Political Science B.A.

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Political Science is the study of how societies govern themselves and interact with one another. The Political Science major offers the subfields: American politics, comparative government, international relations, political philosophy, public law, and public administration.

University Studies Program

This degree requires that The University Studies Program 2015 requirements are met before graduation. Some of the courses required for this major fulfill USP requirements, but not all. Students should check their degree evaluations and consult with their assigned academic advisor to discuss their specific course plan.

C 1 - Communication 1 Credits: 3
C 2 - Communication 2 Credits: 3
C 3 - Communication 3 Credits: 3
Q - - Quantitative Reasoning Credits: 3
PN - - Physical and Natural World (1) Credits: 3
PN - - Physical and Natural World (2) Credits: 3
H - - Human Culture (1) Credits: 3
H - - Human Culture (2) Credits: 3
V - - U.S. & WY Constitution Credits: 3
FYS or USP Elective - - Any 3-credit hour of FYS or 3-credit hours of USP electives Credits: 3

Degree Requirements:

A major in political science requires 33 department hours, 9 of which are upper-division credits.

A maximum of 6 hours of internship credit may be applied toward the 33 hours required for the political science major. Only those political science courses in which a grade of C or better has been earned may be used to satisfy departmental requirements.

Most university studies courses and lower division political science courses should be completed prior to the junior year. Additional information about the political science major may be obtained from the School of Politics, Public Affairs, and International Studies: www.uwyo.edu/sppais.

Students are also required to take

at least one seminar in political science (and its prerequisites)
8 hours of a single foreign language or equivalent credit by examination as determined by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages
STAT2070 - Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences Credits: 4
OR
STAT2050 - Fundamentals of Statistics Credits: 4
minimum of 9 hours of upper division credit in political science.

Core Courses

Political Science majors must take 12 credits from the following list of course offerings.

POLS 1000 - American and Wyoming Government Credits: 3
POLS 1200 - Non-Western Political Cultures Credits: 3
Or
POLS 1250 - Introduction to Comparative Government Credits: 3
POLS 2310 - Introduction to International Relations Credits: 3
POLS 2460 - Introduction to Political Philosophy Credits: 3
Or
POLS 3600 - American Political Thought Credits: 3

Electives

Students are required to take 18 hours of elective credits, 9 of which must be upper-division credits.

Electives may be selected from any field within Political Science to reflect the student’s particular interests.

POLS 1200 - Non-Western Political Cultures Credits: 3
POLS 1250 - Introduction to Comparative Government Credits: 3
POLS 2000 - Current Issues in American Government Credits: 3
POLS 2070 - Politics of State and Local Government Credits: 3
POLS 2200 - Politics of Europe Credits: 3
POLS 2290 - Governments and Politics of Latin America Credits: 3
POLS 2310 - Introduction to International Relations Credits: 3
POLS 2330 - Environmental Ethics Credits: 3
POLS 2410 - Introduction to Public Administration Credits: 3
POLS 2430 - Parties, Interest Groups and Elections Credits: 3
POLS 2450 - Politics and Media Credits: 3
POLS 2460 - Introduction to Political Philosophy Credits: 3
POLS 2490 - Topics In: Credits: 1-3 (max 6)
POLS 3050 - Athenian Democracy Credits: 3
POLS 3100 - Politics and the Judicial Process Credits: 3
POLS 3200 - Comparative Political Cultures Credits: 3
POLS 3220 - Government and Politics of Russia and FSU Credits: 3
POLS 3270 - Governments and Politics of the Middle East Credits: 3
POLS 3300 - Model United Nations Credits: 1-3 (max 6)
POLS 3520 - Voting and Participation in America Credits: 3
POLS 3550 - Political Communication Credits: 3
POLS 3600 - American Political Thought Credits: 3
POLS 3610 - Classics in Environmental Thought Credits: 3
POLS 3620 - Environmental Justice Credits: 3
POLS 3680 - Introduction to Empirical Political Analysis Credits: 3
POLS 4013 - Political Geography Credits: 3
POLS 4051 - Environmental Politics Credits: 3
POLS 4052 - Federal Land Politics Credits: 3
POLS 4090 - Anglo-American Jurisprudence Credits: 3
POLS 4100 - Constitutional Law: Institutional Powers Credits: 3
POLS 4110 - Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties and Rights Credits: 3
POLS 4160 - Legal Philosophy Credits: 3
POLS 4215 - European Union Credits: 3
POLS 4230 - Governments and Politics of Asia Credits: 3
POLS 4255 - Politics of Developing Nations Credits: 3
POLS 4260 - Democratization and Regime Change Credits: 3
POLS 4290 - Inter-American Relations Credits: 3
POLS 4330 - American Foreign Relations Credits: 3
POLS 4340 - International Organizations Credits: 3
POLS 4350 - Sustainable Development and Global Policy Credits: 3
POLS 4360 - International Peace and Conflict Credits: 3
POLS 4375 - Transitional Justice Credits: 3
POLS 4385 - Environment and Resource Conflict Credits: 3
POLS 4420 - Seminar in Public Administration Credits: 3 (max 6)
POLS 4430 - United States Presidency Credits: 3
POLS 4435 - Presidential Elections Credits: 3
POLS 4445 - Drug War Geopolitics in the Americas Credits: 3
POLS 4455 - Energy Security Credits: 3
POLS 4475 - Politics of Natural Resources in Latin America Credits: 3
POLS 4520 - Public Opinion Credits: 3
POLS 4530 - U.S. Congress Credits: 3
POLS 4550 - Internship in Government Credits: 1‑6 *
POLS 4560 - Washington Semester Program Credits: 15 *
POLS 4600 - Political Violence Credits: 3
POLS 4640 - Political Philosophy: Ancient and Medieval Credits: 3
POLS 4650 - Political Philosophy: Modern Credits: 3
POLS 4660 - Political Philosophy: Contemporary Credits: 3
POLS 4685 - Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis Credits: 3
POLS 4700 - Readings in Political Science Credits: 1‑3 (max 6)
POLS 4705 - Terrorism Credits: 3
POLS 4710 - Topics in Credits: 1‑3 (max 9)
POLS 4720 - Workshop in Practical Politics Credits: 1‑3 (max 6)
POLS 4810 - Seminar in Political Philosophy Credits: 3 (max 6)
POLS 4840 - Seminar in Public Law Credits: 3 (max 6)
POLS 4850 - Seminar in American Politics and Institutions Credits: 3 (max 6)
POLS 4870 - Seminar in International Relations Credits: 3 (max 6)
POLS 4890 - Seminar in Comparative Government and Politics Credits: 3 (max 6)
*Maximum of 6 hours of internship credit can be applied to the 33 hours required for the major.