Students must fulfill the Oakland University General Education Requirements, the General College of Arts and Sciences Requirements , the College of Arts & Sciences Exploratory Requirement, and the Major Requirements. Additionally, students must complete a sufficient number of free elective courses to meet the overall credit requirement for their degree. A minimum of 120 credits is required, although some degree programs may require a higher total credit count.

General Education Requirements

In order to graduate on-schedule without taking additional courses, it is highly recommended that students meet with an Undergraduate Academic Adviser concerning the selection of all of their General Education courses.

Each candidate for an Oakland University baccalaureate will need to satisfactorily complete approved courses in each of the following areas: Foundations, Explorations, and Integration. For details, refer to the General Education Requirements section of the catalog.

Requirements for the liberal arts major in Political Science, B.A. program

The major requires a minimum of 44 credits in Political Science as outlined below. Credit toward the major will only be allowed for courses completed with a grade of C or higher.

A. Core Courses

course Introduction to American Politics (4)
course Issues in World Politics (4)
or course Comparative Politics (4)
course The Research Process in Political Science (4)
course Data Analysis in Political Science (4)

1 Capstone Course Selected From

course Seminar in American Politics (4)
course Seminar in the Comparative Study of Political Systems (4)
course Seminar in International Relations (4)

B. At least 1 Course selected from each of the following 3 fields of Political Science:

1. American Politics

course Congress and the Legislative Process (4)
course American Presidency (4)
course The Judicial Process (4)
course Local Government and Politics (4)
course State Politics (4)
course Michigan Government Politics and Policy (4)
course Political Parties and Interest Groups (4)
course Media and Politics (4)
course Elections and Voting Behavior (4)
course Political Campaigns (4)
course American Political Culture (4)
course Women and Politics (4)
course The Politics of Race and Ethnicity (4)
course Religion and Politics (4)
course Public Opinion (4)
course Politics and the Internet (4)
course Politics Through Film (4)
course Law and Politics (4)
course U.S. Constitutional Law (4)
course Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (4)
course Gender Discrimination and the Supreme Court (4)
course Public Administration (4)
course American Public Policy (4)
course Public Policy and Health Care (4)
course Conducting Political Surveys (4)
- May satisfy the American Politics Field requirement or the Comparative and International Politics Field requirement, but not both
course Geographic Information System Analysis for Sustainability (4)
course Special Topics in American Politics (2 OR 4)

2. Comparative and International Politics

course International Politics: Theory and Practice (4)
- May satisfy the Comparative and International Politics Field requirement or the Political Theory and Political Thought Field requirement, but not both
course Politics of Latin America (4)
course African Politics (4)
course Politics of the Middle East and North Africa (4)
course European Political Systems (4)
course The Russian Political System (4)
course Political Systems of Asia (4)
course Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy (4)
course Politics of Development (4)
course Global Democratization (4)
course Revolution, Intervention, and Democratization (4)
course Dictatorships (4)
course Model United Nations (2 OR 4)
- May be taken up to 2 times for a total of 4 credits toward the Political Science major
course United States Foreign Policy (4)
course Comparative Foreign Policy (4)
course International Organizations (4)
course International Political Economy (4)
course Globalization and International Economic Institutions (4)
course International Law (4)
course International Politics of Human Rights (4)
course Gender and Int’l Relations (4)
- May satisfy the Comparative and International Politics Field requirement or the Political Theory and Political Thought Field requirement, but not both
course Global Environmental Governance (4)
course International Conflict and Security (4)
course International Negotiation and Bargaining (4)
course International Terrorism: Causes, Consequences, Responses (4)
course Conducting Political Surveys (4)
- May satisfy the American Politics Field requirement or the Comparative and International Politics Field requirement, but not both
course Special Topics in Comparative Politics and International Relations (1 TO 4)

3. Political Theory and Political Thought

course Western Political Thought I (4)
course Western Political Thought II (4)
course American Political Thought (4)
course Rise of the Modern State (4)
course International Politics: Theory and Practice (4)
- May satisfy the Comparative and International Politics Field requirement or the Political Theory and Political Thought Field requirement, but not both
course Communism (4)
course Politics Through Literature (4)
course Systematic Political Analysis (4)
course Gender and Int’l Relations (4)
- May satisfy the Comparative and International Politics Field requirement or the Political Theory and Political Thought Field requirement, but not both

C. Remaining Credits are Elective Courses with the Following Restrictions

Only 4 credits of course Model United Nations (2) will be accepted toward the major.
No more than a total of 12 credits of course, course and course will be accepted toward the major.
No more than 4 credits of course may be counted toward the major in Political Science. Applicants must seek departmental approval at the beginning of the semester prior to that of the internship by contacting Professor David Dulio.

Optional Concentrations

The Political Science program offers major dependent concentrations in Campaigns and Elections and Courts, Justice, and Politics to students interested in broadening their knowledge in a particular area of Political Science. The following concentrations are only available to students enrolled in the Political Science, B.A. program. The concentration will be noted on the student’s transcript.

To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with one of the following concentrations, students must fulfill all requirements of the Political Science major and the selected concentration. The concentration requirements below will replace the course requirements for the Political Science major entirely.

Campaigns and Elections and Courts

This concentration is designed for students interested in pursuing careers or graduate study in practical politics, including campaign management, lobbying, issue advocacy, and related fields. Students will study topics covering voter behavior, electoral systems, political campaigns, and the role of the media.

