Political Science (B.A.)

Total Semester Hours required for the Degree: 120 semester hours

The major in Political Science comprises:

Semester Hours required for the Political Science Major: 40

Core Requirements (16 hours)

PLS 1153

American Government and Constitution. (3 credits)

PLS 1193

American Government and Constitution, Honors. (3 credits)

PLS 1500

Political Science Forum. (1 credits)

PLS 2033

Research Methods in Political Science. (3 credits)

Three of the following

PLS 1003

Introduction to Politics. (3 credits)

PLS 2000

Introduction to Public Affairs. (3 credits)

PLS 2103

Introduction to Political Theory. (3 credits)

PLS 2253

Introduction to International Relations. (3 credits)

PLS 2293

Introduction to International Relations, Honors. (3 credits)

Field Requirements (18 hours):

18 hours of the following 2000-4000 level courses, including at least one from each of the three fields (18 hours total)

Comparative Politics & International Relations

PLS 3203

American Foreign Policy. (3 credits)

PLS 3223

International Organizations. (3 credits)

PLS 3233

International Terrorism. (3 credits)

PLS 3253

Human Rights and International Law. (3 credits)

PLS 3263

The Politics of War & Conflict. (3 credits)

PLS 3303

European Politics and Governments. (3 credits)

PLS 3333

Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean. (3 credits)

PLS 3343

Government and Politics of the Middle East. (3 credits)

PLS 3353

Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa. (3 credits)

PLS 3363

Government and Politics in Asia-Pacific Rim. (3 credits)

PLS 3393

The Politics of Developing Nations. (3 credits)

PLS 3861

Special Topics: International Relations Comparative Politics. (1 to 3 credits)

PLS 4823

Comparative Public Policy. (3 credits)

American Politics, Public Policy & Public Administration

PLS 2333

Political Campaigning. (3 credits)

PLS 3603

State and Local Government. (3 credits)

PLS 3613

Public Policy. (3 credits)

PLS 3623

Public and Nonprofit Management. (3 credits)

PLS 3653

American Indian Politics. (3 credits)

PLS 3703

African American Politics. (3 credits)

PLS 3713

Political Parties and Elections. (3 credits)

PLS 3723

Political Behavior. (3 credits)

PLS 3733

Interest Groups and Lobbying. (3 credits)

PLS 3743

Congress. (3 credits)

PLS 3753

The American Presidency. (3 credits)

PLS 3773

Religion & Politics in the U.S. (3 credits)

PLS 3862

Special Topics: U.S. Politics, Policy & Public Administration. (1 to 3 credits)

PLS 3903

Women & Politics. (3 credits)

PLS 4763

Environmental Politics & Policy. (3 credits)

PLS 4783

Health Politics and Policy. (3 credits)

PLS 4793

Civic and Nonprofit Leadership. (3 credits)

PLS 4873

Human Resource Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations. (3 credits)

PLS 4893

Budgeting in Government and Nonprofit Organizations. (3 credits)

Public Law & Political Theory

PLS 3513

Politics and the Legal Process. (3 credits)

PLS 3523

Criminal Law. (3 credits)

PLS 3543

Civil Liberties in America. (3 credits)

PLS 3553

Federal Indian Law and Policy. (3 credits)

PLS 3864

Special Topics: Public Law & Political Theory. (1 to 3 credits)

PLS 4774

American Constitutional Law. (3 credits)

PLS 4853

The Supreme Court. (3 credits)

PLS 4903

Classic Political Theory. (3 credits)

PLS 4913

Contemporary Political Theory. (3 credits)

PLS 4923

African American Political Thought. (3 credits)

PLS 4943

American Political Thought. (3 credits)

Applied Political Science Experience (3 hours):

Political Science majors will complete at least three hours in one or more of the following experiences:

PLS 2503

Legal Research and Argument. (3 credits)

(only one credit hour may be counted toward applied learning experience)

PLS 2513

Moot Court I. (1 credits)

or PLS 25132 or PLS 25133

(Limited to 3 hours of Political Science Credit)

PLS 2611

Model Illinois Government I. (1 credits)

or PLS 26112

(Limited to 3 hours of Political Science Credit)

PLS 3970

Study Abroad. (1 to 15 credits)

(See Footnote *)

PLS 4275

Internship. (1 to 12 credits)

(See Footnote **)

PLS 4503

Independent Study. (1 to 6 credits)

(See Footnote ***)

PLS 4444

Honors Independent Study. (3 credits)

(See footnote #)

PLS 4555

Honors Research. (3 credits)

(See footnote #)

PLS 4644

Honors Thesis. (3 credits)

(See footnote #)

Political Science Capstone Course (3 hours):

All Political Science majors will complete the capstone course after completing at least 75 hours, PLS 1500, PLS 2033 and at least 6 hours in PLS coursework at the 3000-4000 level. PLS 4600 also satisfies the senior seminar requirement in the General Education program.

PLS 4600

Political Science Capstone. (3 credits)

Footnotes:

* Three credit hours will count for this requirement. Additional credit hours may be substituted for Field Requirements, with departmental approval.

** Three credit hours will count for this requirement. Additional credit hours cannot be substituted for Field Requirements, but will count towards degree completion.

*** Three credit hours will count for this requirement. Additional credit hours cannot be substituted for Field Requirements, but will be included in computing the major G.P.A.

# Students enrolled in Honors Independent Study, Research or Thesis must be enrolled in Political Science Departmental Honors.

Information sourced from the 2026-2027 EIU Undergraduate Catalog.

Political Science (B.A.)

The major in Political Science comprises:

Core Requirements (16 hours)

Three of the following

Field Requirements (18 hours):

Comparative Politics & International Relations

American Politics, Public Policy & Public Administration

Public Law & Political Theory

Applied Political Science Experience (3 hours):

Political Science Capstone Course (3 hours):

Footnotes:

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