Bachelor of Science in Political Science
Overview
Pursue Your Passion for Politics
If you are interested in politics, history, law, government, or journalism, then a degree in political science might be right for you. The Bachelor of Science in Political Science degree program examines political institutions, the social and economic forces that shape them, the cultural context within which they operate, and human behavior in political matters. As a political science major, you will hone your analytical and problem-solving abilities and improve your communication skills.
Featuring courses in American government, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and foreign policy, this dynamic program allows you the freedom to tailor your degree by choosing from several open electives. In addition to providing a solid foundation for continuing on to graduate school, a bachelor's degree in political science can lead to an exciting career in government, law, business, education, or politics.
If you wish to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree rather than a Bachelor of Science degree, you will need to complete 12 quarter hours of an elementary modern language plus 12 quarter hours of an intermediate modern language.
Core Curriculum
College of Professional Studies degrees* integrate a core set of course requirements that ensure all of our graduates possess a well-rounded educational background and understanding of the world. The core courses allow students to gain insights into disciplines other than their field of study, as well as develop expertise in written and oral communication and critical thinking.
Written Communication (9 q.h.)
Complete the following three courses:
| ENG 1004 | College English 1 | 3 q.h. |
| ENG 1005 | College English 2 | 3 q.h. |
| ENG 3006 | College English Workshop | 3 q.h. |
Diversity (3 q.h.)
Complete one of the following courses:
| CMN 2002 | Intercultural Communication | 3 q.h. |
| MGT 1503 | Managing in a Diverse and Changing World* | 3 q.h. |
| POL 2230 | Civil Liberties | 3 q.h. |
| SOC 1110 | Diversity | 3 q.h. |
| SOC 1635 | Race and Ethnicity | 3 q.h. |
| SOC 2440 | Gender and Work Roles in Society | 3 q.h. |
Information Literacy (3 q.h.)
| ITC | Information Technology Elective | 3 q.h. |
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Suggested courses: |
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| ITC 1001 | Intro to PC Productivity Tools | 3 q.h. |
| ITC 1002 | Technology and Information Fluency | 3 q.h. |
| ITC 1120 | Website Design | 3 q.h. |
| ITC 1235 | Internet Essentials | 3 q.h. |
| ITC 1255 | Human-Computer Interaction | 3 q.h. |
Mathematics (6 q.h.)
Complete a minimum of six quarter hours from the following courses:
| MTH 1001 | College Algebra 1 | 3 q.h. |
| MTH 2002 | College Algebra 2 | 3 q.h. |
| MTH 2512 | Finite Mathematics | 3 q.h. |
| MTH 2101 | Precalculus | 3 q.h. |
| MTH 3005 | Calculus 1 | 4 q.h. |
| MTH 3010 | Calculus 2 | 4 q.h. |
| MTH 3015 | Calculus 3 | 4 q.h. |
| ECN 2001 | Statistics 1 | 3 q.h. |
| ECN 2002 | Statistics 2 | 3 q.h. |
Ethical & Political Perspectives (3 q.h.)
Complete one of the following courses:
| LDR 3230 | Ethical Decision Making | 3 q.h. |
| PHL 1001 | Introduction to Philosophy and Ethics | 3 q.h. |
| PHL 2160 | Bioethics | 3 q.h. |
| PHL 2180 | Business Ethics | 3 q.h. |
Science Perspectives (3 q.h.)
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Choose one course with any one of the following prefixes: BIO, BTC, CHM, ESC, PHY |
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Suggested courses: |
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| BIO 1010 | Biology 1 | 3 q.h. |
| BIO 1825 | Biology Today: An issues Approach | 3 q.h. |
| CHM 1011 | Chemical Principles 1 | 3 q.h. |
| CHM 2105 | Chemistry and the Environment | 3 q.h. |
| ESC 1525 | Energy for Today and Tomorrow | 3 q.h. |
| ESC 1121 | Introduction to Meteorology and Weather Forecasting | 3 q.h. |
| ESC 1123 | Observational Astronomy | 3 q.h. |
| PHY 2301 | Physics 1 | 3 q.h. |
Historical Perspectives (3 q.h.)
| HST | History Elective | 3 q.h. |
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Suggested courses: |
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| HST 1001 | Civilization of the Ancient & Medieval Worlds | 3 q.h. |
| HST 1002 | Civilization of the Early Modern World | 3 q.h. |
| HST 1003 | Civilization of the Modern World | 3 q.h. |
| HST 3213 | Contemporary America | 3 q.h. |
| HST 2205 | Coming to America: The American Immigrant Experience |
3 q.h. |
Total Core Curriculum: 30 q.h.
*Lowell Institute School degree requirements vary.
See curriculum pages for more information.
Curriculum
Core Curriculum (30 q.h.)
We require all bachelor's degree students to complete required core curriculum, allowing you to gain insight into disciplines other than your field of study.
Foundation Courses (36 q.h.)
