Political Science, Bachelor of Arts

To obtain a B.A. with a major in Political Science, a student must fulfill university, college, and departmental requirements. Hour requirements follow:

  • 46 hours of University General Education courses
  • 16 hours of foreign languages
  • 12-19 hours college breadth requirement
  • 36 hours of major courses
  • 3-10 hours of electives

TOTAL HOURS: 120

Requirements

The major consists of a minimum of 36 credit hours in political science.  At least 18 hours of political science courses must be taken at the 3000 and 4000 levels.

B.A. Requirements
PSCI 1100INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT3
PSCI 2000INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL INQUIRY AND WRITING3
PSCI 2210INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS3
PSCI 2310INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THOUGHT3
PSCI 2500INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS3
PSCI 4950SENIOR ASSESSMENT IN POLITICAL SCIENCE0
Electives
Remaining hours in political science shall be elected by students in accordance with their interests.21
Total Credits36

For the B.A., a foreign language through the intermediate level is required.

Optional Concentrations

The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees are available with or without a concentration. If students choose, a concentration may be pursued in government affairs and civic engagement, foreign and national security affairs, law and the courts, political thought, or race, ethnicity and gender politics.

Concentration in Government Affairs and Civic Engagement

Select 12 credit hours from the following:12
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC POLICY
INTRODUCTION TO LEADERSHIP
URBAN POLITICS
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF NEBRASKA
STATE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
POLITICAL PARTIES
INTEREST GROUPS
CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS
THE PRESIDENCY
CONGRESS AND THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
THE JUDICIAL PROCESS
POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY
PUBLIC OPINION AND POLLING
POLITICAL SCIENCE INTERNSHIP
Total Credits12

Concentration in Foreign and National Security Affairs

Select 12 credit hours from the following:12
AFRICAN POLITICS
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
GENDER AND GLOBAL POLITICS
THE POLITICS AND PRACTICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY
EUROPEAN POLITICS
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF RUSSIA AND THE POST-SOVIET STATES
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF CHINA AND EAST ASIA
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF LATIN AMERICA
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF EAST ASIA
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION
INTELLIGENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY
INTERNATIONAL LAW
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF LATIN AMERICA
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
DEMOCRACY
AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF GREAT BRITAIN
POLITICS OF FRANCE
POLITICAL VIOLENCE, INSURGENCY, AND TERRORISM
ISLAM AND POLITICS
COMPARATIVE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION
Total Credits12

Concentration in Law and the Courts

Select 12 credit hours from the following:12
INTRODUCTION TO LAW
LAW AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY
IMMIGRATION LAW AND LATINOS
THE JUDICIAL PROCESS
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: CIVIL RIGHTS
LAW AND THE COURTS: MOCK TRIAL
LAW AND THE COURTS: MOCK TRIAL PRACTICUM
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: FOUNDATIONS
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: THE FEDERAL SYSTEM
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: CIVIL LIBERTIES
INTERNATIONAL LAW
POLITICAL SCIENCE INTERNSHIP
Total Credits12

Concentration in Race, Ethnicity and Gender Politics

Select 12 credit hours from the following:12
AFRICAN POLITICS
LGBT POLITICS
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IN POLITICS
WOMEN AND POLITICS
LATINO/-A POLITICS
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS AND THE NEW MINORITY POLITICS
GENDER AND GLOBAL POLITICS
LAW AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY
IMMIGRATION LAW AND LATINOS
Total Credits12

