Political Science, Bachelor of Arts
College: College of Liberal Arts
Department: Society, Justice, and Politics
Student Type: Traditional Undergraduate
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Campus: Both Lisle Campus and Mesa Campus
Requirements - Major
Students majoring in Political Science must complete at least 45 semester credit hours with a grade of “C” or better, including:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| PLSC 1102 | American Government | 3 |
| PLSC 2105 | Law and Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 2201 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| PLSC 2210 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| PLSC 4299 | Research Methods in Political Science | 3 |
| PLSC 4399 | Thesis Research and Writing | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select six semester credit hours of Political Science electives at the 2000 level or higher 1 | 6 | |
| Select six semester credit hours of Political Science electives at the 3000 level or higher 2 | 6 | |
| Select six semester credit hours of Political Science electives 3 | 6 | |
| Select six semester credit hours of Political Science or approved upper level coursework 4 | 6 | |
| ECON 2002 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 45 | |
- 1
Students in the Pre-Law Concentration should enroll in PLSC 2230 US Constitutional Law I/PLSC 3330 US Constitutional Law I and PLSC 2231 Constitutional Law II/PLSC 3331 Constitutional Law II
- 2
Students in the Pre-Law Concentration should enroll in an approved political theory/thought course; as also stated above, students in the Pre-Law Concentration should enroll in PLSC 2230 US Constitutional Law I/PLSC 3330 US Constitutional Law I and PLSC 2231 Constitutional Law II/PLSC 3331 Constitutional Law II
- 3
Students in the Pre-Law Concentration may substitute coursework from ACCT, HIST, MGT, PHIL, PSYC or SOCL as approved by the department
- 4
Students in the Pre-Law Concentration may substitute upper level coursework from ACCT, HIST, MGT, PHIL, PSYC or SOCL as approved by the department
Pre-Law Concentration
In response to law school recommendations, the Pre-Law concentration does not require a specific course of study but focuses on a broad range of offerings out of six academic programs. The thrust is a broad liberal arts background, which makes the student aware of pressing social problems, knowledgeable about the American system of government and capable of reading critically and writing in a clear, concise manner.
Students in the Political Science program will achieve the following student learning outcomes (SLO):
Student Learning Outcome 1: Acquire and demonstrate analytical and critical reasoning skills.
• University SLO: 2. Critical and Creative Thinking Skills; 4. Information Fluency
Student Learning Outcome 2: Conduct independent research, including reviews of academic literature, primary and secondary data collection and analysis.
• University SLO: 1. Disciplinary Competence and Skills; 2. Critical and Creative Thinking Skills; 5. Analytical Skills; 9. Personal Development
Student Learning Outcome 3: Develop a proficiency in writing within the discipline and in a professional setting.
• University SLO: 1. Disciplinary Competence and Skills; 3. Communication Skills
Student Learning Outcome 4: Master substantive knowledge in the major areas of the field.
• University SLO: 1. Disciplinary Competence and Skills
Student Learning Outcome 5: Experience politics, government, and law through a variety of hands on forms including Model UN, Mock Trial, Model Illinois Government, Internships and Study Abroad.
• University SLO: 3. Communication Skills; 6. Global Awareness and Cultural Competence; 7. Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility