Political Science

Political Science
BA
Hours41 - 44 Credit Hours
MAPMajor Academic Plan

Program Requirements

The Political Science Department requires a minimum of 27 hours of political science courses to be taken in residency at BYU for this degree program (BYU Independent Study courses do not meet this requirement). These hours may also go toward BYU's 30-hour residency requirement for graduation.
requirement 1 Complete 3 options
Introduction to the Major. Complete one course from three of the following four groups.
option 1.1 Complete 1 course
Political Philosophy:
option 1.2 Complete 1 course
American Politics:
option 1.3 Complete 1 course
Comparative Politics:
option 1.4 Complete 1 course
International Relations:
requirement 2 Complete 1 course
Note: Courses used to complete requirement 1 can double count towards completion of this requirement.
requirement 3 Complete 1 course
Philosophy. (Note: Poli 201 or Poli 202 can double-count in the Political Philosophy section above.)
requirement 4 Complete 1 course
Introductory Research and Writing. (Note: This course is a prerequisite to many other courses and should be taken as soon as possible.)
requirement 5 Complete 1 course
Research Project. (Note: This course should be taken as soon as possible after Poli 200 because it will provide skills for many other courses. In combination with Poli 200, it fulfills the University Core Advanced Written and Oral Communication requirement.)
requirement 6 Complete 2 options
Analytical and Professional Skills.
requirement 7 Complete 1 option
Professional Tracks. Complete 15 hours in political science courses, or complete 15 credit hours within one of the following tracks. (Unless noted, no double-counting of major courses allowed.)
option 7.1 Complete 15.0 hours from the following course(s)
15 HOURS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSES:
POLI 302 - Experimental Research Methods 3.0
POLI 303 - Qualitative Methods 3.0
POLI 304 - Game Theory in Political Science 3.0
POLI 305 - Survey Research Methods 3.0
POLI 306R - Topics in Political Science Methods 3.0
POLI 311 - State and Local Government and Politics 3.0
POLI 313 - Interest Groups 3.0
POLI 314 - The United States Presidency 3.0
POLI 315 - Congress and the Legislative Process 3.0
POLI 316 - American Political Parties 3.0
POLI 317 - Public Opinion and Voting Behavior 4.0v
POLI 318 - Campaigns and Elections 3.0
POLI 319R - Topics in American Government and Politics 3.0v
POLI 321 - The Media in American Politics 3.0
POLI 324 - Political Psychology 3.0
POLI 325 - Politics of Wilderness, National Parks, and Public Land Management 3.0
POLI 328 - Statistical Analysis 4.0
POLI 331 - Politics and Public Policy 3.0
POLI 332 - Public Policy Analysis 3.0
POLI 333 - Politics of Bureaucracy 3.0
POLI 334 - Public Ethics 3.0
POLI 335 - Social Policy 3.0
POLI 336 - Government and Religion 3.0
POLI 339R - Topics in Public Policy 3.0
POLI 341 - Western European Politics 3.0
POLI 342 - Gender and Politics 3.0
POLI 343 - Designing Democracies and Dictatorships 3.0
POLI 344 - Comparative Political Economy 3.0
POLI 345 - Comparative Parties and Elections 3.0
POLI 346 - Southeast Asian Politics 3.0
POLI 347 - Russia/Former Soviet Politics 3.0
POLI 348 - Government and Politics of Asia 3.0
POLI 349R - Topics in Politics 3.0v
POLI 351 - British Government and Politics 3.0
POLI 352 - African Politics 3.0
POLI 353 - China: Government and Politics 3.0
POLI 354 - Japan: Government and Politics 3.0
POLI 355 - Canadian Government and Politics 3.0
POLI 357 - Middle East: Political Systems 3.0
POLI 358 - Latin American Politics 3.0
POLI 359R - Topics in Comparative Politics 3.0
POLI 362 - Reason, Revelation, and Politics 3.0
POLI 363 - Theories of Human Freedom 3.0
POLI 364 - Jurisprudence 3.0
POLI 365 - Early American Political Thought: 1620-1865 3.0
POLI 366 - Modern American Political Thought: 1865-Present 3.0
POLI 367 - Contemporary Political Theory 3.0
