Undergraduate Major and Tracks
All political science majors are expected to have a broad understanding of politics and how political scientists study political actions, institutions, processes and events. All majors must complete four required courses (12 hours) and six elective courses (18 hours), for 30 hours total. *However, the Intelligence & National Security Studies(INSS) has specific requirements and an additional six hours.
Required Courses
Political Science Core Knowledge and Skills
Majors must complete a course in each of the following areas
Introduction to U.S. Politics (POLS 110 or 111), and either
Introduction to Comparative Politics (POLS 150 or 151) OR Introduction to International Politics (POLS 170 or 171)
Political Science Methods of Inquiry (POLS 306) and students must take elective courses from at least two (out of five) subfields
Field I: Political Philosophy and Empirical Theory
Field 2: U.S. Political Institutions and Processes
Field 3: Public Policy and Public Administration
Field 4: Foreign Governments and Comparative Politics
Field 5: International Relations
Junior/Senior Level Requirement: Theory, Identity, and Social Justice, satisfied by one of the following
POLS 301 Introduction to Political Theory
POLS304 Contemporary Political Thought
POLS308 Topics in Social Justice
POLS 362 Women and Politics
POLS363 Populism and Nationalism
POLS 413 Psychology in Politics
POLS 430 Politics of Identity
POLS 444 Justice and Public Policy in Democratic Societies
POLS 474 Global Justice and Foreign Policy
A student may count a total of no more than 6 hours toward the major from the following courses (internships & fieldwork):
POLS 492 Field Work in Politics and Policy Making, POLS493:Directed Readings, POLS494/495: Washington/Topeka Intern Seminar,
POLS 496/497 Washington/Topeka Fieldwork POLS 498: Honors Thesis
Subfield courses available (Major must complete elective course from at least 2)
Political Philosophy & Empirical Theory
Satisfied by one of the following:
POLS304 Contemporary Political Thought
POLS301 Introduction to Political Theory
POLS308 Topics in Social Justice:
POLS360 Ancient Roots of Modern Politics
POLS403 Politics in Literature
POLS400 Contemporary Feminist Political Theory
POLS407 Modern Political Theory
POLS409 Topics in Political Theory:
POLS444 Justice and Public Policy in Democratic Societies
POLS426 Political Polling and Survey Research
POLS474 Global Justice and Foreign Policy
U.S. Political Institutions & Processes
Satisfied by one of the following
POLS312 LatinxPoliticsinthe U.S.
POLS313Comparative U.S. State Politics
POLS315 Campaigns and Elections
POLS317 TheCongress
POLS316 Public Opinion and American Democracy
POLS318 The Presidency
POLS410 Constitutional Law: Governmental Powers
POLS413 Psychology in Politics
POLS411 Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties
POLS414 Urban Politics
POLS415 American Political Parties
POLS419 Topics in American Politics:
POLS416 Interest Group Politics
POLS420 Formulation of Public Policy
POLS430 Politics of Identity
POLS521 Mass Media and Politics
POLS520 Political Campaigns
Public Policy
Satisfied by one of the following:
POLS321 Public Policy Analysis
POLS320 Introduction to Public Policy
POLS323 The Politics of Social Policy
POLS390 Introduction to Public Administration
POLS425 Extremist Groups and Government Response
POLS420 Formulation of Public Policy
POLS429 Topics in Public Policy:
POLS444 Justice and Public Policy in Democratic Societies
POLS624 Environmental Politics and Policy
POLS528 Environmental Justice and Public Policy
POLS628 The Politics of Public Health
POLS640 Politics of Reproductive Policy
Foreign Governments & Comparative Politics
Satisfied by one of the following:
POLS348 Politics of Western Europe
POLS354 Politics of Russia and Post-Soviet States
POLS356 Government and Politics of East Asia
POLS355 Politics of East-Central Europe
POLS359 Latin American Politics
