Bachelor of Arts Political Science (BA)
Joshua Zingher, Chief Departmental Advisor
Requirements
Lower-Division General Education
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Written Communication | 6 | |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Language and Culture | 0-6 | |
| Information Literacy and Research | 3 | |
| Human Behavior | 3 | |
| Human Creativity | 3 | |
| Interpreting the Past | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Philosophy and Ethics | 3 | |
| The Nature of Science | 8 | |
| Impact of Technology | 3 | |
Written Communication: Grade of C or better required in both courses and in ENGL 110C before declaring major.
Mathematics: BS requires C- or better in STAT 130M. STAT 130M is also recommended for the BA degree though MATH 102M, MATH 103M or MATH 162M are also acceptable.
Language and Culture: BS students' competence must be at the 102 level. BA students must have competence through the 202 level. Competence is not met by the associate degree for BA students.
Information Literacy and Research requirement satisfied in the major with POLS 308.
Human Behavior: ECON 201S is required and is not met by the associate degree.
Upper-Division General Education
- Option A. Approved Minor, 12-24 hours; also second degree or second major.
- Option B. Interdisciplinary Minor, 12 hours specified by the department, 3 of which may be in the major area of study.
- Option C. An approved certification program such as teaching licensure.
- Option D. Two Upper-Division Courses from outside the College of Arts and Letters or from the Arts and Humanities Component within the College of Arts and Letters that are not required by the major (6 hours).
Requirements for Graduation
Requirements for graduation include the following:
- Minimum of 120 credit hours.
- Minimum of 30 credit hours overall and 12 credit hours of upper-level courses in the major program from Old Dominion University.
- Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken.
- Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken toward the major.
- Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken toward a minor.
- Completion of ENGL 110C, ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C, and the writing intensive (W) course in the major with a grade of C or better. The W course must be taken at Old Dominion University.
- Completion of Senior Assessment.
Political Science Core
Foundation Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 100S | Introduction to International Politics | 3 |
| POLS 101S | Introduction to American Politics | 3 |
| POLS 102S | Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 308 | Research Design (C- or better) * | 3 |
| ECON 202S | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| or GEOG 100S | Human Geography | |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 | |
- *
Meets information literacy and research requirement.
Political Science 300-400 level electives
The BA program requires that at least nine hours are at the 400 level and a minimum of nine hours in each of two areas of study: American politics/public law and international relations/comparative politics. No more than three hours can be taken from POLS 367 and POLS 368 and no more than three hours can be taken from POLS 497. One elective must be writing intensive. All majors must complete and submit to the department a capstone paper in the junior or senior year.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| POLS: 300-400 level electives | 12 | |
| POLS: 300-400 level writing intensive (W) course * | 3 | |
| POLS: 400-level electives | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 24 | |
- *
C or better required.
See course listings in this Catalog for elective choices.
Major
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Complete lower-division requirements | 38-44 | |
| Complete upper-division requirements (minimum of 6 credit hours) | 6 | |
| Complete foreign language coursework through the 202 level | 0-6 | |
| Political Science Core | ||
| Complete political science core | 15 | |
| Political Science 300-400 Level Electives | ||
| Complete political science 300-400 level electives | 24 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 83-95 | |
Electives
Elective courses may be taken for the remainder of the minimum 120 credits required for the degree.
Honors Program in Political Science
The requirements are as follows:
- Attain an overall grade point average of 3.25.
- Attain a grade point average in the major of 3.50.
- Earn honors in nine hours of courses in the major at the 300/400 level, excluding internship and independent study courses, with no more than six hours taken from the same instructor.
Double Majoring in Philosophy and Political Science
The departments of Political Science and Geography and Philosophy and Religious Studies have established an arrangement that makes it possible to complete a double major in as few as 60 hours, only 9 credits more than the 51 required to major in Political Science and minor in Philosophy.
Political Science majors double majoring in Philosophy will be allowed to count any two of the following Philosophy courses as Political Science electives:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 365 | Race & Power | 3 |
| PHIL 410 | Social and Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 411 | Post-Modernism and Post-Structuralism | 3 |
| PHIL 412 | Philosophy of Law | 3 |
| PHIL 430 | Marx and Hegel | 3 |
These courses will not count toward the requirement to take a specific number of hours in the American politics/public law and international relations/comparative politics areas. Philosophy "topics" courses and PHIL 442E may also be counted as Political Science electives when the topic covered is appropriate; prior approval is required from the chief departmental advisor of Political Science and Geography.