POLI 368R - Topics in Political Philosophy 3.0
POLI 371 - Foreign Policy Analysis 3.0
POLI 372 - International Political Economy 3.0
POLI 373 - International Law 3.0
POLI 374 - Ethics and International Affairs 3.0
POLI 375 - International Organizations 3.0
POLI 376 - U.S. Foreign Policy 3.0
POLI 377 - National Security Affairs 3.0
POLI 378 - International Conflict 3.0
POLI 379R - Topics in International Relations 3.0v
POLI 380 - International Relations of Latin America 3.0
POLI 381 - International Relations of the Middle East 3.0
POLI 382 - International Relations of North America 3.0
POLI 385 - International Relations of Asia 3.0
POLI 386 - Japanese Foreign Policy 3.0
POLI 387 - International Relations of Developing Countries 3.0
POLI 388 - Chinese Foreign Policy 3.0
POLI 391 - Advanced Seminar on Current Issues 3.0
POLI 392R - Topics in Political Strategy 3.0
POLI 393R - Topics in Legal Studies 3.0
POLI 394R - Topics in Global Development 3.0
POLI 397 - Utah Legislative Politics 2.0
POLI 399R - Utah Legislature Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - Pre-Law Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - Campaign Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - Academic Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - Washington DC Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - International Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - Congressional Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - State Government Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - City Government Intership 9.0v
POLI 400 - Research Project in Political Theory 3.0
POLI 410 - Research Project in American Politics 3.0
POLI 420 - Constitutional Law - American Federal System 3.0
POLI 421 - Constitutional Law - Rights and Immunities 3.0
POLI 422 - Interests and Ideas in the American Founding 3.0
POLI 428 - Advanced Statistical Analysis 3.0
POLI 430 - Research Project in Public Policy 3.0
POLI 444 - The Political Economy of Development 3.0
POLI 450 - Research Project in Comparative Politics 3.0
POLI 452 - Islam and Politics 3.0
POLI 461 - Federalist Papers 3.0
POLI 462 - Tocqueville on America 3.0
POLI 465 - Philosophy of the Social Sciences 3.0
POLI 466 - Plato's Political Thought 3.0
POLI 470 - Research Project in International Relations 3.0
POLI 472 - International Political Economy of Women 3.0
POLI 473 - Human Rights 3.0
POLI 474 - Arab-Palestinian-Israeli Conflict 3.0
POLI 475 - Civil Wars and Ethnic Violence 3.0
POLI 476 - Terrorism 3.0
POLI 497R - Mentored Research 6.0v
POLI 498R - Directed Readings 3.0v
POLI 499 - Honors Thesis 3.0v
POLI 539R - Advanced Topics in Public Policy 3.0
POLI 579R - Topics on World Politics 3.0
POLI 599R - Academic Internship 9.0v
POLI 599R - Graduate Internship 9.0v
option 7.2 Complete 3 groups
INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY AND DIPLOMACY TRACK:
group 7.2.1 Complete 2 courses
group 7.2.2 Complete 1 course
group 7.2.3 Complete 2 courses
Students are strongly encouraged to complete international internships, field studies, and mentored research. Some study abroad programs may also be helpful.
option 7.3 Complete 2 groups
LEGAL STUDIES TRACK:
group 7.3.1 Complete 3 courses
Note: Phil 416 (Philosophy of Law) may be used in place of Poli 364. See your academic advisor for more information. Also, Poli 278 will not double count with the Analytical and Professional Skills requirement above.
group 7.3.2 Complete 1 selection
selection 7.3.2.1 Complete 6.0 hours from the following course(s)
selection 7.3.2.2 Complete 2 alternatives
option 7.4 Complete 1 group
POLITICAL STRATEGY TRACK:
option 7.5 Complete 2 groups
RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS TRACK:
group 7.5.1 Complete 3 courses
group 7.5.2 Complete 2 courses
option 7.6 Complete 2 groups
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT TRACK:
group 7.6.1 Complete 1 course
group 7.6.2 Complete 4 courses
