Department of Political Science
Important Note: This is the archived version of the 2013–2015 Undergraduate Catalog. The information on these pages was archived on August 6, 2013 and will not be updated as requirement and/or program changes are approved. Please see www.uic.edu/ucat for the most up-to-date requirements.
BA with a Major in Political ScienceMinor in Political Science
Distinction
1102 Behavioral Science Building (BSB)
(312) 996–3105
lyles@uic.edu
http://pols.las.uic.edu/
Administration: Professor and Department Head, Dennis Judd
Director of Undergraduate Studies, Kevin Lyles
Political science is the systematic study of politics and its connection to human life as a whole. It focuses on the way people are governed and govern themselves in a wide variety of settings—including the state, the workplace, schools, and the family—and the way in which governance in those settings affects their life chances and shapes their sense of self. Students who elect this major examine, among other things, the relationships between law and political institutions, economic and political power, and culture and political identity. They develop the analytical, interpretive, and critical methods necessary to understand these relationships at local, national, regional, or international levels, and thus, to act as responsible citizens at those levels. They also learn to write well. In short, political science is central to a well-rounded liberal arts education.
Political science also provides excellent preparation for careers in law, government, teaching, journalism, business, and the nonprofit sector.
BA with a Major in Political Science
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Political Science degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| BA with a Major in Political Science Degree Requirements | Hours |
| Major Requirements | 33 |
| General Education and Electives to reach Minimum Total Hours | 87 |
| Minimum Total Hours—BA with a Major in Political Science | 120 |
General Education
See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.
Major Requirements
| Courses | Hours |
| POLS 101—Introduction to American Government and Politicsab | 3 |
| POLS 190—Scope of Political Sciencea | 3 |
| POLS 200—Methods of Political Science | 3 |
| Two courses from the following:c | 6 |
| POLS 120—Introduction to Political Theory (3) | |
| POLS 130—Introduction to Comparative Politics (3) | |
| POLS 184—Introduction to International Relations (3) | |
| One course from the following: | 3 |
| POLS 329—Seminar on American Politics (3)d | |
| POLS 349—Topics in Comparative Politics (3)d | |
| POLS 389—Seminar: Topics in International Relations (3)d | |
| POLS 399—Seminar in Political Theory (3)d | |
| Three additional political science courses at the 200-level (or above) and two additional political science courses at the 300-level (or above)e | 15 |
| Total Hours—Major Requirements | 33 |
a This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category.
b This course is approved for the Understanding U.S. Society General Education category.
c Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog to determine if any of these courses are approved General Education courses.
d Any of these courses may be used to fulfill the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
e Not including POLS 305.
Transfer courses in political science must have grades of C or better to count toward the major or minor.
The Department of Political Science offers a Concentration in Urban Politics that is satisfied in the following way:
- Completing the regular requirements for the major in Political Science
- Completing, among the required number of electives in the major, three courses in urban politics, including:
- POLS 210—Introduction to Urban Politics OR
- POLS 211—Chicago’s Future,
- POLS 301—Field Experience in Political Science, AND
- One additional course at the 300-level other than POLS 303.
Note: At the discretion of the director of undergraduate studies, students may substitute a course from another department for one of their three courses in urban politics.
To view a recommended plan of study for the major in Political Science, please visit the LAS website http://www.las.uic.edu/students/prospective-undergraduate/degree-programs/four-year-model-plans.
Students from other disciplines who want to minor in Political Science must complete 21 credit hours as outlined below:
| Required Courses—Political Science Minor | Hours |
| POLS 101—Introduction to American Government and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 190—Scope of Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 200—Methods of Political Science | 3 |
| One course from the following: | 3 |
| POLS 120—Introduction to Political Theory (3) | |
| POLS 130—Introduction to Comparative Politics (3) | |
| POLS 184—Introduction to International Relations (3) | |
| Three additional POLS courses, at least one of which must be at the 300-level or above | 9 |
| Total Hours—Political Science Minor | 21 |
To be considered for graduation with Distinction in political science, a student must have a minimum, cumulative UIC GPA of 3.25/4.00 and a minimum GPA of 3.50/4.00 in all political science courses. Students with the required grade point averages must write and present to a faculty examining committee of the department an acceptable essay while enrolled in POLS 305—Honors Course and defend it before that committee. The student must enroll in POLS 305 for 3 semester hours in each of the fall and spring semesters of the student’s senior year. Both the course and credit hours must be in addition to those required for the major. The level of distinction (Distinction, High Distinction, Highest Distinction) is determined by the department faculty, who will consider the recommendation of the faculty examining committee and the candidate’s GPA.
