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Department of Political Science

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Students on Summer 2021, Fall 2021, or Spring 2022 requirements POLSBA

The Bachelor of Arts in Political Science introduces students to fundamental issues in the political process, conditions that create the need for governments, structure and procedures of governments, control of governments and enforcement of responsibility, and relationships among governments. The Political Science major provides students with the skills and knowledge to understand the theory and practice of government and politics, both in the U.S. and internationally. Through coursework, students learn about political institutions and processes, and develop the capacity to think critically about political controversies, public policies, and societal outcomes.

Majors have opportunities to learn firsthand about politics through internships, study abroad, in-depth research on honors projects or through faculty research grants. IUB students who earn degrees in political science pursue careers in government service, NGOs and non-profit agencies, law, business, journalism, politics, public policy analysis, and education. The department prepares students to assume the duties of citizenship; provides special knowledge and skills useful in public service, law, business, and other careers; and lays a foundation for the scholarly study of government and politics.

Requirements

The major requires at least 30 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Analyzing Politics. One (1) course:
    • POLS-Y 205 Analyzing Politics
  2. American Politics and Public Policy. One (1) additional course:
    • POLS-P 301 Health Policy and Politics in the United States
    • POLS-Y 301 Political Parties and Interest Groups
    • POLS-Y 302 Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society
    • POLS-Y 303 Formation of Public Policy in the United States
    • POLS-Y 304 Constitutional Law
    • POLS-Y 305 Constitutional Rights and Liberties
    • POLS-Y 306 State Politics in the United States
    • POLS-Y 307 Indiana State Government and Politics
    • POLS-Y 308 Urban Politics
    • POLS-Y 311 Democracy and National Security
    • POLS-Y 313 Environmental Policy
    • POLS-Y 315 Political Psychology and Socialization
    • POLS-Y 316 Public Opinion and Political Participation
    • POLS-Y 317 Voting, Elections, and Public Opinion
    • POLS-Y 318 The American Presidency
    • POLS-Y 319 The United States Congress
    • POLS-Y 320 Judicial Politics
    • POLS-Y 321 The Media and Politics
    • POLS-Y 324 Gender and Politics
    • POLS-Y 325 African American Politics
    • POLS-Y 326 American Social Welfare Policy
    • POLS-Y 329 Racial and Ethnic Politics in the United States
    • POLS-Y 394 Public Policy Analysis
    • POLS-Y 395 Quantitative Political Analysis
  3. Comparative Politics and International Relations. One (1) additional course:
    • POLS-P 302 The Politics of Economic Crisis and Reform
    • POLS-P 303 Challenges of Democracy
    • POLS-Y 332 Russian Politics
    • POLS-Y 333 Chinese Politics
    • POLS-Y 334 Japanese Politics
    • POLS-Y 335 Western European Politics
    • POLS-Y 336 South East Asian Political Systems
    • POLS-Y 337 Latin American Politics
    • POLS-Y 338 African Politics
    • POLS-Y 339 Middle Eastern Politics
    • POLS-Y 340 East European Politics
    • POLS-Y 341 Authoritarian Regimes
    • POLS-Y 342 Human Rights and State Repression
    • POLS-Y 343 The Politics of International Development
    • POLS-Y 344 Civil Wars
    • POLS-Y 345 Comparative Revolutions
    • POLS-Y 346 Politics in the Developing World
    • POLS-Y 347 German Politics
    • POLS-Y 348 The Politics of Genocide
    • POLS-Y 349 Policy Making Around the Globe
    • POLS-Y 350 Politics of the European Union
    • POLS-Y 351 Political Simulations
    • POLS-Y 352 The Holocaust and Politics
    • POLS-Y 353 The Politics of Gender and Sexuality
    • POLS-Y 356 South Asian Politics
    • POLS-Y 360 United States Foreign Policy
    • POLS-Y 361 Contemporary Theories of International Politics
    • POLS-Y 362 International Politics of Selected Regions
    • POLS-Y 363 Comparative Foreign Policy
    • POLS-Y 364 International Organization: Political and Security Aspects
    • POLS-Y 366 Current Foreign Policy Problems
    • POLS-Y 367 International Law
    • POLS-Y 368 Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy
    • POLS-Y 372 The Analysis of International Politics
    • POLS-Y 374 International Organization
    • POLS-Y 375 War and International Conflict
    • POLS-Y 376 International Political Economy
    • POLS-Y 395 Quantitative Political Analysis
    • POLS-Y 399 Politics of the United Nations
    • POLS-Y 405 Models and Theories of Political Decision Making
    • POLS-Y 407 Problems in Comparative Politics
  4. Political Theory. One (1) additional course:
    • POLS-Y 379 Ethics and Public Policy
    • POLS-Y 381 Classical Political Thought
    • POLS-Y 382 Modern Political Thought
    • POLS-Y 383 Foundations of American Political Thought
    • POLS-Y 384 Developments in American Political Thought
    • POLS-Y 386 African American Political Thought
    • POLS-Y 388 Marxist Theory
    • POLS-Y 406 Problems in Political Philosophy
  5. Senior Seminar. One (1) course:
    • POLS-Y 490 Senior Seminar in Political Science
    • POLS-Y 499 Honors Thesis
  6. Electives.
    1. Focus Area Electives. Six (6) credit hours:
      • Additional courses from the American Politics and Public Policy list
      • Additional courses from the Comparative Politics and International Relations list
      • Additional courses from the Political Theory list
    2. 200–499 Electives. Three (3) additional credit hours:
      • POLS-P 301 Health Policy and Politics in the United States
      • POLS-P 302 The Politics of Economic Crisis and Reform
      • POLS-P 303 Challenges of Democracy
      • POLS-X 276 Political Science Practicum I
      • POLS-X 299 Careers for Political Science Students
      • POLS-X 376 Political Science Practicum II
      • POLS-X 471 Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship
      • POLS-X 476 Political Science Practicum III
      • POLS-X 477 Field Experience in Political Science
      • POLS-X 490 Undergraduate Readings in Political Science
      • POLS-Y 200 Contemporary Political Topics
      • POLS-Y 202 Politics and Citizenship in the Information Age
      • POLS-Y 204 Institutional Analysis and Governance
      • POLS-Y 207 The Politics of Business
      • POLS-Y 208 Leadership, Civil Society, and Public Policy
      • POLS-Y 209 Protests in a Global World
      • POLS-Y 210 Honors Seminar
      • POLS-Y 211 Introduction to Law
      • POLS-Y 212 Making Democracy Work
      • POLS-Y 239 US Foreign Policy and the Muslim World
      • POLS-Y 243 Governance and Corruption across the World
      • POLS-Y 249 Religion, Politics, and Public Policy
      • POLS-Y 281 Modern Political Ideologies
      • POLS-Y 300 Topics in Current Politics and Governance
      • POLS-Y 301 Political Parties and Interest Groups
      • POLS-Y 302 Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society
      • POLS-Y 303 Formation of Public Policy in the United States
      • POLS-Y 304 Constitutional Law
      • POLS-Y 305 Constitutional Rights and Liberties
      • POLS-Y 306 State Politics in the United States
      • POLS-Y 307 Indiana State Government and Politics
      • POLS-Y 308 Urban Politics
      • POLS-Y 311 Democracy and National Security
      • POLS-Y 313 Environmental Policy
      • POLS-Y 315 Political Psychology and Socialization
      • POLS-Y 316 Public Opinion and Political Participation
      • POLS-Y 317 Voting, Elections, and Public Opinion
      • POLS-Y 318 The American Presidency
      • POLS-Y 319 The United States Congress
      • POLS-Y 320 Judicial Politics
      • POLS-Y 321 The Media and Politics
      • POLS-Y 324 Gender and Politics
      • POLS-Y 325 African American Politics
      • POLS-Y 326 American Social Welfare Policy
      • POLS-Y 329 Racial and Ethnic Politics in the United States
      • POLS-Y 332 Russian Politics
      • POLS-Y 333 Chinese Politics
      • POLS-Y 334 Japanese Politics
      • POLS-Y 335 Western European Politics
      • POLS-Y 336 South East Asian Political Systems
      • POLS-Y 337 Latin American Politics
      • POLS-Y 338 African Politics
      • POLS-Y 339 Middle Eastern Politics
      • POLS-Y 340 East European Politics
      • POLS-Y 341 Authoritarian Regimes
      • POLS-Y 342 Human Rights and State Repression
      • POLS-Y 343 The Politics of International Development
      • POLS-Y 344 Civil Wars
      • POLS-Y 345 Comparative Revolutions
      • POLS-Y 346 Politics in the Developing World
      • POLS-Y 347 German Politics
      • POLS-Y 348 The Politics of Genocide
      • POLS-Y 349 Policy Making Around the Globe
      • POLS-Y 350 Politics of the European Union
      • POLS-Y 351 Political Simulations
      • POLS-Y 352 The Holocaust and Politics
      • POLS-Y 353 The Politics of Gender and Sexuality
      • POLS-Y 356 South Asian Politics
      • POLS-Y 360 United States Foreign Policy
      • POLS-Y 361 Contemporary Theories of International Politics
      • POLS-Y 362 International Politics of Selected Regions
      • POLS-Y 363 Comparative Foreign Policy
      • POLS-Y 364 International Organization: Political and Security Aspects
      • POLS-Y 366 Current Foreign Policy Problems
      • POLS-Y 367 International Law
      • POLS-Y 368 Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy
      • POLS-Y 372 The Analysis of International Politics
      • POLS-Y 374 International Organization
      • POLS-Y 375 War and International Conflict
      • POLS-Y 376 International Political Economy
      • POLS-Y 379 Ethics and Public Policy
      • POLS-Y 381 Classical Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 382 Modern Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 383 Foundations of American Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 384 Developments in American Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 386 African American Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 388 Marxist Theory
      • POLS-Y 394 Public Policy Analysis
      • POLS-Y 395 Quantitative Political Analysis
      • POLS-Y 399 Politics of the United Nations
      • POLS-Y 401 Topics in Political Science
      • POLS-Y 405 Models and Theories of Political Decision Making
      • POLS-Y 406 Problems in Political Philosophy
      • POLS-Y 407 Problems in Comparative Politics
      • POLS-Y 490 Senior Seminar in Political Science
      • POLS-Y 496 Foreign Study in Political Science
      • POLS-Y 499 Honors Thesis
    3. Free Elective. Six (6) additional credit hours:
      • POLS-P 301 Health Policy and Politics in the United States
      • POLS-P 302 The Politics of Economic Crisis and Reform
      • POLS-P 303 Challenges of Democracy
      • POLS-X 276 Political Science Practicum I
      • POLS-X 299 Careers for Political Science Students
      • POLS-X 376 Political Science Practicum II
      • POLS-X 471 Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship
      • POLS-X 476 Political Science Practicum III
      • POLS-X 477 Field Experience in Political Science
      • POLS-X 490 Undergraduate Readings in Political Science
      • POLS-Y 100 American Political Controversies
      • POLS-Y 101 Introduction to Political Science
      • POLS-Y 102 International Political Controversies
      • POLS-Y 103 Introduction to American Politics
      • POLS-Y 104 The Politics of Saving the World
      • POLS-Y 105 Introduction to Political Theory
      • POLS-Y 107 Introduction to Comparative Politics
      • POLS-Y 109 Introduction to International Relations
      • POLS-Y 110 Mathematics and Politics
      • POLS-Y 121 Capitalism and Democracy
      • POLS-Y 200 Contemporary Political Topics
      • POLS-Y 202 Politics and Citizenship in the Information Age
      • POLS-Y 204 Institutional Analysis and Governance
      • POLS-Y 207 The Politics of Business
      • POLS-Y 208 Leadership, Civil Society, and Public Policy
      • POLS-Y 209 Protests in a Global World
      • POLS-Y 210 Honors Seminar
      • POLS-Y 211 Introduction to Law
      • POLS-Y 212 Making Democracy Work
      • POLS-Y 239 US Foreign Policy and the Muslim World
      • POLS-Y 243 Governance and Corruption across the World
      • POLS-Y 249 Religion, Politics, and Public Policy
      • POLS-Y 281 Modern Political Ideologies
      • POLS-Y 300 Topics in Current Politics and Governance
      • POLS-Y 301 Political Parties and Interest Groups
      • POLS-Y 302 Public Bureaucracy in Modern Society
      • POLS-Y 303 Formation of Public Policy in the United States
      • POLS-Y 304 Constitutional Law
      • POLS-Y 305 Constitutional Rights and Liberties
      • POLS-Y 306 State Politics in the United States
      • POLS-Y 307 Indiana State Government and Politics
      • POLS-Y 308 Urban Politics
      • POLS-Y 311 Democracy and National Security
      • POLS-Y 313 Environmental Policy
