Political Science Major B.BS.POLS

The Political Science program is designed to give majors and minors a strong background in American government and politics, international relations, comparative politics, and political philosophy. A variety of internships are available with the SD state legislature, governor’s office, and many with lobbying groups. This background will prepare students for employment in government, political parties, lobbying groups, private sector businesses, and non-governmental organizations. Graduates of this program will also be prepared for post-baccalaureate study in law school and academic graduate programs.

Required Core - 27 semester hours

POLS 100 - American Government 3 semester hours
POLS 141 - Governments of the World 3 semester hours
POLS 250 - Introduction to International Relations 3 semester hours
POLS 263 - Intro to Political Theory 3 semester hours
POLS 312 - Public Opinion and Polling 3 semester hours
POLS 376 - Democracy and Democratization 3 semester hours
POLS 401 - United States Institutions 3 semester hours
POLS 498 - Undergraduate Research/Scholarship 3 semester hours
SS 350 - Introduction to Research Methods 3 semester hours

Civic Leadership - take 2 courses from the following:

POLS 210 - State & Local Government 3 semester hours
POLS 319 - Civic Engagement and Activism 3 semester hours
POLS 320 - Public Administration 3 semester hours
POLS 417 - American Indian Government & Politics 3 semester hours
POLS 430 - Constitutional Law 3 semester hours
POLS 470 - Contemporary Debates in Political Thought 3 semester hours
POLS 494 - Internship 1 to 12 semester hours

Global Citizenship - Take 2 courses from the following:

POLS 342 - Revolution and Revolt 3 semester hours
POLS 345 - Model United Nations 3 semester hours
POLS 411 - International Political Economy 3 semester hours
POLS 459 - Political Geography 3 semester hours
POLS 469 - American Foreign Relations 3 semester hours
POLS 471 - Theories of the State 3 semester hours

Social Science Reciprocity - 3 credits

Take one course from the following prefixes. Your choice may not be used to satisfy a General Education or Major requirement, and must be from outside your major discipline: AIS/LAKL, ANTH, GEOG, HIST, POLS, PSYC, SOC, SPCM.

Humanities Reciprocity - 3 credits

Take one course from the following prefixes. Your choice may not be used to satisfy a General Education or Major requirement, and must be from outside your major discipline: ART, ARTH, ENGL, FREN, GER, HUM, MCOM, PHIL, RUSS, SPAN, THEA.

System Gen Ed Requirements (SGRs) - 30 semester hours

ENGL 101
ENGL 201
SPCM - Gen Ed - Speech (1 class) - 3 semester hours
MATH - Gen Ed - Mathematics (1 class) - 3 semester hours
Gen Ed - Social Science (2 classes from different subjects) - 6 semester hours
Gen Ed - Arts & Humanities (2 classes from different subjects or a foreign language sequence) - 6 semester hours
Gen Ed - Natural Sciences & Lab (2 classes/corresponding labs) - 6-8 semester hours

Minor and Electives required

A minor is required with this major plus electives to total 120 hours, of which 36 hours must be 300-400 level courses.

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