Department website: https://www.atu.edu/history

In addition to Political Science coursework, this major requires interdisciplinary studies in the areas of Sociology, Geography, Psychology, and Economics through course electives. This program is designated as a recommended option for those Pre-Law students intending to apply for law school after completion of their undergraduate degree.

Plan of Study Grid

Freshman
Fall		Hours
ENGL 1013	Composition I 1	3
Select one of the following:		3
ECON 2003	Principles of Macroeconomics
PSY 2003	General Psychology
SOC 1003	Introductory Sociology
Select one of the following:		3
GEOG 2013	Regional Geography of the World
HIST 1503	World History to 1500
HIST 1513	World History since 1500
MATH XXXX	Mathematics 1	3
TECH 1001	Orientation to the University	1
Elective		3
	Hours	16
Spring
ENGL 1023	Composition II 1	3
HIST 2003	United States History to 1877	3
POLS 2003	American Government	3
SCIL 1XXX	Science with Laboratory 1	4
Elective 2		3
	Hours	16
Sophomore
Fall
Beginning Language I 3		3
HIST 2013	United States History since 1877	3
POLS 2253	Survey of Western Political Thought	3
POLS 2513	Research Design	3
SCIL 1XXX	Science with Laboratory 1	4
	Hours	16
Spring
Beginning Language II 3		3
POLS Elective 4		6
Elective 2		6
	Hours	15
Junior
Fall
POLS 2403	Comparative Government	3
POLS Elective 4		3
Elective 2		9
	Hours	15
Spring
POLS 2413 or POLS 2153	International Relations or	3
POLS Elective 4		3
Elective 2		9
	Hours	15
Senior
Fall
POLS Elective 4,5		9
Elective 2,5		6
	Hours	15
Spring
POLS 4963	Senior Seminar	3
Elective 2,5		9
	Hours	12
	Total Hours	120

¹

See appropriate alternatives or substitutions in "General Education Requirements."

²

At least 40 of the total hours required for graduation must be 3000 - 4000 level courses.

³

Must be in one language. Students may waive three hours of language requirement for every one year of language study in high school with grades of "C" or better.

⁴

Majors are also required to take 21 additional elective credits in political science, 18 of which are upper level political courses. It is recommended students pursue one of the six career tracks below based on the types of jobs that are most appealing to them:
Law School Track
Public Policy/Administration Track
International Relations/Studies Track
Strategic Studies Track
American Politics, Campaigns & Elections Track
Political Science Graduate School Track

⁵

This program partners the Political Science undergraduate degree with the Master of Science (MS) Emergency Management and Homeland Security degree. Students can substitute EMHS 6063 Principles of Emergency Management, EMHS 6103 Research Design and Methods, EMHS 6093 Principles of Homeland Security, and/or approved EMHS Electives for POLS electives or general electives.

Program Recommendations

It is recommended students pursue one of the six career tracks below based on the types of jobs that are most appealing to them. It is also recommended students work with their advisor to do an internship within their track to give them first-hand experience in a career in their track.

Law School Track

Recommended for students interested in earning their Juris Doctorate in law. It is recommended students pursuing this track take at least 18 of their 21 political science credits from the following list of courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
POLS 3023	Judicial Process	3
POLS 3043	Judicial Politics	3
POLS 3063	Modern Political Thought	3
POLS 3253	Classical Political Thought	3
POLS 4043	American Constitutional Law	3
POLS 4973	Internship	3
POLS 4983	Political Science Seminar	3

Public Policy/Administration Track

Recommended for students interested in political careers in bureaucratic agencies at the local, state or federal level of government, as well as non-profit organizations that lobby government. It is recommended students pursuing this track take at least 18 of their 21 political science credits from the following list of courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
POLS 3033	American State and Local Government	3
POLS 3043	Judicial Politics	3
POLS 3053	Introduction to Public Administration	3
POLS 3083	Political Parties and Interest Groups	3
POLS 3143	The United States Presidency	3
POLS 4973	Internship	3
POLS 4983	Political Science Seminar	3