      • POLS-Y 315 Political Psychology and Socialization
      • POLS-Y 316 Public Opinion and Political Participation
      • POLS-Y 317 Voting, Elections, and Public Opinion
      • POLS-Y 318 The American Presidency
      • POLS-Y 319 The United States Congress
      • POLS-Y 320 Judicial Politics
      • POLS-Y 321 The Media and Politics
      • POLS-Y 324 Gender and Politics
      • POLS-Y 325 African American Politics
      • POLS-Y 326 American Social Welfare Policy
      • POLS-Y 329 Racial and Ethnic Politics in the United States
      • POLS-Y 332 Russian Politics
      • POLS-Y 333 Chinese Politics
      • POLS-Y 334 Japanese Politics
      • POLS-Y 335 Western European Politics
      • POLS-Y 336 South East Asian Political Systems
      • POLS-Y 337 Latin American Politics
      • POLS-Y 338 African Politics
      • POLS-Y 339 Middle Eastern Politics
      • POLS-Y 340 East European Politics
      • POLS-Y 341 Authoritarian Regimes
      • POLS-Y 342 Human Rights and State Repression
      • POLS-Y 343 The Politics of International Development
      • POLS-Y 344 Civil Wars
      • POLS-Y 345 Comparative Revolutions
      • POLS-Y 346 Politics in the Developing World
      • POLS-Y 347 German Politics
      • POLS-Y 348 The Politics of Genocide
      • POLS-Y 349 Policy Making Around the Globe
      • POLS-Y 350 Politics of the European Union
      • POLS-Y 351 Political Simulations
      • POLS-Y 352 The Holocaust and Politics
      • POLS-Y 353 The Politics of Gender and Sexuality
      • POLS-Y 356 South Asian Politics
      • POLS-Y 360 United States Foreign Policy
      • POLS-Y 361 Contemporary Theories of International Politics
      • POLS-Y 362 International Politics of Selected Regions
      • POLS-Y 363 Comparative Foreign Policy
      • POLS-Y 364 International Organization: Political and Security Aspects
      • POLS-Y 366 Current Foreign Policy Problems
      • POLS-Y 367 International Law
      • POLS-Y 368 Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy
      • POLS-Y 372 The Analysis of International Politics
      • POLS-Y 374 International Organization
      • POLS-Y 375 War and International Conflict
      • POLS-Y 376 International Political Economy
      • POLS-Y 379 Ethics and Public Policy
      • POLS-Y 381 Classical Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 382 Modern Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 383 Foundations of American Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 384 Developments in American Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 386 African American Political Thought
      • POLS-Y 388 Marxist Theory
      • POLS-Y 394 Public Policy Analysis
      • POLS-Y 395 Quantitative Political Analysis
      • POLS-Y 399 Politics of the United Nations
      • POLS-Y 401 Topics in Political Science
      • POLS-Y 405 Models and Theories of Political Decision Making
      • POLS-Y 406 Problems in Political Philosophy
      • POLS-Y 407 Problems in Comparative Politics
      • POLS-Y 490 Senior Seminar in Political Science
      • POLS-Y 496 Foreign Study in Political Science
      • POLS-Y 499 Honors Thesis
  7. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Major Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    3. Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    5. College Breadth. At least 58 credit hours must be completed in courses from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines outside of the major area.

Major Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course at the 100–499 level with the POLS subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
Restrictions

The following restrictions apply to the minimum credit hours required in the major:

  • No more than three credit hours may count toward the major:
    • POLS-Y 351 Political Simulations

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science (ECONPOLSBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Political Science (PHILPOLSBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics (POLSECONBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy (POLSPHILBA)
  • Interdepartmental Minor in Economics and Political Science (ECONPOLMIN)
  • Interdepartmental Minor in Political Science and Economics (POLSECNMIN)
  • Minor in Political Science (POLSMIN)

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.