Political Science

Major(s)

Political Science (Non-Comprehensive) (BA)

Bachelor of Arts

Major requirements (39 hours):

Note: Three hours may double toward General Education requirements.

  1. Core Requirements* (21 hours):
    1. PLS 101(3), 205(3), 232(3), 255(3); PLS 330(3) or PHI 330(3); PLS 492(0).
    2. One course from: PLS 316(3), 317(3), 413(3), 414(3).
    3. One course from: PLS 515(3), 517(3), 520(3).
  2. Public Affairs Capstone Experience. Three hours from the following list. Course cannot count toward both the 21 hour core requirement and the Capstone requirement. PLS 320(3), 413(3), 414(3), 437(3), 439(3), 443(3), 493(3), 494(3), 495(3), 496(3), 498(3), 515(3), 517(3), 520(3), 544(3), 545(3), 546(3), 547(3), 548(3), 550(3), 555(3), 561(3), 563(3), 565(3), 567(3), 569(3), 573(3), 576(3). PLS 497 may be approved by the department.
  3. 15 hours of electives from at least three of the following subfields:**
    1. American Government and Politics: PLS 316(3), 317(3), 413(3), 414(3).
    2. International Politics: PLS 301(3), 320(3), 333(3), 437(3), 439(3), 547(3).
    3. Comparative Governments and Politics: PLS 319(3), 338(3), 343(3), 443(3), 544(3), 545(3), 546(3), 548(3), 550(3).
    4. Public Administration: PLS 102(3), 315(3), 351(3), 355(3), 498(3), 555(3), 573(3).
    5. Political Theory: PLS 561(3), 563(3), 565(3), 567(3).
    6. Public Law: CRM 260(3); PLS 419(3), 515(3), 517(3), 520(3).
      *Courses counted toward core requirements and Public Affairs Capstone will not also count toward elective requirements.
      **Note: PLS 493, 494, 495, 496, 497 will be assigned to fields according to topic. No more than six hours will be counted toward the major from PLS 493, 494, 498. PLS 576 will also be used to complete the remaining hours of electives provided that student has one course from at least three of the subfields.
  4. Minor required (or second major).
  5. Specific Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

University level requirements:

  1. General Education Program and Requirements
  2. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Political Science (Non-Comprehensive) (BS)

Bachelor of Science

Major requirements (42 hours):

Note: Three hours may double count toward General Education requirements.

  1. Core Requirements* (24 hours):
    1. PLS 101(3), 205(3), 232(3), 255(3); PLS 330(3) or PHI 330(3); PLS 492(0), 576(3).
    2. One course from: PLS 316(3), 317(3), 413(3), 414(3).
    3. One course from: PLS 515(3), 517(3), 520(3).
  2. Public Affairs Capstone Experience: Three hours from the following list. Course cannot count toward both the 24 hour core requirement and the Capstone requirement. PLS 320(3), PLS 413(3), 414(3), 437(3), 439(3), 443(3), 493(3), 494(3), 495(3), 496(3), 498(3), 515(3), 517(3), 520(3), 544(3), 545(3), 546(3), 547(3), 548(3), 550(3), 555(3), 561(3), 563(3), 565(3), 567(3), 569(3), 573(3), 576(3). PLS 497 may be approved by the department.
  3. 15 hours of electives from at least three of the following subfields:**
    1. American Government and Politics: PLS 316(3), 317(3), 413(3), 414(3).
    2. International Politics: PLS 301(3), 320(3), 333(3), 437(3), 439(3), 547(3).
    3. Comparative Governments and Politics: PLS 319(3), 338(3), 343(3), 443(3), 544(3), 545(3), 546(3), 548(3), 550(3).
    4. Public Administration: PLS 102(3), 315(3), 351(3), 355(3), 498(3), 555(3), 573(3).
    5. Political Theory: PLS 561(3), 563(3), 565(3), 567(3).
    6. Public Law: CRM 260(3); PLS 419(3), 515(3), 517(3), 520(3).
      *Courses counted toward core requirements and Public Affairs Capstone will not also count toward elective requirements.
      **Note: PLS 493, 494, 495, 496, 497 will be assigned to fields according to topic. No more than six hours will be counted toward the major from PLS 493, 494, 498.
  4. Minor required (or second major).

University level requirements:

  1. General Education Program and Requirements
  2. General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Minor(s)

Political Science

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science in Education (Non-Certifiable)
Bachelor of Social Work
  1. PLS 101(3).
  2. Additional courses from at least three of the following six political science fields to total at least 21 hours:
    1. American Government and Politics: PLS 316(3), 317(3), 413(3), 414(3).
    2. International Politics: PLS 232(3), 301(3), 320(3), 437(3), 439(3), 546(3), 547(3).
    3. Comparative Politics: PLS 205(3), 319(3), 338(3), 343(3), 443(3), 544(3), 545(3), 547(3), 548(3), 550(3).
    4. Public Administration: PLS 102(3), 255(3), 315(3), 351(3), 355(3), 498(3), 555(3), 573(3).
    5. Political Theory: PLS 330(3) or PHI 330(3); PLS 561(3), 563(3), 565(3), 567(3).
    6. Public Law: PLS 419(3), 515(3), 517(3), 520(3).

      Note: PLS 576 will count as a minor elective.

Accelerated graduate program in International Affairs

Eligible Missouri State undergraduate students may apply for admission to the Master of International Affairs program and begin taking graduate course work as they complete the work for a bachelor’s degree. A maximum of 12 hours of graduate credit may be counted toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree (Mixed Credit). Refer to the Graduate Catalog for specific admission requirements.

Refer to Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Classes for additional information and procedures for obtaining permission for Mixed Credit.

Accelerated graduate program in Public Administration

Eligible Missouri State undergraduate students majoring in political science may apply for preliminary acceptance into the Master of Public Administration program after admission requirements for the accelerated graduate program have been satisfied. If accepted, a maximum of 12 hours may be counted toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees (Mixed Credit). Refer to the Graduate Catalog for program details.

For courses to be designated as Mixed Credit, the graduate advisor, undergraduate department head, and Graduate College dean must approve by signing the Permission for Mixed Credit form. This form must be provided to the Office of the Registrar in Carrington Hall 320 no later than the end of the Change of Schedule Period for the semester. Refer to the Mixed Credit website for procedures.