Students are strongly encouraged to complete international internships and mentored field research. Students may count up to 6 credit hours of Poli 399R or Poli 497R with international development organizations or in developing countries for the 4 course requirement above.
requirement 8 Complete 6.0 hours from the following course(s)
Complete 6 additional credit hours of 200-level and above Political Science courses. A maximum of 3 credit hours of lower-division Political Science credit may count toward these 6 additional credit hours.
POLI 200 - Political Inquiry 4.0
POLI 201 - Western Political Heritage 1 3.0
POLI 201 - Honors Western Political Heritage 1 3.0
POLI 202 - Western Political Heritage 2 3.0
POLI 210 - Principles of American Politics 3.0
POLI 249R - Introductory Topics in Politics 3.0v
POLI 250 - Principles of Comparative Politics 3.0
POLI 270 - Principles of International Relations 3.0
POLI 278 - Applied Statistics for Public Policy and Law 3.0
POLI 297R - Internship Program Preparation 2.0v
POLI 298 - Speaker Series on Political Careers 1.0
POLI 302 - Experimental Research Methods 3.0
POLI 303 - Qualitative Methods 3.0
POLI 304 - Game Theory in Political Science 3.0
POLI 305 - Survey Research Methods 3.0
POLI 306R - Topics in Political Science Methods 3.0
POLI 311 - State and Local Government and Politics 3.0
POLI 313 - Interest Groups 3.0
POLI 314 - The United States Presidency 3.0
POLI 315 - Congress and the Legislative Process 3.0
POLI 316 - American Political Parties 3.0
POLI 317 - Public Opinion and Voting Behavior 4.0v
POLI 318 - Campaigns and Elections 3.0
POLI 319R - Topics in American Government and Politics 3.0v
You may take up to 6 credit hours.
POLI 321 - The Media in American Politics 3.0
POLI 324 - Political Psychology 3.0
POLI 325 - Politics of Wilderness, National Parks, and Public Land Management 3.0
POLI 328 - Statistical Analysis 4.0
POLI 331 - Politics and Public Policy 3.0
POLI 332 - Public Policy Analysis 3.0
POLI 333 - Politics of Bureaucracy 3.0
POLI 334 - Public Ethics 3.0
POLI 335 - Social Policy 3.0
POLI 336 - Government and Religion 3.0
POLI 339R - Topics in Public Policy 3.0
POLI 341 - Western European Politics 3.0
POLI 342 - Gender and Politics 3.0
POLI 343 - Designing Democracies and Dictatorships 3.0
POLI 344 - Comparative Political Economy 3.0
POLI 345 - Comparative Parties and Elections 3.0
POLI 346 - Southeast Asian Politics 3.0
POLI 347 - Russia/Former Soviet Politics 3.0
POLI 348 - Government and Politics of Asia 3.0
POLI 349R - Topics in Politics 3.0v
You may take up to 6 credit hours.
POLI 351 - British Government and Politics 3.0
POLI 352 - African Politics 3.0
POLI 353 - China: Government and Politics 3.0
POLI 354 - Japan: Government and Politics 3.0
POLI 355 - Canadian Government and Politics 3.0
POLI 357 - Middle East: Political Systems 3.0
POLI 358 - Latin American Politics 3.0
POLI 359R - Topics in Comparative Politics 3.0
You may take up to 6 credit hours.
POLI 362 - Reason, Revelation, and Politics 3.0
POLI 363 - Theories of Human Freedom 3.0
POLI 364 - Jurisprudence 3.0
POLI 365 - Early American Political Thought: 1620-1865 3.0
POLI 366 - Modern American Political Thought: 1865-Present 3.0
POLI 367 - Contemporary Political Theory 3.0
POLI 368R - Topics in Political Philosophy 3.0
You may take up to 6 credit hours.
POLI 371 - Foreign Policy Analysis 3.0
POLI 372 - International Political Economy 3.0
POLI 373 - International Law 3.0
POLI 374 - Ethics and International Affairs 3.0
POLI 375 - International Organizations 3.0
POLI 376 - U.S. Foreign Policy 3.0
POLI 377 - National Security Affairs 3.0
POLI 378 - International Conflict 3.0
POLI 379R - Topics in International Relations 3.0v
You may take up to 6 credit hours.
POLI 380 - International Relations of Latin America 3.0
POLI 381 - International Relations of the Middle East 3.0
POLI 382 - International Relations of North America 3.0
POLI 385 - International Relations of Asia 3.0
POLI 386 - Japanese Foreign Policy 3.0
