Topeka and Washington, D.C. Programs consist of up to 12 hours in political science-an internship, participation in an intern seminar, and directed readings. Students serve as interns in Topeka or Washington at least four days each week and attend weekly seminars. Students also may enroll in a directed readings course with a faculty member on campus. Readings provide a theoretical and analytical study program related to the internship and the seminar. Contact the department early in the fall semester.

Honors

Majors may qualify for departmental honors by completing 6 hours of POLS 498 Honors Thesis, presenting an acceptable honors thesis at the end of these enrollments, and passing an oral examination based primarily on the honors thesis. The student must have a minimum overall grade-point average of 3.25 and a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in political science course work. These averages must be achieved at the end of the final semester. The program meets CLAS requirements for departmental honors. Consult the department before the beginning of the senior year.

Minor in Public Policy

Students majoring in various social science disciplines are encouraged to minor in Public Policy. Students earning a BA or a BGS can obtain a minor; the minor consists of 18 credit hours of course work which includes POLS 110 or 111, POLS 320, and at least 12 hours of POLS courses at the Junior/Senior level from the list below. Nine hours of the Junior/Senior level courses must be taken in residence at KU. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required. To declare a Public Policy minor, you must fill out a minor declaration form in consultation with the Undergraduate Director.

Required Courses

POLS 110 or POLS 111 Introduction to U.S. Politics (3)
POLS 320 Introduction to Public Policy (3)

Elective Upper Division Courses (4 courses (12 credits) must be selected from this list)

POLS 528 Environmental Justice and Public Policy (3)
POLS 553 Comparative Environmental Politics (3)
POLS 566 Social Welfare, Taxation & Citizens (3)
POLS 613 Comparative U.S. State Politics (3)
POLS 614 Urban Politics (3)
POLS 620 The Formulation of Public Policy (3)
POLS 621 Public Policy Analysis (3)
POLS 622 Government and the Economy (3)
POLS 623 The Politics of Social Policy (3)
POLS 624 Environmental Politics and Policy (3)
POLS 625 Extremist Groups and Government Response (3)
POLS 628 The Politics of Public Health (3)
POLS 629 Topics in Public Policy:__________ (3)
POLS 630 Politics of Identity (3)
POLS 634 Bureaucratic Politics (3)
POLS 640 Politics of Reproductive Policy (3)
POLS 720 Scope of Public Policy (graduate 3)
POLS 493 Directed Readings (if appropriate content, 1-3)