1. Carolina Core (32-44 hours)
Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written — CMW (6 hours)
must be passed with a grade of C or higher
Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving — ARP (6-8 hours)
Scientific Literacy — SCI (8 hours)
- Two 4-credit hour CC-SCI laboratory science courses
Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language — GFL (0-6 hours)
Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.
It is strongly recommended that students continuing the study of a foreign language begin college-level study of that language in their first semester and continue in that language until their particular foreign language requirement is completed.
Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking — GHS (3 hours)
Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences — GSS (3 hours)
Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding — AIU (3 hours)
Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component* — CMS (0-3 hours)
Information Literacy* — INF (0-3 hours)
Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility* — VSR (0-3 hours)
*Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.
3. Program Requirements (31-46 hours)
Supporting Courses (3 hours)
- Select one course from the following:
Cognate or Minor (12-18 hours)
Cognate
The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve (12) hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of but related to the major. The cognate may be taken in one or more departments or programs, depending on the interests of the student and the judgment of the advisor.
Courses offered by departments and programs that are acceptable for cognate credit are outlined in the section titled Courses Acceptable for Cognate Credit in Degree Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences .
For cognate course offerings in other colleges, consult the appropriate sections of this bulletin. Some major programs have specific cognate requirements.
It should be emphasized that the cognate is not a second set of elective courses to be chosen at random by the student. The cognate must be approved by the major advisor as being related to the major field of study. Students are urged to consult their major advisors for specific requirements in their major.
Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the cognate. For Bachelor of Arts degrees, all cognate courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
Minor
In place of the cognate a student in the College of Arts and Sciences may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. (Some minors in the sciences require a minimum of 16 hours.) The subject area of the minor may be related to the major. Students pursuing interdisciplinary minors who wish to use courses in their major department for minor credit must petition the College Committee on Scholastic Standards and Petitions for permission to do so.
The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. It differs from the cognate inasmuch as the courses must be concentrated in one area and must follow a structured sequence. Interdisciplinary minors can be designed with the approval of the assistant dean for academic affairs and advising.
Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University.
A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z .
Electives (10-31 hours)
No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the College of Arts and Sciences.
Note: 1-22 hours of electives will be needed to reach hours to graduate and Program Requirements will range from 22-37 hours, if completing either the Intensive Major or the B.A. with Distinction in Political Science.
4. Major Requirements (27 hours)
A minimum grade of C is required in all major courses.
Major Courses (9 hours)
- Select one course from three of the following fields:
American Politics
Comparative Politics
- POLI 316 - Comparative Politics
- POLI 380 - Comparative Politics of Developing Countries
- POLI 381 - Comparative Politics of Industrialized Countries
- POLI 416 - Revolution and Political Violence
- POLI 448 - Politics and Government of China
- POLI 480 - Politics and Government of Russia
- POLI 481 - Politics and Governments of Europe
- POLI 483 - Middle East Politics
- POLI 487 - Politics and Governments of Africa
- POLI 488 - Politics and Governments of Latin America
- POLI 489 - Politics and Government of Japan
International Relations
- POLI 315 - International Relations
- POLI 330 - International Organization
- POLI 340 - The Conduct and Formulation of United States Foreign Policy
- POLI 341 - Contemporary United States Foreign Policy
- POLI 342 - National Security Policies of the United States
- POLI 417 - Theories of War in International Relations
- POLI 420 - International Law
- POLI 430 - Ideology and World Politics
- POLI 432 - Nationalism and Ethnicity in World Politics
- POLI 433 - Economic Aspects of International Politics
- POLI 437 - International Relations of Latin America
- POLI 440 - Russian Foreign Policy
- POLI 443 - International Relations of East Asia and the Pacific
- POLI 444 - International Relations in Japan
- POLI 445 - Political Economy of Africa’s Regions
- POLI 446 - International Relations of Africa
- POLI 447 - Foreign Policies of Selected Powers
- POLI 449 - International Relations of the Middle East
Political Theory
- POLI 302 - Classical and Medieval Political Theory
- POLI 303 - Modern Political Theory
- POLI 304 - Contemporary Political Theory
- POLI 307 - Feminist Theory
- POLI 400 - Selected Topics in Political Theory
- POLI 401 - Selected Thinkers in Political Theory
- POLI 402 - African American Political Thought
- POLI 404 - Democratic Theory
- POLI 503 - American Political Thought
- POLI 504 - Politics and Ethics
- POLI 505 - Utopian Political Thought
Public Administration
Major Electives (18 hours)
Select six courses from POLI 300 or above organized around 1-2 areas of interest with advisor approval.
Note: One of the following courses must be taken as part of the major requirements in order to fulfill the Carolina Core Integrative course requirement: POLI 315, POLI 316, POLI 361, POLI 368, POLI 370, POLI 374, POLI 451, POLI 462, or POLI 504.
Intensive Major (36 hours)
A minimum grade of B is required in all major courses.
In addition to the requirements for the General Major, Intensive majors must complete the following:
- An additional six hours of major course work (approved by the major advisor).
- POLI 499 - Senior Thesis
- Demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language through the intermediate level.
B.A. with Distinction (36 hours)
Departmental Undergraduate Research Track available to students majoring in political science who wish to participate in significant research activities of the major field in collaboration with, or under the supervision of, a faculty mentor.
In addition to the requirements for the general major, “B.A. with Distinction” majors must complete the following:
- A minimum major GPA of 3.60
- A cumulative GPA of 3.30
- Required courses:
- POLI 301 - The Political Science Discipline
- POLI 498 - Research Experience
- POLI 499 - Senior Thesis
- Additional Requirements:
- Public presentation of the Senior Thesis in a venue approved by the faculty mentor, such as:
- Annual meeting of the South Carolina Political Science Association (or any other annual meeting of the appropriate professional organization);
- A regular (or special) session of the Political Science Research Workshop;
- Sessions scheduled for the Political Science Awards Day activities;
- USC Discovery Day;
- Submission to a professional journal.
- A written sponsorship agreement from the faculty mentor to be placed on file in the department or college office.
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