Concentration in Political Thought

Select 12 credit hours from the following:12
AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
CLASSICAL POLITICAL THOUGHT
EARLY MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT
LATE MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT
CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THOUGHT
Total Credits12
Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
FallCredits
ENGL 1150 ENGLISH COMPOSITION I (*) 3
PSCI 1100 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT (**) 3
MATH 1220
COLLEGE ALGEBRA (***)
or INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL THINKING
or QUANTITATIVE LITERACY
or COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH SUPPORT
or DATA LITERACY AND VISUALIZATION
or ELEMENTARY STATISTICS
3-4
Foreign Language 1110^ 5
*ENGL 1150: requires appropriate placement via EPPE, ACT, or AP.
**PSCI 1100: This course counts as a Social Science and U.S. Diversity course, as well as major requirement.
**MATH: See the catalog for the most up-to-date prerequisites.
^Level 1110 foreign language courses count as a Humanities/Fine Arts course, Global Diversity, and toward the student's BA requirement. If student is fulfilling the BA requirement via alternative methods, then 16 additional credits including a HFA and Global Diversity will need to be factored in to this degree plan.
 Credits14-15
Spring
ENGL 1160 ENGLISH COMPOSITION II (*) 3
CMST 1110
PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS
or ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE
3
PSCI 2210 INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (**) 3
Foreign Language 1120 5
*ENGL 1160: requires ENGL 1150 with grade of C- or better or placement via EPPE or AP.
**PSCI 2210: Counts as a Social Science and Global Diversity, as well as major requirement.
 Credits14
Sophomore
Fall
PSCI 2000 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL INQUIRY AND WRITING (#) 3
Foreign Language 2110 3
Natural/Physical Science w/ Lab 4
PSCI 2310 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THOUGHT (*) 3
Non-PSCI Social Science 3
#PSCI 2000: requires PSCI 1100 or PSCI 1000. ENGL 1150 required and ENGL 1160 strongly recommended. This course also counts for the Writing in the Discipline requirement.
*PSCI 2310: Counts as a Humanities/Fine Arts course and major requirement.
 Credits16
Spring
Foreign Language 2120 3
Natural/Physical Science* 3
PSCI 2500 INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS 3
PSCI 3000+ Elective 3
Humanities/Fine Arts Course 3
*NPS must be from 2nd discipline
 Credits15
Junior
Fall
PSCI 3000+ Elective 3
PSCI 3000+ Elective 3
HIST 1000 or Minor/2nd Major Course* 3
Additional Humanities/Fine Arts Course for A&S or Minor/2nd Major Course** 3
Elective or Minor/2nd Major Course 3
*A&S College Requirement Options
**A&S College Requirement Options. Additional HFA must be in a 3rd discipline.
 Credits15
Spring
PSCI 3000+ Elective 3
PSCI 3000+ Elective 3
HIST 1010 or Minor/2nd Major Course* 3
Additional Social Science for A&S or Minor/2nd Major Course** 3
Elective or Minor/2nd Major Course 3
Elective or Minor/2nd Major Course 1
*A&S College Requirement Options
**A&S College Requirement Options. Additional SS must be in a 3rd discipline.
 Credits16
Senior
Fall
PSCI 3000+ Elective 3
Additional Natural/Physical Science with Lab for A&S or Minor/2nd Major Course* 3
Elective or Minor/2nd Major Course** 3
Elective or Minor/2nd Major Course** 3
Elective or Minor/2nd Major Course** 3
*A&S College Requirement Options
**Students need a minimum of 120 total credits with no less than 27 upper level credits throughout the entire degree. Students may need to select 3000/4000 level free electives or may earn minors or second majors to reach these specific minimums.
 Credits15
Spring
Elective or Minor/2nd Major Course* 3
Elective or Minor/2nd Major Course* 3
Elective or Minor/2nd Major Course* 3
Elective or Minor/2nd Major Course* 3
Elective or Minor/2nd Major Course* 3
PSCI 4950 SENIOR ASSESSMENT IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (**) 0
*Students need a minimum of 120 total credits with no less than 27 upper level credits throughout the entire degree. Students may need to select 3000/4000 level free electives or may earn minors or second majors to reach these specific minimums.
**PSCI 4950: Senior standing required, as well as permission of political science department chair.
 Credits15
 Total Credits120-121

This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.


This plan is not a contract and curriculum is subject to change


Additional Information About this Plan:
University Degree Requirements
: The minimum number of hours for a UNO undergraduate degree is 120 credit hours. Please review the requirements for your specific program to determine all requirements for the program. In order to graduate on-time (four years for an undergraduate degree), you need to take 30 hours each year.


Placement Exams: For Math, English, Foreign Language, a placement exam may be required. More information on these exams can be found at https://www.unomaha.edu/enrollment-management/testing-center/placement-exams/information.php


**Transfer credit or placement exam scores may change suggested plan of study