Undergraduate and Pre-Law Program

The Department offers a wide range of courses covering international politics, comparative politics, public policy, political theory, the scope and method of political science, urban politics, and public law. In addition, the Department offers an interdisciplinary program in pre-law. At the undergraduate level, the Department also satisfies the General Education curriculum by sharing in the teaching of the required course in social science for all students.

Undergraduate students are expected to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and a GPA of 2.0 in political science. Students who elect a minor or concentration must also earn a 2.0 GPA in that minor or concentration. Students must earn a minimum grade of “C” in all political science courses. Students falling below this minimum may be placed on academic probation or suspension. The minimum number of hours required for graduation is 122. Cross-registration by students enrolled in other AUC institutions may be arranged through the proper channels in the student’s home department and CAU. All courses are not offered each semester so check in advance course selection before registration.

Course Selection

PSC 221 State and Local Government
PSC 313 Urban Politics and Policy
PSC 315 Comparative Politics
PSC 322 International Relations
PSC 338-L Statistics Lab I
PSC 338-L Statistics Lab II
PSC 371 Science and Public Policy
PSC 374 Principles of Constitutional Law
PSC 375 Political and Civil Rights
PSC 381 Soviet Studies I
PSC 387 Scope and Methods of Research
PSC 420 Politics of Africa
PSC 461 Political Theory I
PSC 462 Political Theory II
PSC 479 Senior Thesis

In addition, students in the bachelor’s program in political science are required to take the following courses:

• ECO 251 & 252 Principles of Economics
• HIS 211 & 212 History of the United States
  
  

School-wide requirements are:

• Composition: GED 105 and 106 Ideas and Expression.
• Computer Literacy: GED-C 101 Introduction to Computer Applications
• Foreign Language: Two courses in the same foreign language
• Freshman Orientation/Assembly: GED-A 100, two semesters
• Humanities: Any two courses from humanities
• Literature: ENG 201 and 202 Introduction to World Literature I and II (prerequisites: GED-E 105 and 106)
• Mathematics: GED-M 103 Elementary Algebra and GED-M 104 Algebra and Applications, or MAT 105 and 106 Pre-Calculus I and II
• Physical Education: PED 101 and 102
• Psychology: PSY 211 General Psychology or approved substitute
• Religion and Philosophy: Any 100 or 200 level course offer in the Department of Religion and Philosophy with the substitution of upper-division courses subject to departmental approval.
• Science: Biological Science: CGS 101 or BIO 101 and Physical Science: CGS 102; or General Chemistry: CHEM 111 and 112; or General Biology: BIO 111 and 112; or General and Modern Physics: PHY 111 and 112
• Social Science: GED-S 105 and 106 Social Institutions, or SOC 105 Contemporary Society and PSC 106 Introduction to Politics. Speech: GED-S 101 Fundamentals of Speech.

Internships

The department encourages students who are interested in community service, job experience and public service, to enroll in the internship program.  The program provides undergraduate majors with opportunities to work part-time or full-time and receive a minimum of three and maximum of 12 credits hours toward their degree. Graduate students may earn a maximum of three credit hours through the internship experience. Students interested in the program should contact their adviser for more information.

Pre-Law Program

The pre-law program, administered by R. Benneson DeJanesm Ph.D., closely channels and monitors the progress of students who indicate a desire to earn a law degree following completion of their bachelor’s degree at CAU. Pre-law students combine general education courses and electives with the following recommended courses:

PSC 219 American Government and Politics
PSC 374 Principles of Constitutional Law
PSC 375 Political and Civil Rights PSC 461 Political Theory I
PSC 462 Political Theory II
ENG 213 Survey of British Writers I
ENG 214 Survey of British Writers II
ENG 412 Creative Writing
ENG 418 History of the English Language
ENG 419 Linguistics
PHI 105 Critical Thinking

Suggested Undergraduate Course Sequence 

The freshman and sophomore years are primarily concerned with satisfying the general education requirements (These requirements can be reviewed in the general education section of the catalog). However, the sophomore year allows the student to begin work on major courses. All students must complete 54 hours of core curriculum courses.

The suggested course plan for required political science courses, electives and core curriculum courses. Required political science courses are noted.

Freshman Year

First Semester:
ENG-C 105 English Composition
LIB-C 101 Information Technology and Computer Applications
BIO-C 101 Biological Science
GED-C 100 First Year Seminar I
MATH (As appropriate)
PSC-C 106 Politics and Global Issues

Second Semester:
ENG-C 106 English Composition
PHY-C 102 Physical Science
GED-C 101 First Year Seminar
MATH (As appropriate)
HUM (Any one from approved list)

Sophomore Year:

First Semester:
ENG-C 201 or 202 World Literature
ECO 251 Principles of Economics (Req)
HIS 211 History of the United States (Req)
Foreign Language (Req)
PSC 221 State and Local Government
PSC 219 American Government and Politics (Req)

Second Semester:
ECO 252 Principles of Economics (Req)
HIS 212 History of the United States (Req)
Foreign Languages (Req)
Psychology (Any one from approved list)
STA-C 101 Fundamentals of Speech
PED-C 101 or 102 Physical Education

Junior Year

First Semester:
PSC 315 Comparative Politics
PSC 337 Statistical I and Lab (Req)
PSC 361 Political Theory (Req)
Political Science Elective (Req)

Second Semester:
PSC 313 Urban Politics (Req)
PSC 322 International Relations (Req)
PSC 338 Statistical II and Lab (Req)
PSC 362 Political Theory II (Req)
Political Science Elective (Req)

Senior Year

First Semester:
PSC 387 Scope and Methods of Research (limited to first semester seniors) (Req)
Political Science Elective (Req)
Elective
Elective
Elective

Second Semester:
PSC 479 Senior Thesis (limited to second semester seniors, Perquisite PSC 387 Req)
PSC 420 Politics of Africa (Req)
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective