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Dec 26, 2024
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2018-2019 Undergraduate Studies Bulletin [Archived Catalog]
Political Science, B.A.
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Learning Outcomes
- Political Science majors will demonstrate knowledge of basic facts, themes, theories and concepts central to the study and understanding of politics.
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- Political Science majors will demonstrate critical writing skills and demonstrate proficiency in the analysis of politics and theories of politics.
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- Political Science majors will develop a coherent and comprehensive course of study in political science that has a clear intellectual focus and prepares them for careers in the field or for graduate work.
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- Political Science majors will demonstrate a clear grasp of the core themes and concepts within the major course concentrations/areas of emphasis they have selected.
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Basic Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degrees (120 Hours)
Note: Bachelor of Arts degrees require 120 hours. Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees require additional hours; see Program of Study for major requirements.
- Carolina Core Plus General Education Requirements
- Major
- Cognate or Minor Requirements (optional for BAIS majors)
- Electives
1. Carolina Core Plus General Education Requirements
Note: Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees follow General Education Requirements for the BA except where specified in Programs of Study for major requirements.
CMW: Carolina Core Effective, Engaged and Persuasive Communication: Writing (6 Hours)
- Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
ARP: Carolina Core Analytical Reasoning and Problem-Solving (6-8 Hours)
SCI: Carolina Core Scientific Literacy (8 Hours)
Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:
- Two 4-credit hour laboratory science courses.
GFL: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Communicate Effectively in More than One Language (0-9 Hours)
Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:
- Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required for all baccalaureate degrees. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.
It is strongly recommended that students continuing the study of a foreign language begin college-level study of that language in their first semester and continue in that language until their particular foreign language requirement is completed.
GHS: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (6 Hours)
Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:
- One Carolina Core GHS-approved course primarily focused on U.S. History: HIST 111, 112, 214, or another GHS-approved course determined by the College of Arts and Sciences to fit this geographic category and
- One Carolina Core GHS-approved course primarily focused on non-U.S. History: HIST 101, 102, 104, 105, 106, 108, 109, GERM 280, FAMS 300, or another GHS-approved course determined by the College of Arts and Sciences to fit this geographic category.
GSS: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (6 Hours)
Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:
AIU: Carolina Core Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 Hours)
Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements:
- Up to two of these requirements may be met in overlay courses. At least one of these requirements must be satisfied by a course not applied elsewhere in general education. (3-9 Hours)
CMS: Carolina Core Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Speech (3 Hours)
INF: Carolina Core Information Literacy (0-3 Hours)
VSR: Carolina Core Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility (3 Hours)
Other Required General Education Courses from the College of Arts and Sciences
Fine Arts and Humanities Requirements (9 Hours)
- Bachelor of Arts degrees require 3 Hours in the fine arts. (May be taken as Carolina Core Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding.)
- Bachelor of Arts degrees require an additional 9 Hours in the fine arts or humanities.
2. Political Science Major
Major Prerequisites (6 Hours)
Select 1 course from the following:
Note:
One POLI course may apply both as a Major Prerequisite and as General Education Requirement.
Major Requirements (27-36 Hours)
General Major (27 Hours)
A minimum grade of C is required in all major courses.
Core (9 Hours)
Select 1 course from 3 of the following fields:
Area of Emphasis (18 Hours)
- Select 6 courses from POLI 300 or above organized around 1-2 areas of emphasis with advisor approval
Intensive Major (36 Hours)
A minimum grade of B is required in all major courses
In addition to the requirements for the General Major, Intensive majors must complete the following:
- An additional 6 hours of major course work (approved by the major advisor)
- POLI 499 - Senior Thesis Credits: 3
- Demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language through the intermediate level
B.A. with Distinction (36 Hours)
Departmental Undergraduate Research Track available to students majoring in political science who wish to participate in significant research activities of the major field in collaboration with, or under the supervision of, a faculty mentor.
In addition to the requirements for the general major, “B.A. with Distinction” majors must complete the following:
Prerequisites
- A minimum major of 3.60
- A cumulative major of 3.30
Required Courses (9 Hours)
Additional Requirements
- Public presentation of the Senior Thesis in a venue approved by the faculty mentor, such as:
- annual meeting of the South Carolina Political Science Association (or any other annual meeting of the appropriate professional organization)
- a regular (or special) session of the Political Science Research Workshop
- sessions scheduled for the Political Science Awards Day activities
- USC Discovery Day
- submission to a professional journal
- A written sponsorship agreement from the faculty mentor to be placed on file in the department or college office
3. Cognate or Minor Requirements (12-18 Hours) for B.A. Degrees
Cognate
The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve (12) hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of but related to the major. The cognate may be taken in one or more departments or programs, depending on the interests of the student and the judgment of the advisor.
Courses offered by departments and programs that are acceptable for cognate credit are outlined in the section titled Courses Acceptable for Cognate Credit in Degree Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences .
For cognate course offerings in other colleges, consult the appropriate sections of this bulletin. Some major programs have specific cognate requirements.
It should be emphasized that the cognate is not a second set of elective courses to be chosen at random by the student. The cognate must be approved by the major advisor as being related to the major field of study. Students are urged to consult their major advisors for specific requirements in their major.
Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the cognate.
For Bachelor of Arts degrees, all cognate courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
Minor
In place of the cognate a student in the College of Arts and Sciences may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. (Some minors in the sciences require a minimum of 16 hours.) The subject area of the minor may be related to the major. Students pursuing interdisciplinary minors who wish to use courses in their major department for minor credit must petition the College Committee on Scholastic Standards and Petitions for permission to do so.
The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. It differs from the cognate inasmuch as the courses must be concentrated in one area and must follow a structured sequence. Interdisciplinary minors can be designed with the approval of the assistant dean for academic affairs and advising.
Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University.
A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z .
4. Electives for B.A. Degrees and B.F.A.
No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the College of Arts and Sciences.
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