Total Semester Hours required for the Degree: 120 semester hours
The major in Political Science comprises:
Semester Hours required for the Political Science Major: 40
Core Requirements (16 hours)
PLS 1153G
American Government and Constitution. (3 credits)
or
PLS 1193G
American Government and Constitution, Honors. (3 credits)
PLS 1500
Political Science Forum. (1 credits)
PLS 2033
Research Methods in Political Science. (3 credits)
Three of the following
PLS 1003
Introduction to Politics. (3 credits)
PLS 2000G
Introduction to Public Affairs. (3 credits)
PLS 2103
Introduction to Political Theory. (3 credits)
PLS 2253G
Introduction to International Relations. (3 credits)
or
PLS 2293G
Introduction to International Relations, Honors. (3 credits)
Field Requirements (18 hours):
18 hours of the following 2000-4000 level courses, including at least one from each of the three fields (18 hours total)
Comparative Politics & International Relations
PLS 3203
American Foreign Policy. (3 credits)
PLS 3223
International Organizations. (3 credits)
PLS 3233
International Terrorism. (3 credits)
PLS 3253
Human Rights and International Law. (3 credits)
PLS 3263
The Politics of War & Conflict. (3 credits)
PLS 3303
European Politics and Governments. (3 credits)
PLS 3333
Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean. (3 credits)
PLS 3343
Government and Politics of the Middle East. (3 credits)
PLS 3353
Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa. (3 credits)
PLS 3363
Government and Politics in Asia-Pacific Rim. (3 credits)
PLS 3393
The Politics of Developing Nations. (3 credits)
PLS 3861A,
Special Topics: International Relations Comparative Politics. (1 to 3 credits)
PLS 4823
Comparative Public Policy. (3 credits)
American Politics, Public Policy & Public Administration
PLS 2333
Political Campaigning. (3 credits)
PLS 3603
State and Local Government. (3 credits)
PLS 3613
Public Policy. (3 credits)
PLS 3623
Public and Nonprofit Management. (3 credits)
PLS 3653
American Indian Politics. (3 credits)
PLS 3703
African American Politics. (3 credits)
PLS 3713
Political Parties and Elections. (3 credits)
PLS 3723
Political Behavior. (3 credits)
PLS 3733
Interest Groups and Lobbying. (3 credits)
PLS 3743
Congress. (3 credits)
PLS 3753
The American Presidency. (3 credits)
PLS 3773
Religion & Politics in the U.S. (3 credits)
PLS 3862A,
Special Topics: U.S. Politics, Policy & Public Administration. (1 to 3 credits)
PLS 3903
Women & Politics. (3 credits)
PLS 4763
Environmental Politics & Policy. (3 credits)
PLS 4783
Health Politics and Policy. (3 credits)
PLS 4793
Civic and Nonprofit Leadership. (3 credits)
PLS 4873
Human Resource Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations. (3 credits)
PLS 4893
Budgeting in Government and Nonprofit Organizations. (3 credits)
Public Law & Political Theory
PLS 3513
Politics and the Legal Process. (3 credits)
PLS 3523
Criminal Law. (3 credits)
PLS 3543
Civil Liberties in America. (3 credits)
PLS 3553
Federal Indian Law and Policy. (3 credits)
PLS 3864A,
Special Topics: Public Law & Political Theory. (1 to 3 credits)
PLS 4774
American Constitutional Law. (3 credits)
PLS 4853
The Supreme Court. (3 credits)
PLS 4903
Classic Political Theory. (3 credits)
PLS 4913
Contemporary Political Theory. (3 credits)
PLS 4923
African American Political Thought. (3 credits)
PLS 4943
American Political Thought. (3 credits)
Applied Political Science Experience (3 hours):
Political Science majors will complete at least聽three hours in one or more of the following experiences:
PLS 2503
Legal Research and Argument. (3 credits)
(only one credit hour may be counted toward applied learning experience)
PLS 25131
Moot Court I. (1 credits)
or PLS 25132 or PLS 25133
(Limited to 3 hours of Political Science Credit)
PLS 26111
Model Illinois Government I. (1 credits)
or PLS 26112
(Limited to 3 hours of Political Science Credit)
PLS 3970
Study Abroad. (1 to 15 credits)
(See Footnote *)
PLS 4275
Internship. (1 to 12 credits)
(See Footnote **)
PLS 4503
Independent Study. (1 to 6 credits)
(See Footnote ***)
PLS 4444
Honors Independent Study. (3 credits)
(See footnote #)
PLS 4555
Honors Research. (3 credits)
(See footnote #)
PLS 4644
Honors Thesis. (3 credits)
(See footnote #)
Political Science Capstone Course (3 hours):
All Political Science majors will complete the聽capstone course聽after completing at least聽75 hours, PLS 1500, PLS 2033 and at least 6聽hours in PLS coursework at the 3000-4000 level. PLS 4600 also satisfies the senior seminar requirement in the General Education program.