POLI 387 - International Relations of Developing Countries 3.0
POLI 388 - Chinese Foreign Policy 3.0
POLI 391 - Advanced Seminar on Current Issues 3.0
POLI 392R - Topics in Political Strategy 3.0
POLI 393R - Topics in Legal Studies 3.0
POLI 394R - Topics in Global Development 3.0
POLI 397 - Utah Legislative Politics 2.0
POLI 399R - Utah Legislature Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - Academic Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - Washington DC Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - Campaign Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - Congressional Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - State Government Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - City Government Intership 9.0v
POLI 399R - Pre-Law Internship 9.0v
POLI 399R - International Internship 9.0v
POLI 400 - Research Project in Political Theory 3.0
POLI 410 - Research Project in American Politics 3.0
POLI 420 - Constitutional Law - American Federal System 3.0
POLI 421 - Constitutional Law - Rights and Immunities 3.0
POLI 422 - Interests and Ideas in the American Founding 3.0
POLI 428 - Advanced Statistical Analysis 3.0
POLI 430 - Research Project in Public Policy 3.0
POLI 444 - The Political Economy of Development 3.0
POLI 450 - Research Project in Comparative Politics 3.0
POLI 452 - Islam and Politics 3.0
POLI 461 - Federalist Papers 3.0
POLI 462 - Tocqueville on America 3.0
POLI 465 - Philosophy of the Social Sciences 3.0
POLI 466 - Plato's Political Thought 3.0
POLI 470 - Research Project in International Relations 3.0
POLI 472 - International Political Economy of Women 3.0
POLI 473 - Human Rights 3.0
POLI 474 - Arab-Palestinian-Israeli Conflict 3.0
POLI 475 - Civil Wars and Ethnic Violence 3.0
POLI 476 - Terrorism 3.0
POLI 497R - Mentored Research 6.0v
POLI 498R - Directed Readings 3.0v
POLI 499 - Honors Thesis 3.0v
POLI 539R - Advanced Topics in Public Policy 3.0
POLI 579R - Topics on World Politics 3.0
POLI 599R - Academic Internship 9.0v
POLI 599R - Graduate Internship 9.0v
1. 27 hours of political science courses must be taken in residency at BYU (BYU Independent Study courses do not meet this requirement). These hours may also go toward BYU's 30-hour residency requirement for graduation.
2. Poli 101R and 297R do not count toward the major or any minor offered by the department.
3. Only 6 hours of Poli 399R (internship credit) may count toward the major.
4. No cooperative education (internship) credit from other universities or colleges will be accepted toward the major.
5. All students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship. Established programs are available through Washington Seminar, Utah State Legislature, or the Kennedy Center.
6. Students scoring a 4 or 5 on the American Government and/or Comparative Government AP exams may substitute AP credit for Poli 110 or Poli 150, respectively.
7. We strongly encourage students to take Poli 298R, a career lecture series course.
Program Outcomes

Understand Political Science and Its Subfields

Demonstrate advanced understanding of the discipline of political science, including familiarity with each of the four major subfields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political philosophy.

Employ Rigorous Research Methods

Use rigorous methods of research design and analysis to answer political questions, including multiple research methodologies.

Write and Speak with Originality and Clarity

Write and speak with originality and clarity, providing reasons and evidence to support claims using proper citation of source material.

Think Critically and Analytically about Politics

Think critically and analytically about government, political processes, and political theories, including the components of a good society.

Collaborate Effectively

Collaborate effectively with others, including participation in political processes and engagement on issues of political importance.