International Relations/Studies Track

Recommended for students interested in careers with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like the Red Cross, Amnesty International, etc.; political careers working for or with organizations like the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), etc.; or diplomatic careers. It is recommended students pursuing this track take at least 18 of their 21 political science credits from the following list of courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
POLS 3063	Modern Political Thought	3
POLS 3423	Problems in International Affairs	3
POLS 3433	United Nations	3
POLS 3473	National Security Policy	3
POLS 4973	Internship	3
POLS 4983	Political Science Seminar	3

Strategic Studies Track

Recommended for students interested in military studies and careers. These courses are very popular with students pursuing an ROTC program. It is recommended students pursuing this track take at least 18 of their 21 political science credits from the following list of courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
POLS 2153		3
POLS 3013	Recent American Foreign and Military Policy	3
POLS 3063	Modern Political Thought	3
POLS 3423	Problems in International Affairs	3
POLS 3433	United Nations	3
POLS 3473	National Security Policy	3
POLS 4973	Internship	3
POLS 4983	Political Science Seminar	3

American Politics, Campaigns & Elections Track

Recommended for students interested in careers working on political campaigns, for political parties, for interest groups, or in any of the branches of government at the local, state and federal level. It is recommended students pursuing this track take at least 18 of their 21 political science credits from the following list of courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
POLS 3033	American State and Local Government	3
POLS 3083	Political Parties and Interest Groups	3
POLS 3123	American Political Behavior	3
POLS 3133	United States Congress	3
POLS 3143	The United States Presidency	3
Select one of the following:		3
POLS 3513	Research Methods
SOC 2053	Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
STAT 3153	Applied Statistics
POLS 4976	Internship	6
POLS 4983	Political Science Seminar	3

Political Science Graduate School Track

Recommended for students interested in seeking a master's or doctorate's degree in political science. It is recommended students pursuing this track take at least 18 of their 21 political science credits as follows:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Select one of the following:		3
POLS 3513	Research Methods
SOC 2053	Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
STAT 3153	Applied Statistics
15 credits distributed as follows among these three blocks:		15
American Government Course - 6 credits
International Relations Course - 6 credits
Political Theory Course - 3 credits

American Government Course

(6 credits)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
POLS 3023	Judicial Process	3
POLS 3043	Judicial Politics	3
POLS 3053	Introduction to Public Administration	3
POLS 3083	Political Parties and Interest Groups	3
POLS 3123	American Political Behavior	3
POLS 3133	United States Congress	3
POLS 3143	The United States Presidency	3

International Relations Course

(6 credits)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
POLS 3013	Recent American Foreign and Military Policy	3
POLS 3423	Problems in International Affairs	3
POLS 3433	United Nations	3
POLS 3473	National Security Policy	3

Political Theory Course

(3 credits)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
POLS 3063	Modern Political Thought	3
POLS 3253	Classical Political Thought	3
POLS 4043	American Constitutional Law	3
POLS 4973	Internship	3
POLS 4983	Political Science Seminar	3

Students who complete the program will:

• understand core concepts in Government and Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory.
• understand core concepts in U.S. Government and Politics.
• understand core concepts in Comparative Government.
• understand core concepts in International Relations.
• understand core concepts in Political Theory.
• demonstrate the ability to gather, analyze, evaluate, and integrate relevant information.
• demonstrate the ability to draw informed and reasoned (or logical) conclusions about the subject matter.
• demonstrate the ability to state a thesis or hypothesis, test and defend it.
• demonstrate the ability to acknowledge and cite sources for information in an acceptable format.
• demonstrate the ability to gather, organize, and synthesize appropriate information to draw reasonable conclusions.
• test, apply and develop the skills and techniques of the discipline either in or outside the classroom.
• develop a habit of life-long learning as an informed, active and engaged citizen.