Political Science, BA

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (370000BA) 

More on the Political Science major

Successful graduates of this program go on to graduate or law school, manage campaigns, run for office, work in state and local government or for various federal government agencies, including the U.S. Marshall’s Office, U.S. State Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Environmental Protection Agency, and Amnesty International.

Statement of Policies – Admission

For students enrolled at The University of Akron and for students wishing to transfer directly to Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences from other institutions, the following criteria must be satisfied for admission to the Department of Political Science:

  • The student must be admissible to Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
  • A minimum grade point average of 2.20 must be met in all university work, including transfer credits
  • A minimum grade point average of 2.20 must be met in all work in Political Science, including university and transfer credits. Only credits earned at an accredited institution of post-secondary education, as recognized by The University of Akron, will be considered for transfer credit, and only those grades will be considered in the grade point average. 

Retention

Students in the Political Science programs must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.20 overall and a minimum of 2.20 grade point average in Political Science courses (including transfer credit) in order to remain in the program. A student who fails to maintain the 2.20 cumulative average (including transfer credit) will be placed on academic probation. Failure to raise the average after one semester will result in dismissal from the program. The student may not apply for readmission for at least one semester.

The following information has official approval of The Department of Political Science and The Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (DPR) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.

Three year accelerated option: for first time students who have earned credits for at least the first year of courses. Credits can be earned through qualifying scores on appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) exams or through College Credit Plus Program (CCP) courses. Credits for qualifying AP scores or CCP courses are determined by the appropriate academic department. Departments may assign varied course credit, depending on the student’s score on an AP exam or grade in a CCP course. Students may also receive credit by examination or via placement tests, where appropriate.

Requirements

Summary

General Education Requirements36
College of Arts & Sciences Requirements14
Political Science Core 15
Political Science 300/400 Level Courses20
Additional Credits for Graduation *35
Total Hours120
*

Bachelor's degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation.

Note: A 2.2 cumulative GPA is required for graduation. 

Recommended General Education Courses

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major.
Students are not required to enroll in the specific courses listed below. However, to facilitate successful degree completion, the academic department strongly encourages completion of the following recommendations.
Academic Foundations12
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours
Speaking: 3 credit hours
Writing: 6 credit hours
Breadth of Knowledge 22
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours
POLIT:100
Government & Politics in the United States
POLIT:150
World Politics & Government
Diversity
Domestic Diversity
Global Diversity
POLIT:300
Comparative Politics
Integrated and Applied Learning2
Select one class from one of the following subcategories:
Complex Issues Facing Society
Capstone
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings.
Total Hours36

College of Arts & Sciences Requirements

Degree requirements in Arts & Sciences include the demonstration of ability to use another language by completion of the second year of a foreign language.
2 Year Language Proficiency14
101 Beginning I
102 Beginning II
201 Intermediate I
202 Intermediate II
SLPA:222
Survey of Deaf Culture in America (American Sign Language option only)
Students must also complete a minimum of 40 credits (excluding workshops) consisting of either:
Upper-level (300/400) courses both in and outside of the student’s major;
or other courses outside the major department approved by the student’s major department chair (permission should be obtained prior to enrollment); these may not include workshops

Political Science Core

Political Science Core
POLIT:100Government & Politics in the United States3
POLIT:150World Politics & Government3
POLIT:301Introduction to Political Research3
POLIT:300Comparative Politics3
POLIT:203Introduction to Political Thought3
Total Hours15

Political Science 300/400 Level Courses 

Complete 18 credits:18
POLIT:3xx
POLIT:4xx 1
POLIT:392
Selected Topics in Political Science 2
POLIT:395
Internship in Government & Politics 3
Total Hours18