Nov 27, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Political Science, B.S.

120 hours (minimum)

Any student earning a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree must complete a minimum of 60 hours in natural, physical, mathematical, and computer science. Please note: courses with a PS prefix are not accepted towards fulfilling this 60-hour requirement. Therefore, be sure to keep this requirement in mind as you choose your course work for the major. See the complete description of College requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree , including a specific listing of courses applicable to the 60-hour requirement.

UK Core Requirements

See the UK Core section of this Catalog for the complete UK Core requirements . The courses listed below are (a) recommended by the college, or (b) required courses that also fulfill UK Core areas. Students should work closely with their advisor to complete the UK Core requirements.

UK Core hours: 30

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)

WRD 304 - WRITING IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES Credit(s): 3

Subtotal: Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement hours (GCCR): 3

College Requirements

I. Foreign Language: 0-14

(placement exam recommended)

II. Disciplinary Requirements

a. Natural Science: 3

b. Social Science

(completed by Premajor Requirements)

c. Humanities: 3

III. Laboratory or Field Work

(completed by PS 372 )

IV. Race and Ethnicity Requirement: 0-3

V. Electives: 6

College Requirement hours: 12-29

Premajor/Introductory Requirements

*Course used towards completion of a UK Core Requirement.

Field One - American Politics

PS 101 - AMERICAN GOVERNMENT Credit(s): 3

Field Two - Comparative Politics

PS 210 - INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS Credit(s): 3

Field Three - International Relations

PS 230 - INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Credit(s): 3 *

Field Four - Theory/Methodology

PS 240 - INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY Credit(s): 3
OR
PS 372 - INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL ANALYSIS Credit(s): 3

Premajor/Intro hours: 12

Major/Core Requirements

After being introduced to each undergraduate field, Political Science majors must take an additional 39 hours of course work that combines both (1) courses within the discipline and (2) courses covering topics related to the discipline but offered by other programs. These 39 hours, of which 24 must be at the 300+ level, are divided as follows.

Disciplinary Courses

Students must take 18 additional credit hours of political science course work, of which at least 15 hours must be at the 300+ level. Note that PS 399 may not be counted toward this requirement. Eligible courses span all four undergraduate fields:

Field One - American Politics

General American Politics Courses

PS 458 - AMERICAN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Credit(s): 3
PS 470G - AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES Credit(s): 3
PS 471 - RACE, ETHNICITY AND POLITICS Credit(s): 3
PS 472G - POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS Credit(s): 3
PS 473G - PUBLIC OPINION Credit(s): 3
PS 474G - POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY Credit(s): 3
PS 475G - POLITICS AND THE MASS MEDIA Credit(s): 3
PS 476G - LEGISLATIVE PROCESS Credit(s): 3
PS 479 - WOMEN AND POLITICS Credit(s): 3
PS 484G - THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY Credit(s): 3
PS 489G - THE ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC POLICY Credit(s): 3
PS 557 - KENTUCKY GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS Credit(s): 3
PS 580 - THE BUDGETARY PROCESS Credit(s): 3

Courses on American Law and Courts

PS 360 - POLITICS OF LAW AND COURTS Credit(s): 3
PS 363 - CRIMINAL COURTS & PROCESS IN THE U.S. Credit(s): 3
PS 461G - CIVIL LIBERTIES Credit(s): 3
PS 463G - JUDICIAL POLITICS Credit(s): 3
PS 465G - CONSTITUTIONAL LAW Credit(s): 3
PS 566 - CONSTITUTIONAL INTERPRETATION Credit(s): 3

Field Two - Comparative Politics

PS 210 - INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS Credit(s): 3
PS 410 - TOPICS IN REGIONAL POLITICS: (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3
PS 417G - SURVEY OF SUB-SAHARAN POLITICS Credit(s): 3
PS 428G - LATIN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS Credit(s): 3
PS 538 - CONFLICT AND COOPERATION IN LATIN AMERICAN RELATIONS Credit(s): 3

Field Three - International Relations

PS 430G - THE CONDUCT OF AMERICAN FOREIGN RELATIONS Credit(s): 3
PS 431G - NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY Credit(s): 3
PS 433G - POLITICS OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS Credit(s): 3
PS 436G - INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION Credit(s): 3
PS 437G - DYNAMICS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW Credit(s): 3
PS 439G - SPECIAL TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Credit(s): 3
PS 538 - CONFLICT AND COOPERATION IN LATIN AMERICAN RELATIONS Credit(s): 3

Field Four - Theory/Methodology

PS 240 - INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY Credit(s): 3
OR
PS 372 - INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL ANALYSIS Credit(s): 3
PS 441G - EARLY POLITICAL THEORY Credit(s): 3
PS 442G - MODERN POLITICAL THEORY Credit(s): 3
PS 545 - AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT Credit(s): 3
PS 572 - INTRODUCTION TO QUANTITATIVE POLITICAL METHODOLOGY Credit(s): 3
Note: PS 391 , PS 395 , PS 490 , and PS 492 also meet this disciplinary requirement, although the fields will vary depending on the topic.

Other Courses

Choose 6 hours of PS courses (including 1-6 hours of PS 399 ) or approved courses from outside political science (see list below) Credit(s): 6

From Outside the Major Department

Choose 15 hours outside political science from the list below. Other course offerings may be substituted, subject to the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies Credit(s): 15

Any course numbered 200 or above from the following prefixes: AAS, ANT, APP, CLD, ECO, ENS, GWS, GEO, HIS, IS, LAS, MAS, PCE, PHI, PSY, SOC, STA, and WRD.
Any course numbered 300 or above from the following prefixes: AEC, AIS, CHI, CLA, EPE, FR, GER, SPA, INT, IT, HJS, JPN, MCL, and RUS.

Major/Core hours: 39

Electives

Choose electives to lead to the minimum total of 120 hours required for graduation.

Political Science, B.S.

UK Core Requirements

I. Intellectual Inquiry in Arts and Creativity

II. Intellectual Inquiry in the Humanities

III. Intellectual Inquiry in the Social Sciences

IV. Intellectual Inquiry in the Natural, Physical, and Mathematical Sciences

V. Composition and Communication I

VI. Composition and Communication II

VII. Quantitative Foundations

VIII. Statistical Inferential Reasoning

IX. Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA

X. Global Dynamics

UK Core hours: 30

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)

Subtotal: Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement hours (GCCR): 3

College Requirements

I. Foreign Language: 0-14

II. Disciplinary Requirements

a. Natural Science: 3

b. Social Science

c. Humanities: 3

III. Laboratory or Field Work

IV. Race and Ethnicity Requirement: 0-3

V. Electives: 6

College Requirement hours: 12-29

Premajor/Introductory Requirements

Field One - American Politics

Field Two - Comparative Politics

Field Three - International Relations

Field Four - Theory/Methodology

Premajor/Intro hours: 12

Major/Core Requirements

Field One - American Politics

General American Politics Courses

Courses on American Law and Courts

Field Two - Comparative Politics

Field Three - International Relations

Field Four - Theory/Methodology

Other Courses

From Outside the Major Department

Major/Core hours: 39

Electives

Total Minimum Hours Required for Degree: 120