The following is a sample schedule for this major – your actual schedule may vary.
Meet with your advisor and review the class schedule before confirming your schedule.
Missouri State is committed to helping you graduate in four years.
BA Four-Year Degree Plan
The following degree plan, last reviewed 10-09-2026, is based on the 2026-27 catalog and Missouri State general education requirements.
First semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
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| Humanities - General Education | 3 |
| Quantitative Literacy - General Education | 3 |
| Total hours | 17 |
Second semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
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| Cultural Competence - General Education | 3 |
| Life Sciences - General Education | 4 |
| Total hours | 13 |
Third semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
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| BA Requirement - Foreign Language | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Fourth semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| Physical Sciences - General Education | 3 |
| Humanities - General Education | 3 |
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| Public Issues - General Education | 3 |
| BA Requirement - Foreign Language | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Fifth semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
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| American Gov./Politics and Public Law | 3 |
| PLS elective | 3 |
| Course for minor | 3 |
| BA Requirement - Foreign Language | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Sixth semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| American Gov./Politics and Public Law | 3 |
| PLS elective or PLS Internship | 3 |
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| Course for minor | 3 |
| BA Requirement - Foreign Language | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Seventh semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| BA Requirement - Fine Arts | 3 |
| Course for minor | 3 |
| Course for minor | 3 |
| General Elective or Capstone | 6 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Eighth semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| General Elective or Capstone | 6 |
| BA Requirement - Fine Arts | 3 |
| Course for minor | 3 |
| Course for minor | 3 |
| University exit survey | 0 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Tips for success
- Depending on areas of interest and career goals, political science majors are required to complete 15 hours of elective from at least 3 of 6 subfields: American govt. and politics, international politics, comparative governments and politics, public administration, political theory, or public law.
- The PLS capstone requirement can be fulfilled with PLS 320 or any 400-500 level PLS course; this includes PLS 493 (internship) or PLS 497 (study abroad).