A. Core Courses

course Introduction to American Politics (4)
course Issues in World Politics (4)
or course Comparative Politics (4)
course The Research Process in Political Science (4)
course Data Analysis in Political Science (4)
course Seminar in American Politics (4)

B. Campaigns and Elections Concentration Required Courses

course Elections and Voting Behavior (4)
course Political Campaigns (4)
course Public Opinion (4)

C. Campaigns and Elections Concentration Electives (choose 2 courses)

course Systematic Political Analysis (4)
- May satisfy both the "Campaigns and Elections Concentration Electives" and "1 Course (4 credits) from the Political Theory and Political Thought Field " requirements.
course Congress and the Legislative Process (4)
course Political Parties and Interest Groups (4)
course Media and Politics (4)
course Politics and the Internet (4)
course Conducting Political Surveys (4)

D. 1 Course (4 credits) from the Comparative and International Politics Field

course International Politics: Theory and Practice (4)
course Politics of Latin America (4)
course African Politics (4)
course Politics of the Middle East and North Africa (4)
course European Political Systems (4)
course The Russian Political System (4)
course Political Systems of Asia (4)
course Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy (4)
course Politics of Development (4)
course Global Democratization (4)
course Revolution, Intervention, and Democratization (4)
course Dictatorships (4)
course Model United Nations (2 OR 4)
course United States Foreign Policy (4)
course Comparative Foreign Policy (4)
course International Organizations (4)
course International Political Economy (4)
course Globalization and International Economic Institutions (4)
course International Law (4)
course International Politics of Human Rights (4)
course Gender and Int’l Relations (4)
course Global Environmental Governance (4)
course International Conflict and Security (4)
course International Negotiation and Bargaining (4)
course International Terrorism: Causes, Consequences, Responses (4)
course Conducting Political Surveys (4)
course Special Topics in Comparative Politics and International Relations (1 TO 4)

E. 1 Course (4 credits) from the Political Theory and Political Thought Field

course Western Political Thought I (4)
course Western Political Thought II (4)
course American Political Thought (4)
course Rise of the Modern State (4)
course International Politics: Theory and Practice (4)
course Communism (4)
course Politics Through Literature (4)
course Systematic Political Analysis (4)
- May satisfy both the "Campaigns and Elections Concentration Electives" and "1 Course (4 credits) from the Political Theory and Political Thought Field " requirements.
course Gender and Int’l Relations (4)

Courts, Justice, and Politics

This concentration is designed for students interested in pursuing a career or graduate study in law, rights advocacy, lobbying, and related fields. Students will study topics covering various aspects of law, including the lawmaking process, the judicial process, constitutional law, civil rights, and civil liberties.

A. Core Courses

course Introduction to American Politics (4)
course Issues in World Politics (4)
or course Comparative Politics (4)
course The Research Process in Political Science (4)
course Data Analysis in Political Science (4)
course Seminar in American Politics (4)

B. Courts, Justice, and Politics Concentration Required Courses

course American Political Thought (4)
course Law and Politics (4)

C. Courts, Justice, and Politics Concentration Electives (choose 3 courses)

course Congress and the Legislative Process (4)
course The Judicial Process (4)
course U.S. Constitutional Law (4)
course Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (4)
course Gender Discrimination and the Supreme Court (4)
course International Law (4)
- May satisfy both the "Courts, Justice, and Politics Concentration Electives" and the "1 Course (4 credits) from the Comparative and International Politics Field" requirements.

D. 1 Additional Course (4 credits) in Political Science (PS)

E. 1 Course (4 credits) from the Comparative and International Politics Field

course International Politics: Theory and Practice (4)
course Politics of Latin America (4)
course African Politics (4)
course Politics of the Middle East and North Africa (4)
course European Political Systems (4)
course The Russian Political System (4)
course Political Systems of Asia (4)
course Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy (4)
course Politics of Development (4)
course Global Democratization (4)
course Revolution, Intervention, and Democratization (4)
course Dictatorships (4)
course Model United Nations (2 OR 4)
course United States Foreign Policy (4)
course Comparative Foreign Policy (4)
course International Organizations (4)
course International Political Economy (4)
course Globalization and International Economic Institutions (4)
course International Law (4)
- May satisfy both the "Courts, Justice, and Politics Concentration Electives" and the "1 Course (4 credits) from the Comparative and International Politics Field" requirements.
course International Politics of Human Rights (4)
course Gender and Int’l Relations (4)
course Global Environmental Governance (4)
course International Conflict and Security (4)
course International Negotiation and Bargaining (4)
course International Terrorism: Causes, Consequences, Responses (4)
course Conducting Political Surveys (4)
course Special Topics in Comparative Politics and International Relations (1 TO 4)

Note

Students using this catalog to meet Political Science major requirements may also use any course subsequently approved as satisfying requirements in the American Politics, Comparative and International Politics, and Political Theory and Political Thought categories and published in a later catalog, and students using this catalog to meet Political Science major with a concentration may also use any course subsequently approved as satisfying requirements in the electives categories and published in a later catalog.

Applicable Minors

All Minors are applicable to this major with the exception of the following Minor(s): Child Welfare, International Orientation for EGR/CS, Political Science, and Sustainability Engineering.

Political Science

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Requirements

Major Dependent Concentration(s)

Major Dependent Concentration Declaration

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Concentration Title