Apr 07, 2025

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalogue

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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalogue

Political Science Minor

Coordinator: Dr. Jennifer Horan

The Department of Public and International Affairs offers a minor in political science, which exposes students to the different subfields of political science and trains students to examine political phenomena from an empirical and analytical perspective. 24 hours: 6 core, 18 subfield electives with at least 12 hours selected from 300-level courses or above.

Requirements for a Minor in Political Science:

24 hours in political science with at least 12 hours selected from 300-level courses or above. Courses to be distributed as follows:

PLS 101 - American National Government Credit Hours: 3
PLS 201 - Introduction to Political Science Methods Credit Hours: 3

And at least one course in American government and politics:

PLS 202 - Contemporary American Political Issues Credit Hours: 3
PLS 203 - Religion and Politics in the United States Credit Hours: 3
PLS 204 - Judicial Politics Credit Hours: 3
PLS 205 - Campaign and Elections Credit Hours: 3
PLS 300 - American Constitutional Law I Credit Hours: 3
PLS 301 - American Constitutional Law II Credit Hours: 3
PLS 302 - The Politics of the Supreme Court Credit Hours:
PLS 303 - Political Behavior Credit Hours: 3
PLS 305 - The Constitution and the Criminal Justice System Credit Hours: 3
PLS 307 - The American Legislature Credit Hours: 3
PLS 309 - The American Chief Executive Credit Hours: 3
PLS 311 - Legal Research and Writing Credit Hours: 3
PLS 316 - Women in Politics Credit Hours: 3
PLS 340 - The Black Experience in American Politics Credit Hours: 3
PLS 341 - Latino Politics Credit Hours: 3
PLS 350 - State Government and Politics Credit Hours: 3
PLS 351 - Urban Government and Politics Credit Hours: 3
PLS 353 - American Parties and Interest Groups Credit Hours: 3
PLS 402 - U.S. Immigration Politics Credit Hours: 3
PLS 403 - Public Opinion Credit Hours: 3
PLS 404 - Campaign Management and Strategies Credit Hours: 3
PLS 405 - Washington D. Seahawks: Experiential Learning in DC Credit Hours: 3
PLS 406 - Contemporary Southern Politics Credit Hours: 3
PLS 407 - Political Psychology Credit Hours: 3

At least one course in public policy & public administration:

PLS 209 - Environmental Politics Credit Hours: 3
PLS 217 - Ethics and Leadership in Public Life Credit Hours: 3
PLS 304 - Introduction to Public Policy Analysis Credit Hours: 3
PLS 308 - Public Administration Credit Hours: 3
PLS 327 - Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy Credit Hours: 3
PLS 329 - Ocean and Coastal Law and Policy Credit Hours: 3
PLS 354 - Urban Planning and Policy Credit Hours: 3
PLS 359 - American Policy Development: Politics, Institutions and Theories Credit Hours: 3
PLS 360 - Introduction to Nonprofit Management Credit Hours: 3
PLS 361 - Nonprofit Resource Development Credit Hours: 3
PLS 362 - Leading and Managing Volunteers Credit Hours: 3
PLS 370 - Global Environmental Governance Credit Hours: 3
PLS 434 - Nonprofit Leadership Experience Credit Hours: 3

At least one course in political theory:

PLS 212 - Introduction to Political Theory Credit Hours: 3
PLS 310 - Legal Philosophy and Jurisprudence Credit Hours: 3
PLS 312 - Political Analysis Credit Hours: 3
PLS 313 - Early Political Thought Credit Hours: 3
PLS 314 - Modern Political Thought Credit Hours: 3
PLS 315 - Contemporary Political Ideologies Credit Hours: 3
PLS 317 - Political Thought of Asia Credit Hours: 3
PLS 415 - American Political Thought Credit Hours: 3

At least one course in international relations:

PLS 218 - Ethics in International Affairs Credit Hours: 3
PLS 220 - Introduction to International Relations Credit Hours: 3
PLS 221 - Model United Nations I - Introduction to United Nations Issues and Organization Credit Hours: 3
PLS 222 - Contemporary International Political Issues Credit Hours: 3
PLS 420 - Politics of Nuclear Weapons Credit Hours: 3
PLS 421 - Causes and Dynamics of Ethnic and Nationalist Conflict Credit Hours: 3
PLS 422 - Contemporary American Foreign Policy Credit Hours: 3
PLS 423 - National Security Policy Credit Hours: 3
PLS 424 - International Security Credit Hours: 3
PLS 425 - International Politics Credit Hours: 3
PLS 426 - International Law Credit Hours: 3
PLS 427 - International Organizations Credit Hours: 3
PLS 428 - Global Terrorism Credit Hours: 3
PLS 429 - International Political Economy Credit Hours: 3
PLS 463 - International Development Credit Hours: 3

At least one course in comparative government and politics:

PLS 230 - Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics Credit Hours: 3
PLS 330 - Political Systems of Africa Credit Hours: 3
PLS 331 - Politics in Developing Nations Credit Hours: 3
PLS 332 - Politics of Central America Credit Hours: 3
PLS 333 - Politics of South America Credit Hours: 3
PLS 334 - Revolutionary Movements Credit Hours: 3
PLS 335 - European Political Systems Credit Hours: 3
PLS 336 - Russian and Post-Soviet Political Systems Credit Hours: 3
PLS 337 - Chinese Politics Credit Hours: 3
PLS 338 - Political Systems of the Middle East Credit Hours: 3
PLS 339 - Asian Politics Credit Hours: 3
PLS 343 - Democratic Transition in the United States Credit Hours: 3
PLS 421 - Causes and Dynamics of Ethnic and Nationalist Conflict Credit Hours: 3
PLS 430 - Caribbean Politics Credit Hours: 3
PLS 464 - Democracy and Authoritarianism Credit Hours: 3

Additional Information:

Students must earn a course grade of C- or above. A minimum GPA of “C” (2.00) is required among all courses counted for a minor in political science.

If a course appears in more than one category (e.g., PLS 421), students can only use the course to fulfill one of the categories, not both.