Undergraduate programs

The program in political science leading to the B.A. or B.S. degree is designed to meet the needs of the liberal arts major who wishes to learn more about public and international affairs, government, and the demands of citizenship. It is appropriate for professionally motivated students who wish to pursue careers in political science, public administration, international organizations, domestic government, communications, education, or law. It is also appropriate for inquiring students desiring to learn more about the way human beings live together and the structures and institutions they have developed (or might develop) to facilitate social cooperation and conflict management.

The most current information about undergraduate degree programs, internships, and other opportunities is available on the program website (www.pdx.edu/hatfieldschool/undergraduate-program-political-science).

Degree Maps and Learning Outcomes

Admission requirements

Degree requirements

Political Science B.A./B.S.

Political Science Honors Program

Political Science Minor

Law and Legal Studies Minor

Political Science B.A./B.S.

The standard major offers a traditional course of study in political science that involves some exposure to three basic areas of the discipline. In addition to meeting the University’s general education requirements, a student wishing to pursue a basic major in political science must take a minimum of 48 credits in political science distributed as follows. The distinguishing feature of the B.S. degree is that it requires either PS 295 or PS 495 as one of the Upper Division Requirements, while the B.A. does not require either of these courses. 

A minimum of 20 credits must be taken in residence at PSU.

Requirements

Lower Division Requirements

Three courses from the following four options (12 credits)

PS 101	United States Government	4
	or
PS 102	United States Politics	4
PS 204	Comparative Politics	4
PS 205	International Politics	4
PS 208	Introduction to Political Theory	4

Upper Division Requirements (36 credits)*

	Five 400-level PS courses	20
	Additional PS electives (minimum 12 upper division)	16
Total Credit Hours:		48

*One of which must be PS 295 or PS 495 to earn the B.S. degree.

Public Service option

The Public Service option in Political Science is designed for students who want a more hands-on experience in the major or are interested in practical politics. The curriculum provides students with a strong foundation in American government, while instilling in them an understanding of public service. Students in this track are required to serve an internship in a governmental or political office.

Lower Division Requirements

Three courses from the following four options (12 credits)

PS 101	United States Government	4
	or
PS 102	United States Politics	4
PS 204	Comparative Politics	4
PS 205	International Politics	4
PS 208	Introduction to Political Theory	4

Upper Division Requirements

PS 431	State and Local Politics	4
PA 313U	Fundamentals of Public Service	4

Additional electives (20 credits, minimum of 8 in Political Science)

Political Science options:

PS 312	Legislative Process	4
PS 318U	Media, Opinion, and Voting	4
PS 331	Oregon Politics	4
PS 413	Congress	4
PS 416	Political Parties and Elections	4
PS 417	Interest Groups	4
PS 418	Contemporary Political Protest in America	4
PS 419	Political Reform	4
PS 421	The Supreme Court and American Politics	4
PS 424	Law, Politics, and Society	4

Public Administration options:

PA 311U	Introduction to Civic Engagement	4
PA 320U	Introduction to Nonprofit Management	4
PA 412	Civic Engagement: The Role of Governing Institutions	4
PA 413	Civic Engagement: The Role of Individuals	4
PA 414	Civic Engagement: The Role of Social Institutions	4
PA 417	Ethical Leadership	4
PA 425	Grantwriting for Nonprofit Organizations	4

Field Experience (8 credits)

PS 404	Cooperative Education/Internship	8
Total Credit Hours:		48

Courses not required for the Public Service Option, but recommended for those interested in public service careers:

Comm 312U	Media Literacy	4
Comm 313U	Communication in Groups	4
Ec 201	Principles of Microeconomics	4
Ec 202	Principles of Macroeconomics	4
Ec 311	Microeconomic Theory	4
Ec 312	Macroeconomic Theory	4
USP 316	Community Organizing and Social Change	4
USP 317U	Introduction to International Community Development	4
USP 386U	Portland Past and Present	4
USP 419/Soc 441	Population and Society	4
USP 428	Concepts of Community Development	4

International Development option

International development involves questions of global governance, international and development economics, foreign aid and humanitarian assistance, poverty reduction and human development, sustainable development, and international and intergenerational justice.

Lower Division Requirements

Three courses from the following four options (12 credits)

PS 101	United States Government	4
	or
PS 102	United States Politics	4
PS 204	Comparative Politics	4
PS 205	International Politics	4
PS 208	Introduction to Political Theory	4

Upper Division Requirements

Three courses from the following four options (12 credits)

PS 447	International Organization	4
PS 448	International Law	4
PS 449	International Environmental Politics and Law	4
PS 454	International Political Economy	4

Political Science electives

Five courses from the following options (20 credits)

PS 319	Politics of the Environment	4
PS 352U	Introduction to European Politics	4
PS 353U	Introduction to Latin American Politics	4
PS 354U	Introduction to Asian Politics	4
PS 355U	Introduction to African Politics	4
PS 361U	Introduction to the Politics of the Middle East	4
PS 362U	Arab-Israeli Conflict	4
PS 455	Politics of Economic Reform in Emerging Market Countries	4
PS 460/Intl 460	Political Development in Modern Turkey	4
PS 461/Intl 461	Politics of Economic Reform in Modern Turkey	4
PS 466	Politics of China	4
PS 471	Gender & Politics: A Comparative Perspective	4
PS 474	Democracy and Development in Latin America	4
PS 479	Transitions to Democracy	4
PS 483	Justice in the Modern World	4

Non-Political Science electives

Three courses from the following options (12 credits)

Ec 340	International Economics	4
Ec 442	The Multinational Enterprise in the World Economy	4
Ec 445	Comparative Economic Systems	4
Ec 447	Economics of Transition	4
Ec 450	Economics of Development	4
Geog 331U	Geography of Globalization	4
Geog 340U	Global Water Issues and Sustainability	4
Geog 346U	World Population and Food Supply	4
Intl 397	Theory and Policy in International Development	4
Intl 490	Global Sustainable Development	4
Phl 350U	International Ethics	4
Soc 320U	Globalization	4
Soc 420	Urbanization and Community	4
Soc 450	Sociology of Higher Education	4
Soc 441/USP 419	Population and Society	4
Soc 463	Global Inequalities and Health	4
Soc 465	Environmental Sociology	4

Research Project (4 credits)

PS 404	Cooperative Education/Internship	1-12
PS 405	Reading and Conference	1-6
Total Credit Hours:		60

(Choose one of the following)