Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

Course Sequencing for Political Science Majors

Students begin the major by taking four introductory courses: POLS 1101, POLS 1201, POLS 1301, and POLS 2496.

Courses should be sequenced so that students take the introductory courses before the upper-level courses. POLS 1101 is an introduction to U.S. politics and should be taken before upper-level courses in this area. Similarly, POLS 1201 introduces foreign governments and precedes upper-level courses in this field. POLS 1301 introduces international politics and is a prerequisite for upper-level courses in this subject matter. POLS 2496 introduces political theory and should generally be taken in the sophomore year and should precede upper-level theory courses.

Once the introductory courses are completed, students can move on to the electives at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999), of which 3 are needed. Students should pay particular attention to the order in which they take the research methods-capstone sequence (which is taken concurrent with the electives). The first course in this sequence is POLS 2503 Evidence and Knowledge, a research design course that teaches students how to conduct empirical research, an essential skill for successfully completing the upper-level courses. 

Evidence and Knowledge will lay the foundation for the next two capstone preparation courses (numbered 3501 through 3599). These research-intensive courses focus on an advanced topic, like other upper level courses, but they also place an emphasis on sharpening the research skills covered in the first course. Once two research intensive courses are completed, the student enrolls in a capstone seminar, the culminating experience of the Political Science major. Topics for research intensive and capstone courses change each semester and often address recent political events and dilemmas. Course descriptions for these courses will be available online.

Summary of Degree Requirements

University Requirements:

• MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
• All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. The specific courses required for this major are POLS 2496 Introduction to Political Philosophy and POLS 4896 Capstone Seminar in Political Science.
• Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.

College of Liberal Arts Requirements:

• Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including:
  • 90 credits in CLA/CST courses;
  • 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999).
    • For Social Science majors, 6 upper level credits (numbered 2000-4999) must be taken in Humanities Subject Areas: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek (Ancient), Greek and Roman Classics, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Philosophy, Religion, Russian, and Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts, Art History in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, or any department in the College of Science and Technology.
  • A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in CLA/CST coursework, and in the major.
  • Professional Development Requirement
    • All students in the College of Liberal Arts are required to take a 1 credit seminar in professional development. CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors is the appropriate course option for this major. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CLA College Requirements page. Only one course in this category may count towards graduation.
  • Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.
  • Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements:
    • All students must complete or test out of the first and second levels of a foreign language - these courses are numbered 1001 and 1002;
    • All students must complete at least one course from the GenEd Global/World Society category; and
    • All Bachelor of Arts students must complete one of the following options:
      • Third semester of a foreign language;
      • Demonstrated proficiency beyond the third semester in a foreign language (placement exam or certification from the language department);
      • Take one Global Studies course from the list on the CLA College Requirements page;
      • Study Abroad at an approved program; or
      • Take a second General Education Global/World Society course.
    • Notes on Foreign Language Study
      • The third level of language is numbered 1003 in French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese and numbered 2001 in all other foreign language subjects.
      • Students are strongly encouraged to take the third level of a foreign language as it is the minimum required for election to the prestigious honor society Phi Beta Kappa. (Taking the course does not guarantee admission but not taking it guarantees exclusion.)
      • See the College of Liberal Arts Policies section of this Bulletin for more information on the Foreign Language Placement, Regression in Coursework, and guidelines for students' other experiences with language.

General Electives are typically one-third of a student's program of study and can be focused on a second major, a minor, or towards some other personal enrichment or professional goals. See an academic advisor for assistance in developing an academic plan for these courses.

Major Requirements - 11 Courses in Political Science (33 credits):

Not all courses are offered every semester. Please check the Class Schedule for actual course offerings each semester.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Requirements for New Students starting in the 2021-2022 Academic Year