Political Science, B.A.

 Bison image - General Education Course

 Cap graduation image - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.

Course Requirements

Core Curriculum
Core 1: Critical Thinking
FYS 100First Yr Sem Critical Thinking3
PSC 105 Bison image Fundamentals of Politics (CT)3
PSC 104 Bison image Am Natl Govt & Politics (CT)3
Core 2
ENG 101 Bison image Beginning Composition3
ENG 201 Bison image Advanced Composition3
CMM 103 Bison image Fund Speech-Communication3
STA 150 Bison image Foundations of Statistics3
STA 150L Bison image Foundations of Statistics Lab1
Core II Physical and Natural Science4
Core II Humanities3
PSC 104 Bison image Am Natl Govt & Politics (CT)3
Core II Fine Arts3
Additional University Requirements
Writing Intensive3
Writing Intensive3
Multicultural or International3
PSC 499 Bison image Capstone Experience3
College-Specific
Foreign Language 1013
Foreign Language 1023
Foreign Language 203
Foreign Language 2043
COLA Literature3
COLA Literature3
COLA Humanities3
PSC 105 Bison image Fundamentals of Politics (CT) (COLA Social Science)3
COLA Social Science (Not PSC)3
COLA Social Science (Not PSC)3
COLA Physical and Natural Science4
PSC COLA International3
COLA Multicultural
Major-Specific
PSC 105 Bison image Fundamentals of Politics (CT)3
PSC 104 Bison image Am Natl Govt & Politics (CT)3
PSC 312Research in Political Science3
PSC 499 Bison image Capstone Experience3
Select at least three courses in any one of the five Political Science subfields and at least one course in at least three of the remaining four fields:18
Courses that appear in more than one field may not be counted twice.
American National, State, and Local Politics
State and Local Government
Public Opinion and Propaganda
Black Politics
Am Legislative Process
The American Presidency
American Foreign Policy
Shapers and Definers
The American Judiciary
Power in American Society
Politics of Poverty
Politics in History
Civil Rights & Liberties
Constitutional Law
International and Comparative Politics
Comparative Politics (CT)
Fund Internatl Relations (CT)
UN & Global Organizations
International Relations
PSC 407
PSC 408
Western Democratic Politics
Post Soviet Politics
Latin American Politics
International Political Econ
International Law
Politics of Development
Cur World/Regional Issues
PSC 422
American Foreign Policy
Diplomacy
PSC 428
Politics of Confl & Rev
Pol of Global Terrorism
Politics of Poverty
Dictatorship & Democracy
Constitutional Democracy
PSC 417
American Political Thought II
American Political Thought I
Shapers and Definers
Politics of Confl & Rev
The American Judiciary
Dictatorship & Democracy
Politics in History
Civil Rights & Liberties
Constitutional Law
Political Theory
American Political Thought II
Women and Political Thought
American Political Thought I
Classical Political Thought
Modern Political Thought
PSC 428
Politics of Confl & Rev
Political Ideologies
Politics in History
Public Administration, Public Policy and Urban Politics
PSC 233
Issues in Public Policy
Intro to Public Administration
Public Adm & Policy Dev
Administrative Law
Public Personnel Admin
Government Budgetary Admin
Politics of the Workplace
Urban Prob & Pub Policy
Political Science electives6
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3
Free Elective3

 Bison image - General Education Course

 Cap graduation image - Milestone course: a key success marker for your major. See your advisor to discuss the importance of this course in your plan of study.

Semester Plan

The Political Science curriculum has two objectives: first, to provide a basic understanding of the functioning of government in preparation for democratic citizenship and second, to give a specialized foundation to those planning to enter law school, government service (foreign service, public administration), teaching, research, politics, or business.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First SemesterCredit Hours
CMM 103 Bison image Fund Speech-Communication 3
ENG 101 Bison image Beginning Composition 3
FYS 100 First Yr Sem Critical Thinking 3
PSC 104 Bison image Am Natl Govt & Politics (CT) 3
Core II Fine Arts 3
UNI 100 Freshman First Class 1
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
ENG 201 Bison image Advanced Composition 3
Core II Physical and Natural Science 4
STA 150 Bison image Foundations of Statistics 3
STA 150L Bison image Foundations of Statistics Lab 1
PSC 105 Bison image Fundamentals of Politics (CT) 3
 Credit Hours14
Second Year
First Semester
Foreign Language 101 3
PSC 312 Research in Political Science 3
COLA Social Science (Not PSC) 3
Core II Humanities (WI) 3
COLA Physical and Natural Science 4
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
Multicultural or International 3
Foreign Language 102 3
PSC Elective (3 in 1/1 in 3) 3
Free Elective 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Third Year
First Semester
PSC Elective (3 in 1/1 in 3) 3
COLA Multicultural 3
COLA International 3
Foreign Language 203 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
Foreign Language 204 3
PSC Elective (3 in 1/1 in 3) 3
PSC Elective (3 in 1/1 in 3) 3
COLA Social Science (not PSC) 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Fourth Year
First Semester
PSC Elective (3 in 1/1 in 3) 3
PSC Elective 3
PSC 499 Bison image Capstone Experience (WI) 3
COLA Literature 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
PSC Elective (3 in 1/1 in 3) 3
PSC Elective 3
COLA Literature 3
COLA Humanities 3
Free Elective 2
 Credit Hours14
 Total Credit Hours120