POLS361 Politics of the Middle East
POLS363 Populism and Nationalism
POLS362 Women and Politics
POLS364 Elections and Political Parties around the World
POLS365 Politics in Africa
POLS368 Political Representation in Comparative Perspective
POLS366 Political Economy of East Asia
POLS369 Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: An Introduction
POLS400 Contemporary Feminist Political Theory
POLS443 TheEuropeanUnion
POLS433 Iran, Turkey, and the Kurds
POLS444 Justice and Public Policy in Democratic Societies
POLS445 Corruption, Crisis and Scandal
POLS453 Gender, War, and Peace
POLS452 Politics in Europe
POLS458 Democracy and Human Rights in Latin America
POLS460 Politics of Development: Latin America, Africa, and Asia
POLS467 Islam and Politics
POLS463 Comparative Political Economy
POLS468 Politics and Society in China
POLS469 Topics in Comparative Politics:
POLS561 Liberation in Southern Africa
POLS480 Politics and Government in Israel
International Relations
Satisfied by one of the following:
POLS373 International Organization
POLS371 United States Foreign Policy
POLS375 Russian Foreign Policy
POLS378 ChineseForeignPolicy
POLS471 Politics of Human Trafficking
POLS379 International Conflict
POLS472 International Political Economy
POLS474 Global Justice and Foreign Policy
POLS475 International Cooperation
POLS476 International Relations of Asia
POLS477 U.S. National Security Policy
POLS479 East Asian Security
POLS484 International Law: The State and the Individual
POLS482 Transnational Terrorism
POLS485 International Law: Laws of Armed Conflicts
POLS486 International Human Rights
POLS692 International Security and Migration Policy
POLS489 Topics in International Relations:
Capstone Experience
Satisfied by 3 credit hours of the following
POLS 494, 495, 496, or 497 internship courses
POLS 499 Capstone Research/Field Work Experience
POLS 498 Honors Thesis
POLS 407 Modern Political Theory
POLS 617 The Congress
POLS 667 Islam and Politics
POLS668 Politics and Society in China
POLS 678 Chinese Foreign Policy
Tracks
A track in Pre-law: Students who want to enter law school, prepare for paralegal careers, or seek carrers in intelligence or law enforcement are encouraged to select electives from the following:
Constitutional law and judicial processes:
POLS 410: Constitutional Law: Governmental Powers
POLS 411: Constitutional Law: Cival Liberties
POLS 484 International Law: The State and the Individual
POLS 485: International Law: Laws of Armed Conflicts
POLS 713: Law & Society
POLS 774: International Law
Other focusing on justice
POLS 304: Comtemporary Political Thought
POLS528: Environmental Justice and Public Policy in Democratic Society
POLS 486: International Human Rights
Intelligence & National Security Studies, (INSS) track has four additional POLS Major Core requirements,(12 hours):
POLS 125 Intelligence: Supporting National Security
POLS 130 US Intelligence Community
POLS 325 Intelligence Analytics
POLS 345 Counterintelligence
Must select three from the following list and one additional open elective (300 and above)
Intelligence & National Security Studies Electives
POLS 310 Counterproliferation
POLS 348 Politics of Western Europe
POLS 354 Politics of Russia and Post-Soviet States
POLS 356 Government and Politics of East Asia
POLS 361 Politics of the Middle East
POLS 375 Russian Foreign Policy
POLS 378 China Foreign Policy
POLS 425 Extremist Groups and Government Response
POLS 433 Iran, Turkey and the Kurds
POLS 452 Politics in Europe
POLS 467 Islam and Politics
POLS 471 Politics of Human Trafficking
POLS 472 International Political Economy
POLS 474 Global Justice and Foreign Policy
POLS 477 U.S. National Security Policy
POLS 482 Transnational Terrorism
POLS 468 Politics and Society in China
POLS 687 Introduction to Cyber Security
POLS 688 US Counterterrorism Approaches to International and Domestic Terror
POLS 692 International Security and Migration Policy