Political Science, BA
Academic Standards
Students must earn a minimum grade of “C” in all classes pertaining to their major and in those required in the support area and unrestricted electives. Furthermore, a minimum grade of “C” is required in the minor area (if applicable).
Teacher Certification
The Division of Social Sciences allows those students interested in pursuing a career in the K-12 academic environment to major in either history or political sciences and still obtain the teacher’s certification. The degree will be designated as a Bachelor of Arts in History or Political Science degree with secondary teacher certification.
Students pursuing the teacher’s certification must consult with their advisor in the Division of Social Sciences within their first two semesters of study at Prairie View A&M University to ensure timely completion of the University’s core curriculum before applying to the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education. For more information on the requirements and guidelines for admission to the teacher’s certification program, students should see the teacher certification section of the catalog under the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education.
Political Science Program
The Political Science Program provides students with the knowledge and training necessary for personal, academic, and professional development in a friendly academic environment. The curriculum is designed to help students develop their reasoning and critical thinking skills and improve their competence in oral and written communication. The fundamental goal of the program is to provide students with the theoretical underpinnings and analytical tools required to research and understand political issues and governmental processes. In addition to providing support courses for all undergraduate studies at Prairie View A&M University, the program strives to achieve the following pivotal goals:
- Prepare students for graduate and professional schools by exposing them to a variety of concepts, theories, and methodologies used in the study of Political Science;
- Train students for careers in government, law, education, journalism, urban planning, international affairs, business, and many other fields on which public policy has an impact; and
- Help students develop a sustained interest in the day-to-day activities of governmental institutions and processes, as well as in events and issues that occur daily at the local, state, national, and international levels.
The program offers a B.A. in Political Science with courses tailored to students of diverse educational and career interests. The curriculum covers many of the sub-fields of Political Science, such as American government and politics, public law, comparative politics, international politics, public administration, research methodology, and political theory. The program also offers specialty courses in a wide range of topics including blacks in the American political system, race and gender in politics, Gandhi and King, and legal studies. The program requires the completion of 33 credit hours of Political Science courses, of which POSC 2304, POSC 2341, POSC 3354, and POSC 4311 are required for majors in the discipline.
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Degree Program Requirements
Complete Core Curriculum Listing at https://catalog.pvamu.edu/universitycorecurriculum/
| Core Curriculum 42 Credit Hours | ||
| Communication (Select Two) | 6 | |
| Mathematics (Select One) | 3 | |
| Life and Physical Sciences (Select Two) | 6 | |
| Language, Philosophy, and Culture ( Select One) | 3 | |
| Creative Arts (Select One) | 3 | |
| American History (Select Two) | 6 | |
| Government/Political Science | 6 | |
| American Government | ||
| Texas Government | ||
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (Select One) | 3 | |
| Component Area Option One (Select One) | 3 | |
| Component Area Option Two (Select One) | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Requirements (One Language) | 6 | |
| Major Requirements 2 | ||
| POSC 2304 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| POSC 2341 | Scope and Methods in Political Science | 3 |
| POSC 3354 | International Politics | 3 |
| POSC 4311 | American Constitutional Law | 3 |
| Political Science Electives: (Select seven courses from the list below): | 21 | |
| Political Parties and Elections | ||
| Public Administration | ||
| Legal Studies | ||
| Blacks and the American Political System | ||
| Global Issues | ||
| Latin American and Caribbean Politics | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Modern Political Theory | ||
| Election Law and Voting Rights | ||
| Public Policy Analysis | ||
| Policital Studies Thru Film | ||
| Gandhi and King | ||
| Political Resistance and Social Change | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| U.S. Foreign Policy | ||
| African Politics | ||
| Middle East Politics | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Urban Government and Politics | ||
| The Presidency | ||
| The Legislative Process | ||
| Special Topics in Political Science | ||
| Judicial Politics | ||
| Seminar in Political Science | ||
| Race, Gender and Public Policy | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Internship in Political Science | ||
| Support Area | ||
| ECON 2301 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ENGL 2314 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| or ENGL 2327 | American Literature I | |
| or ENGL 2328 | American Literature II | |
| or ENGL 3304 | Professional Writing for Electronic Media | |
| or ENGL 3324 | Studies in American Literature | |
| GEOG 1302 | Introduction to Human Geography | 3 |
| PSYC 2317 | Statistical Methods in Psychology | 3 |
| or SOCG 4305 | Social Statistics | |
| Unrestricted Electives | 9 | |
| Concentration Requirement (Select one option from below) | 18 | |
Minor field of study (18 SCH) 4 | ||
With Teacher Certification Concentration (18 SCH) | ||
| Educational Foundations | ||
| Educational Psychology | ||
| Instructional Planning and Assessment | ||
| Instructional Methodology and Classroom Management | ||
| Student Teaching Secondary II | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
All Political Science Core Curriculum requirements are shown in the suggested degree program. In order to fulfill the 6 SCH of Life and Physical Sciences requirements, students are advised to take a BIOL, CHEM, PHYS, or PHSC sequence.
- 2
Students must earn a minimum grade of “C” in all classes pertaining to their major and in those required in the support area and unrestricted electives. Furthermore, a minimum grade of “C” is required in the minor area (if applicable).
- 3
This course is repeatable for up to 9 semester credit hours credits when the topic differs.
- 4
Depending on the credit hours required by the selected minor.