Complete one of the following courses:
| HST 1001 | The Civilization of the Ancient & Medieval World | 3 q.h. |
| HST 1002 | The Civilization of the Early Modern World | 3 q.h. |
| HST 1003 | The Civilization of the Modern World | 3 q.h. |
Complete twenty-one credits of Humanities electives from the following prefixes:
| ART, ASL, CMN, ENG, JRN, MUS, PHL, TCC, THE, or a modern foreign language | 21 q.h. | |
Complete nine credits of Social Science electives from the following prefixes:
| CJS, ECN, HST, POL, PSY | 9 q.h. | |
Complete three credits of Math-Science electives from the following prefixes:
| BIO, BTC, CHM, ESC, MTH, PHY | 3 q.h. | |
Major Courses (57 q.h.)
Complete all of the following courses:
| ECN 2001 | Statistics 1 | 3 q.h. |
| ECN 2002 | Statistics 2 | 3 q.h. |
| POL 1001 | Introduction to Politics | 3 q.h. |
| POL 1250 | Introduction to American Government | 3 q.h. |
| POL 1370 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 q.h. |
| POL 2400 | International Relations | 3 q.h. |
| POL 3003 | Introduction to Political Theory | 3 q.h. |
| SOC 3631 | Research Methods: Generating and Investigating Research Problems | 3 q.h. |
| POL 4950 | Senior Research Seminar/Project | 3 q.h. |
Complete three of the following courses:
| POL 3100 | American Political Thought | 3 q.h. |
| POL 3110 | Political Parties and Pressure Groups | 3 q.h. |
| POL 3115 | State and Local Government | 3 q.h. |
| POL 3120 | The American Presidency | 3 q.h. |
| POL 3125 | The Congress | 3 q.h. |
| POL 3130 | American Constitutional Law | 3 q.h. |
| POL 2230 | Civil Liberties | 3 q.h. |
| POL 3235 | Criminal and Civil Due Process | 3 q.h. |
Complete three of the following courses:
| POL 2500 | Comparative Politics | 3 q.h. |
| POL 2805 | International Organizations | 3 q.h. |
| POL 2840 | American Foreign Policy | 3 q.h. |
| POL 2550 | Government and Politics of Russia | 3 q.h. |
| POL 2515 | Africa Today | 3 q.h. |
| POL 2520 | Government and Politics in the Middle East | 3 q.h. |
Complete twelve credits of Political Science electives:
| POL | 12 q.h. | |
Non-Business Electives (14 q.h.)
Open Electives (23 q.h.)
Total Quarter Hours: 160
Bachelor of Arts Requirements: Students wishing to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree rather than a Bachelor of Science degree will need to complete 12 quarter hours of an elementary modern language plus 12 quarter hours of an intermediate modern language.
Admissions Requirements
Below are the official Admissions Requirements for this program.
- Online application
- Academic transcripts: submit one of the following
- Official high school degree
- Official GED
- Official associate degree showing degree conferral and date
- Transfer credit documentation: should be submitted with your application material
- Academic transcripts from each institution you previously attended:
- Official U.S. transcripts: if you applied previously earned credit toward your earned associate degree, you must request transcripts from each institution you attended.
- Official foreign transcripts: must include English translation. We encourage you to submit a course-by-course evaluation of your diploma(s) and transcript(s)
- College-level examinations: official examination score(s)
- Military evaluation
- Academic transcripts from each institution you previously attended:
- Proof of English language proficiency: ONLY for students for whom English is not their primary language: English language proficiency guidelines
For general admissions information and recommended admissions deadlines, Undergraduate Admissions.
All requirements must be received prior to review.
Tuition
Estimated total tuition for this program is $52,000.00.
Tuition for individual courses is based on the number of quarter hours. Most courses are 3-6 quarter hours. See Undergraduate Tuition Rates for details.
Use our Tuition Calculator below to see if transfer credit or tuition reimbursement from your employer could reduce your total tuition.
Tuition Calculator
Please note: The estimated total tuition is based on tuition rates for Academic Year 2011-12 and does not include any fees or other expenses. Some courses and labs have tuition rates that may increase or decrease total tuition. Tuition and fees are subject to revision by the president and Board of Trustees at any time.
Student Profile
Who Will Your Classmates Be?
This Bachelor of Science in Political Science degree program is well suited for students who wish to continue on to graduate school or pursue a career in law, public administration, or politics.
Careers to consider include:
- Political scientist
- Lobbyist
- Market or survey researcher
- Judicial worker
- Legal assistant
- Intelligence officer
- High school government teacher
- Policy or legislative analyst
- Journalist
Career Outlook
Put Your Degree to Work
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a majority of those with bachelor’s degrees in political science find employment in niche areas with specialized titles, such as market analyst, research assistant, writer, or policy analyst. Generally speaking, the job outlook for political scientists is very promising, as the field is projected to continue growing over the next several years.
Talk to an Enrollment Coach
We can walk you through your program options and the application process.
- Call Toll Free:
- 877.668.7727
- Email:
- Contact Us
Upcoming Academic Term Dates
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Spring Term
April 9, 2012 (6- & 12-week classes)
May 21, 2012 (6-week classes) -
Summer Term
July 2, 2012 (8-, 6-, and 4- week classes)
July 30, 2012 (4-week classes)