Political Science, Bachelor of Science
To obtain a B.S. 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
- 12-19 hours college breadth requirement
- 51 hours of major courses
- 4-11 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSCI 1100 | INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| PSCI 2000 | INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL INQUIRY AND WRITING | 3 |
| PSCI 2210 | INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | 3 |
| PSCI 2310 | INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THOUGHT | 3 |
| PSCI 2500 | INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS | 3 |
| PSCI 3000 | QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE | 3 |
| PSCI 4950 | SENIOR ASSESSMENT IN POLITICAL SCIENCE | 0 |
| Electives | ||
| Remaining hours in political science shall be elected by students in accordance with their interests. | 18 | |
| Cognate Courses | ||
| Select a minimum of 15 credit hours of cognate course work in other disciplines. | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 51 | |
Cognate Courses
A minimum of 15 credit hours of cognate course work in other disciplines must also be taken to support the student’s work in the major. This requirement is the same as that of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Students should consult with departmental advisers and the department chair to determine which courses are suitable for inclusion in the cognate. Students should be aware that some courses require pre-requisites. In addition, no more than six hours of courses at the 1000 level nor courses used to satisfy general education requirements will be credited as cognate course work.
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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Credits | 12 | |
Concentration in Foreign and National Security Affairs
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credit hours from the following: | ||
| 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 concentration credits | 12 | |
Concentration in Law and the Courts
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credit hours from the following: | 12 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO LAW | ||
| LAW AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY | ||
| 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 Credits | 12 | |
Concentration in Race, Ethnicity and Gender Politics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Concentration in Political Thought
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Credits | 12 | |
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| 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 DATA LITERACY AND VISUALIZATION or ELEMENTARY STATISTICS | 3 |
| Humanities/Fine Arts | 3 | |
| PSCI 2210 | INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (#) | 3 |
*ENGL 1150: requires placement via EPPE or AP | ||
**PSCI 1100: counts as a Social Science and U.S. Diversity requirement, as well as major requirement. | ||
#PSCI 2210: counts as a Social Science and Global Diversity requirement, as well as major requirement. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1160 | ENGLISH COMPOSITION II | 3 |
| CMST 1110 | PUBLIC SPEAKING FUNDS | 3 |
| PSCI 2310 | INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THOUGHT (*) | 3 |
| Natural/Physical Science w/ Lab | 4 | |
| Humanities/Fine Arts | 3 | |
*PSCI 2310: counts as a Humanities/Fine Arts course and major requirement. | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSCI 2000 | INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL INQUIRY AND WRITING (*) | 3 |
| PSCI 2500 | INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS | 3 |
| Natural/Physical Science without lab** | 3 | |
| Non-PSCI Social Science | 3 | |
| HIST 1000 or Minor/2nd Major Course*** | 3 | |
**NPS must come from 2nd discipline. | ||
***A&S College Requirement Options. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSCI 3000 | QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (*) | 3 |
| PSCI-3000/4000 Level Elective | 3 | |
| HIST 1010 or Minor/2nd Major Course** | 3 | |
| Cognate Course | 3 | |
| PSCI-1000-4000 Level Elective*** | 3 | |
**A&S College Requirement Options. | ||
***PSCI major requires 36 credits of PSCI, with a minimum of 18 credits at the 3000/4000 level. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSCI-3000/4000 Level Elective | 3 | |
| PSCI-3000/4000 Level Elective | 3 | |
| Additional Social Science for A&S or Minor/2nd Major Course* | 3 | |
| Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
*A&S College Requirement Options. Additional SS must be from 3rd discipline. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSCI-3000/4000 Level Elective | 3 | |
| Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Additional Natural/Physical Science Course with Lab for A&S or Minor/2nd Major Course* | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
*A&S College Requirement Options. | ||
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSCI-3000/4000 Level Elective | 3 | |
| Additional Humanities/Fine Arts Course for A&S or Minor/2nd Major Course* | 3 | |
| Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor/2nd Major Course | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor/2nd Major Course | 3 | |
*A&S College Requirement Options. Additional HFA must be in a 3rd discipline. | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor/2nd Major Course | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor/2nd Major Course | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor/2nd Major Course | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor/2nd Major Course | 1-2 | |
| PSCI 4950 | SENIOR ASSESSMENT IN POLITICAL SCIENCE | 0 |
NOTE: *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, cognate courses, or may earn minors or second majors to reach these specific minimums. | ||
| Credits | 13-14 | |
| Total Credits | 119-121 | |
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