BA in Political Science
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the BA in Political Science. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill KU Core Goals, please visit the KU Core website.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 101 (Goal 2.1 Written Communication, BA Writing I)1 | 3 | ENGL 102 (Goal 2.1 Written Communication/BA Writing II)1 | 3 |
| Goal 1.2 Quantitative Literacy | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| 1st Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 5 | 2nd Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 5 |
| Goal 1.1 First Year Seminar or Critical Thinking | 3 | Goal 2.2 Communication | 3 |
| POLS 110 (Goal 3 Social Science, Major Requirement) | 3 | POLS 102 | 1 |
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| 3rd Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 3 | 4th Semester Language, or 1st Semester of Another Language, unless req for mjr (BA Second Language)6 | 3 |
| Goal 3 Arts and Humanities | 3 | Goal 3 Natural Science | 3 |
| Goal 4.1 US Diversity | 3 | BA Laboratory/Field Experience (LFE) | 1 |
| POLS 150 or 170 (Goal 4.2 Global Awareness, Major Requirement) | 3 | POLS 301 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| POLS Elective from Unique Sub-Field 300+ (Major Requirement)2 | 3 | Goal 5 Social Responsibility & Ethics | 3 |
| POLS Elective 100+ (Major Requirement) | 3 | POLS 306 (BA Quantitative Reasoning (BAQR), Major Requirement) | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | POLS Elective from Unique Sub-Field 300+ (Major Requirement)2 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| POLS Elective 300+ (Major Requirement)3 | 3 | POLS Elective 300+ (Major Requirement)3 | 3 |
| POLS Elective 300+ (Major Requirement)3 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| Goal 6 Integration & Creativity3,4 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
- 1
The BA requires completion of two courses of collegiate-level writing instruction. Students who test out of Composition will still need to complete ENGL 102 (or equivalent) and one additional Goal 2.1 course.
- 2
For a list sub-fields and courses used to fulfill the sub-field requirements, and POLS 400+ elective requirements, review the degree requirements tab in the catalog, or see your advisor.
- 3
A student may count no more than 6 hours toward the major from the following courses combined: POLS 493, POLS 494, POLS 495, POLS 496, POLS 497, or POLS 498.
- 4
POLS 493, POLS 494, POLS 495, POLS 496, POLS 497, and POLS 498 are recommended capstone courses for majors.
- 5
Hour requirements (incl. 45 jr/sr hrs) are typically met through KU core, degree, major, second area of study and/or elective hours. Students completing the BGS with a major must choose a secondary area of study. Individual degree mapping is done in partnership with your advisor.
- 6
For students completing the language requirement via the 3+1 language option, note that many first semester languages are 5 credit hours.
Please note:
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
The same course cannot be used to fulfill more than one KU Core Goal. However, overlap of a KU Core course with a major or degree-specific requirement is allowed. Overlapping is recommended to allow more opportunities to explore other majors and/or minors.