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University of Wyoming

Political Science Requirements

 

Political Science Program of Study
For the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science Degree

120 hours minimum: A&S/University Studies Program requirements plus major requirements (NOTE: exludes lower level PEAC, ARMY & AIR classes)

Must include 60 non-major hours minimum, 48 upper level hours minimum (3000 or 4000 level), 9 upper level non-major hours minimum (3000 or 4000 level outside major).

33 hours in Political Science: with a grade of "C" or better
(Note: POLS 1000: American and Wyoming Government, is a prerequisite for all Political Science coursework and does NOT count toward the 33 hour requirement.)

Introduction

   Political science is the study of the formal and informal institutions and processes by which people seek to regulate themselves in a civil society.  Courses of instruction in the Department of Political Science are divided into the subfields of American politics, comparative government, international relations, public law, and political theory.  The courses in each subfield are designed to fulfill various functions, which include acquiring a basic understanding of the following topics: (a) voting behavior and the roles of political parties, pressure groups, legislatures, courts and administrative agencies in the United States; (b) the development of the U.S. Constitution and the rights of the individual thereunder; (c) the principal theories by which people have sought to explain the origin, functioning, and purposes of the state; (d) the political systems of other nations, as well as the legal and political relationships among nations.  In a general sense, the courses offered by the department provide the basis for both a liberal undergraduate education and later graduate-level study in political science.

Major Requirements

  1. Required core courses:
    1. POLS 1000: American & Wyoming Government (does not count in the 33 hour requirement)
    2. POLS 2460: Introduction to Political Theory OR                                               POLS 3600: American Political Thought
    3. POLS 4xxx: Seminar (of student's choosing) in Political Science
  2. One course from each political science subfield (for a total of 12 required hours):
    1. American Politics
    2. Comparative Government
    3. International Relations
    4. Public Law
  3. Fifteen (15) hours of electives in Political Science.

Courses selected to fulfill the requirements of Categories 2 and 3 should be chosen from the attached list of subfield courses.