Philosophy majors double majoring in political science may count any two of the following Political Science courses toward their philosophy major:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 309 | Race, Culture and Public Policy | 3 |
| POLS 310 | Political Theory | 3 |
| POLS 312 | American Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 403 | First Amendment Freedoms | 3 |
| POLS 408 | American Constitutional Law: Individual Rights | 3 |
| POLS 409 | American Constitutional Law: Powers of Government | 3 |
| POLS 419 | Jurisprudence: History of Legal Theory | 3 |
These courses will count as Political-Legal electives; students will still be required to take 6 hours of Political-Legal core courses. Students doing the linked BA/MA in Philosophy and Humanities can count only one 500-level Political Science course as a "bridge" course. Certain Political Science "topics" courses may be counted as Philosophy electives with prior approval from the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department.
Students interested in double majoring in philosophy and a subject other than political science should consult the chief departmental advisor for Philosophy and Religious Studies; there may be some opportunity for double counting at least one class.
Degree Program Guide
The Degree Program Guide is a suggested curriculum to complete this degree program in four years. It is just one of several plans that will work and is presented only as broad guidance to students. Each student is strongly encouraged to develop a customized plan in consultation with their academic advisor. Additional information can also be found in Degree Works.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 110C | English Composition (Grade of C or better required) | 3 |
| Mathematical Skills (STAT 130M recommended; MATH 102M/MATH 103M or higher acceptable) | 3 | |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Elective or Language and Culture I (May be waived; See requirement details) | 3 | |
| POLS 101S | Introduction to American Politics | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Human Behavior: | ||
| ECON 201S | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| Interpreting the Past | 3 | |
| Human Creativity | 3 | |
| Elective or Language and Culture II (May be waived; See requirement details) | 3 | |
| POLS 100S | Introduction to International Politics | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C |
Writing, Rhetoric, and Research (Grade of C or better required) or Writing, Rhetoric, and Research: Special Topics |
3 |
| Nature of Science I | 4 | |
| Language and Culture III | 3 | |
| Philosophy and Ethics | 3 | |
| ECON 202S or GEOG 100S |
Principles of Microeconomics or Human Geography |
3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Impact of Technology | 3 | |
| Nature of Science II | 4 | |
| Language and Culture IV | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| POLS 102S | Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| POLS 308 | Research Design (Grade of C- or better required - Meets Information Literacy and Research) | 3 |
| POLS-300/400-level course | 3 | |
| POLS-300/400-level course | 3 | |
| POLS-300/400-level course | 3 | |
| Upper-Division General Education Course or Minor | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS-300/400-level course | 3 | |
| POLS-400-level course | 3 | |
| POLS-300/400-level "W" course (Grade of C or better required) | 3 | |
| Elective course | 3 | |
| Upper-Division General Education Course or Minor | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| POLS-400-level course | 3 | |
| Elective course | 3 | |
| Elective course | 3 | |
| Elective course | 3 | |
| Minor or Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS-400-level course | 3 | |
| Elective course | 3 | |
| Elective course | 3 | |
| Elective course | 1 | |
| Minor or Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
BA or BS to MBA (Master of Business Administration) Linked Program
The linked BA/MBA or BS/MBA program is an early entry to the MBA program of study. The early-entry program is designed for well qualified non-business undergraduate ODU students to start their MBA program prior to completing their undergraduate degree. Well qualified non-business undergraduate students may take MBA-level courses as early as three semesters prior to graduation and count up to 12 graduate credits toward their undergraduate degree. Students participating in the early-entry program must earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 discrete credit hours for the undergraduate degree and 30 discrete credit hours for the graduate degree). Early-entry program students should carefully consider their undergraduate degree program requirements when planning their course of study. Students in the early-entry program work in close consultation with the MBA Program Office and should refer to information in the Strome College of Business section in the graduate catalog to develop an individualized plan of study based on the required coursework.
BA or BS to MPA (Master of Public Administration) Linked Program
The linked BA/MPA or BS/MPA program provides qualified Old Dominion University undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn a master's degree in public administration while taking credits in the MPA program as an undergraduate student. The program is designed for highly motivated students with the desire to immediately continue their education after the bachelor's degree. The program is especially relevant to individuals seeking to work (or currently working) in the public or non-profit sectors, but is suitable for students from any undergraduate major. Graduate courses may be taken during the fall and spring semester of the student's senior undergraduate year. Up to 12 graduate credits can count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree and can meet upper-level General Education requirements. After receiving the undergraduate degree, a student will continue with the MPA program, taking MPA courses until completing the required 39 credit hours. Students in the linked program must earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 discrete credit hours for the undergraduate degree and 30 discrete credit hours for the graduate degree).
Requirements for admission to the graduate program can be found in the School of Public Service section of the Graduate Catalog. For additional information, please contact the School of Public Service in the Strome College of Business.