Program Learning Goals:
- Students will engage analytically and critically with issues, problems, and practical dilemmas.
- Students will acquire knowledge of political institutions, processes, and theories in both American and global contexts.
- Students will develop their written communication and public speaking abilities.
- Graduates will be prepared to assume constructive roles in society.
Program Requirements
All standard majors require a minor in a second discipline or a second major.
A minimum of 36 credits is required including the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 117 | Democracy, Capitalism, and Their Critics (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| POLS 180 | Power in America (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| POLS 255 | Inequality and Development (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| POLS 260 | Globalization, Borders and the Human (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| POLS 309 | Political Theory I- Ancient to Early Modern | 3 |
| POLS 310 | Political Theory II-Modern and Contemporary | 3 |
| Select five of the following: | 15 | |
| Politics of the Environment | ||
| Issues in State and Local Government | ||
| Constitutional Law I | ||
| Constitutional Law II | ||
| Propaganda and the Art of Resistance | ||
| The Politics of the Presidency | ||
| Politics of Social Movements | ||
| Human Rights | ||
| The Global South | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| Political Economy | ||
| American Political Thought | ||
| Model UN | ||
| Mock Trial | ||
| Internship in Politics and Government | ||
| Capstone course: | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
A statistics course may be used to meet the POLS elective requirement.
Western Watershed General Education Requirements
Students must complete all Western Watershed General Education requirements to graduate.
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
Degree Plans are for planning purposes. They reflect a suggested plan to complete the degree in a projected timeframe per program of study.
“Western Watershed Course(s)” refers to a course from the Tributaries area of the Western Watershed program. These courses should be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
Sample Plan
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| POLS 117 | Democracy, Capitalism, and Their Critics (GT-HI1) (also Gen Ed) | 3 |
| POLS 180 | Power in America (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
| WWGE 101/102/103/104 | Headwaters: Studies in...(select one) | 2 |
| Western Watershed | Non-specific Western Watershed Courses | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS 260 | Globalization, Borders and the Human (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| MINOR | Minor Course (1 of 7) | 3 |
| POLS | POLS Elective (1 of 5) | 3 |
| ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Non-specific Western Watershed Courses | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| POLS 255 | Inequality and Development (GT-SS1) | 3 |
| POLS 309 | Political Theory I- Ancient to Early Modern | 3 |
| MINOR | Minor course (2 of 7) | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Non-specific Western Watershed Courses | 6 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS 310 | Political Theory II-Modern and Contemporary | 3 |
| POLS | POLS Elective (2 of 5) | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Non-specific Western Watershed Courses | 6 |
| Elective | Minor, 2nd Major or Certificate Course | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| POLS | POLS Elective (3 of 5) | 3 |
| MINOR | Minor Course (4 of 7) | 3 |
| Elective | Electives | 6 |
| Western Watershed | Non-specific Western Watershed Courses | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS | POLS Elective (4 of 5) | 3 |
| MINOR | Minor Course (5 of 7) | 3 |
| Elective | Electives | 9 |
| WWGE 301/302/303/304 | Delta Studies in...(select one) | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| POLS | POLS Elective (5 of 5) | 3 |
| MINOR | Minor Course (6 of 7) | 3 |
| Elective | Electives | 9 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS 485 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| MINOR | Minor Course (7 of 7) | 3 |
| Elective | Electives | 9 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Western is committed to doing our part to provide each student a clear path to graduation. This four‐year degree plan is a sample map for fulfilling requirements in the major and General Education. The pathway that you take to your degree may differ somewhat from this illustration, depending on where you start and the detours and side trips you may take along the way. You are responsible for ensuring your overall, upper division, and major‐specific credits as well as GPA requirements are fulfilled for graduation.