Degrees/Majors

The Department of Political Science and Public Policy offers the Bachelor of Arts degree.

REQUIRED COURSES FOR THE POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR  -   71 CREDITS:

• POSC 101: Introduction to Political Science - 3 credits
• POSC 201: American National Government - 3 credits
• POSC 307: Scopes and Methods of Political Science - 3 credits
• POSC 314: Comparative Government - 3 credits
• POSC 385: International Relations - 3 credits
• POSC 402: Political Theory - 3 credits
• POSC 450: Senior Seminar** - 3 credits
• POSC XXX: 300-400 level Political Science elective - 3 credits
• POSC XXX: 300-400 level Political Science elective - 3 credits
• ECON 211- Principles of Economics I - 3 credits
• ECON 212: Principles of Economics II - 3 credits
• HIST 105:  History of the United States I - 3 credits
• HIST 106:  History of the United States II - 3 credits
• XXX - Foreign Language Sequence - 3 credits
• XXX  -  Foreign Language Sequence - 3 credits (same foreign language as above)
• POSC XXX: Comparative Government Elective  - 3 credits
• POSC XXX: International Relations Elective  - 3 credits
• POSC XXX: American Government and Politics Elective  - 3 credits

** A student must complete POSC 101, 201, 314, 385, and 402 before taking POSC 450

COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT ELECTIVES:  3 Credits

Choose One:

• POSC 315 - Comparative Politics Ideologies - 3 credits
• POSC 316 - Politics of Developing Nations  - 3 credits
• POSC 321 - Government and Politics in Asia - 3 credits
• POSC 350 - Government and Politics in Modern China - 3 credits
• POSC 352 - Government and Politics in Japan -3 credits
• POSC 354 - Government and Politics in Korea - 3 credits
• POSC 360 - Government and Politics of the European Union - 3 credits
• POSC 380 - The Middle East in Transition - 3 credits
• POSC 383 - Contemporary Africa - 3 credits 

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ELECTIVES:  3 Credits

Choose One:

• POSC 331 - American Foreign Policy - 3 credits
• POSC 342 - Current International Problems - 3 credits
• POSC 405 - International Law - 3 credits
• POSC 407 - International Organizations - 3 credits
• POSC 463 - International Political Economy - 3 credits
• POSC 412 - Global Justice - 3 credits
• POSC 409 - Independent Study in International Studies - 3 credits

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT & POLITICS ELECTIVES:  3 Credits

• POSC 202 - Problems of Federal Government - 3 credits
• POSC 206 - Black Politics in America - 3 credits
• POSC 301 - Political Parties - 3 credits
• POSC 304 - The Supreme Court and Civil Rights - 3 credits
• POSC 305 - The Politics of State and Local Governments - 3 credits
• POSC 312 - Metropolitan Area Inter-Government Relations - 3 credits
• POSC 313 - Political Development in Urban Communities - 3 credits
• POSC 317 - Public Policy and Legislative Process - 3 credits
• POSC 318 - Race, Class, Gender and Criminal Justice - 3 credits
• POSC 319 - Immigration and Refugee Law - 3 credits
• POSC 320 - The Presidency - 3 credits
• POSC 391 - Public Service Internship - 5 credits
• POSC 401 - Public Administration - 3 credits
• PSOC 403 - Black Political Thought - 3 credits
• POSC 415 - American Constitutional Law - 3 credits
• POSC 416 - Race and Public Law - 3 credits
• POSC 420 - Politics of Health, Education and Welfare - 3 credits

Political Science Major—Pre-Law Track

Political Science Requirements – 24 credits

• POSC 101 Intro. to Political Science – 3 credits
• POSC 201 American National Govt. – 3 credits
• POSC 307 Scopes and Methods – 3 credits
• POSC 318 Race, Class, Gender and Criminal Justice - 3 credits
• POSC 385 International Relations – 3 credits
• POSC 391 Public Internship – 5 credits
• POSC 402 Political Theory – 3 credits
• POSC 450 Senior Seminar – 3 credits 

In addition, students following the Pre-Law Track must
complete the following two courses in order to satisfy
the Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Requirement:

• LATN 101 Elementary Latin I - 3 credits
• LATN 102 Elementary Latin II - 3 credits
  

COLLEGE-WIDE REQUIREMENTS:

In addition to the 71 credits in Political Science, students must also fulfill 43 credits in General Education and 6 credits in the Liberal Arts Core:

**GENERAL EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS - 43 CREDITS

• ENGL 101 - Freshman Composition I - 3 credits - EC
• ENGL 102 - Freshman Composition II - 3 credits - EC
• XXXX - MQ General Education Req. - 4 credits MQ
• XXXX - HH General Education Req. - 3 credits HH
• XXXX - IM General Ecuation Req. - 3 credits IM
• XXXX - BP General Education Req. - 4 credits with lab BP
• XXXX - BP General Education Req. - 3 credits no lab req. BP
• XXXX - SB General Education Req. - 3 credits SB
• XXXX - SB General Education Req. - 3 credits SB
• XXXX - AH General Education Req. - 3 credits AH
• XXXX - AH General Education Req. - 3 credits AH
• XXXX - CT General Education Req. - 3 credits CT
• XXXX - CT General Education Req. - 3 credits CT
• ORLA 101 - Freshman Orientation for Liberal Arts Majors and Undeclared Majors - 1 credit
• XXXX - Phys. Activity or FIN 101 or MIND 101 - 1 credit

** Please see the Catalog for courses that satisfy the General Education requirements

** LIBERAL ARTS CORE - 6 CREDITS

** Lease see the Catalog for courses that satisfy the Liberal Arts Core.

THE DEPARTMENTAL HONORS PROGRAM
IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

The Departmental Honors Program in Political
Science is a complement to—and is intended to be
pursued during the junior and senior years after
completion of— the University-wide Honors Program
in the General Education Program.

Program Requirements

• POSC 388 Great Books - Directed Reading I - 2 credits
• POSC 389 Great Books - Directed Reading II - 2 credits
• POSC 488 Senior Honors Thesis I - 3 credits
• POSC 489 Senior Honors Thesis II - 3 credits

In addition, students must, based on the research conducted in their Senior Thesis courses, write and in April of the senior year, defend a Senior Thesis on a topic approved by the department.

The Department offers a Minor in Political Science:

MINORS: Students minoring in Political Science must complete the following required courses with a grade of "C" or better: POSC 101: Introduction to Political Science 3

• POSC 201: American National Government 3
• POSC 307: Scope and Methods of Political Science 
• POSC XXX: Political Science Elective* 3
• POSC XXX: Political Science Elective* 3
• POSC XXX: Political Science Elective* 3

PUBLIC INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The Department of Political Science offers public service internships to all interested sophomore, junior and senior political science majors. These internships permit students to work with the Courts; legislators of the General Assembly; Baltimore City Council; Juvenile Services Department; other state, local and federal agencies; and non-profit organizations. Students may receive a stipend, as well as earn either three or five credits, while working a minimum of 15 hours per week at their placement.  

It is recommended that students participate in at least one internship opportunity.