Political Science, Pre-Law Concentration, BS

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Political Science majors learn how to analyze and evaluate political behavior, power, conflict, ideologies, laws, policies and institutions.

Many of our Political Science majors go on to engage in public service and serve as community and political leaders. The Political Science Pre-Law concentration is intended to introduce students to topics relevant to the formal study of law in the context of American government.

Political Science Major Requirements

All students pursuing a Political Science major must complete the following coursework.

Concentration Requirements

In addition to the Social Science core requirements, students pursuing the Pre-Law Concentration must take the following coursework.

Core Requirements

PS 210 GJ - Intro to International Relations Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4
PS 262 J - Intro to American Political Process Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4
PS 301 - Political Ideas Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4
PS 343 - Constitutional Law and Politics Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4
SS 372 - Field Experience/Research Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 1

Twelve credits chosen from the following courses

PS 351 - Selected Issues in Public Policy Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 2
PS 351A - Budgets, Taxes, and the Debt Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 2
PS 352 EJ - Environmental Politics Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4
PS 353 EJ - Sprawl, Land Use and Society Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 2
PS 360 J - Political Parties & Interest Groups Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4
PS 361 J - The President & the Executive Branc Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4
PS 364 - State and Local Politics Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 2
PS 366 - Congress & Legislative Politics Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 2
PS 388 G - Democracy & Authoritarianism Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4
PS 460 J - Mass Media & Politics Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4
PS 480 - Seminar in Political Science Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 2

Take one of the following

CJ 311 - Sociology of Law Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4
CJ 355 - Introduction to Criminal Law Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4
BUS 398 - Business Law (Int Bus Sem 3A) Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 3
PS 386 - International Law Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4

Social Science Interdisciplinary Sequence

Social Science Interdisciplinary Sequence (12 credits):

SS 369 - Social Science Statistics Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4
SS 370 U - Social Science Research Methods Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4
SS 484 3KX - Senior Social Science Seminar Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 4

Recommended Course

Not required. This course is intended to be taken in preparation for SS 369 - Social Science Statistics .

(3 credits):

SS 200 I - Comp Tech & Info for Soc Science Minimum Credit(s) Awarded: 3