PLS 4600
Political Science Capstone. (3 credits)
Footnotes:
* Three聽credit hours will count for this requirement. Additional credit hours may be substituted for Field Requirements, with departmental approval.
** Three credit hours will count for this requirement. Additional credit hours cannot be substituted for Field Requirements, but will count towards degree completion.
*** Three聽credit hours will count for this requirement. Additional credit hours cannot be substituted for Field Requirements, but will be included in computing the major G.P.A.
# Students enrolled in Honors Independent Study, Research or Thesis must be enrolled in Political Science Departmental Honors.
Information sourced from the .
PLS 1003
Introduction to Politics.
PLS 1153
American Government and Constitution.
PLS 1193
American Government and Constitution, Honors.
PLS 1500
Political Science Forum.
PLS 2000
Introduction to Public Affairs.
PLS 2033
Research Methods in Political Science.
PLS 2103
Introduction to Political Theory.
PLS 2253
Introduction to International Relations.
PLS 2293
Introduction to International Relations, Honors.
PLS 2333
Political Campaigning.
PLS 2503
Legal Research and Argument.
PLS 2513
Moot Court I.
PLS 2513
Moot Court II.
PLS 2513
Moot Court III.
PLS 2611
Model Illinois Government I.
PLS 2611
Model Illinois Government II.
PLS 3203
American Foreign Policy.
PLS 3223
International Organizations.
PLS 3233
International Terrorism.
PLS 3253
Human Rights and International Law.
PLS 3263
The Politics of War & Conflict.
PLS 3303
European Politics and Governments.
PLS 3333
Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean.
PLS 3343
Government and Politics of the Middle East.
PLS 3353
Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa.
PLS 3363
Government and Politics in Asia-Pacific Rim.
PLS 3393
The Politics of Developing Nations.
PLS 3513
Politics and the Legal Process.
PLS 3523
Criminal Law.
PLS 3543
Civil Liberties in America.
PLS 3553
Federal Indian Law and Policy.
PLS 3603
State and Local Government.
PLS 3613
Public Policy.
PLS 3623
Public and Nonprofit Management.
PLS 3653
American Indian Politics.
PLS 3703
African American Politics.
PLS 3713
Political Parties and Elections.
PLS 3723
Political Behavior.
PLS 3733
Interest Groups and Lobbying.
PLS 3743
Congress.
PLS 3753
The American Presidency.
PLS 3773
Religion & Politics in the U.S.
PLS 3861
Special Topics: International Relations Comparative Politics.
PLS 3862
Special Topics: U.S. Politics, Policy & Public Administration.
PLS 3864
Special Topics: Public Law & Political Theory.
PLS 3903
Women & Politics.
PLS 3970
Study Abroad.
PLS 4275
Internship.
PLS 4444
Honors Independent Study.
PLS 4503
Independent Study.
PLS 4555
Honors Research.
PLS 4600
Political Science Capstone.
PLS 4644
Honors Thesis.
PLS 4763
Environmental Politics & Policy.
PLS 4774
American Constitutional Law.
PLS 4783
Health Politics and Policy.
PLS 4793
Civic and Nonprofit Leadership.
PLS 4823
Comparative Public Policy.
PLS 4853
The Supreme Court.
PLS 4873
Human Resource Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations.
PLS 4893
Budgeting in Government and Nonprofit Organizations.
