The BS Political Science and Human Services program seeks to prepare students with skills and tools to advocate for social issues at all levels of society. Human services program students are well positioned to pursue fields in the social change arena (nongovernment organizations, or NGOS; counseling; and political advocacy). Political science students are also well positioned to change and shape the domestic and international political landscape in American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and public policy. Students engage in an integrated educational program that emphasizes experiential approaches to learning through service-learning, co-op, internship, and study-abroad opportunities. Upon completion of the degree, students can apply professional skills in counseling roles, nonprofit management, political advocacy, or organizational and community development. The program is designed to prepare students to pursue admission to law school, admission to graduate school, or careers in government and the nonprofit sector, as well as careers in teaching, journalism, legislative or lobbying positions, public relations activities, and work in international corporations and NGOs.
Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.
Universitywide Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.
NUpath Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.
Political Science Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
POLS 1150 | American Government | 4 |
POLS 1155 | Comparative Politics | 4 |
POLS 1160 | International Relations | 4 |
POLS 2400 | Quantitative Techniques | 4 |
| 4 |
| Ancient Philosophy and Political Thought | |
| Modern Political Thought | |
| American Political Thought | |
| Contemporary Political Thought | |
| 12 |
| |
Political Science Concentrations (Optional)
If you are working toward one of the following concentrations, declare it with your advisor so that it may be added to your record:
Supporting Course for Political Science
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 4 |
| Interactive Mathematics | |
| Mathematical Thinking | |
| Calculus for Business and Economics | |
| Calculus 1 | |
Human Services Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
HUSV 1101 | Social Change and Human Services | 4 |
HUSV 2300 | Counseling in Human Services | 4 |
HUSV 3570 | The Nonprofit Sector, Philanthropy, and Social Change | 4 |
HUSV 4994 | Human Services Internship | 6 |
| 4 |
| Race, Identity, Social Change, and Empowerment | |
| Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression | |
| Intercultural Studies through Human Services | |
| 12 |
Integrative Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
HUSV 3900 | Social Policy | 4 |
POLS 3307 | Public Policy and Administration | 4 |
| 4 |
| Research Methods for Human Services | |
| Research Methods in Political Science | |
| 8 |
| |
| |
| Political Science Senior Capstone | |
| Senior Thesis |
| |
| Senior Seminar in Human Services | |
| |
Political Science and Human Services Combined Major Credit Requirement
Complete 86 semester hours in the major.
Experiential Liberal Arts
All students in this College of Social Sciences and Humanities program are required to complete the Experiential Liberal Arts Requirement.
Program Requirement
128 total semester hours required
Concentration in American Political Institutions
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 16 |
| Campaign Strategy | |
| The U.S. Congress | |
| Judicial Process and Behavior | |
| Public Policy and Administration | |
| Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections | |
Concentration in Campaigns and Elections
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
POLS 3160 | Campaign Strategy | 4 |
POLS 3302 | Judicial Process and Behavior | 4 |
| 8 |
| Urban Policies and Politics | |
| Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections | |
| Politics and Mass Media | |
Concentration in Comparative Politics
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 8 |
| The Holocaust and Comparative Genocide | |
| Democratic Erosion | |
| Immigration Politics | |
| Religion and Politics | |
| Nationalism | |
| Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection | |
| Politics of Developing Nations | |
| 4 |
| Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union | |
| Government and Politics in the Middle East | |
| 4 |
| Model Arab League | |
| Model NATO | |
| Dialogue of Civilizations: Government and Politics Abroad | |
Concentration in Identity, Culture, and Politics
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
POLS 3418 | Nationalism | 4 |
| 12 |
| Immigration Politics | |
| Music and Politics in America and Abroad | |
| Religion and Politics | |
| Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Public Policy | |
| Law and Society | |
Concentration in International Relations and Diplomacy
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 4 |
| Model United Nations | |
| Model Arab League | |
| Dialogue of Civilizations: International Politics Abroad | |
| 12 |
| International Political Economy | |
| International Law | |
| Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union | |
| International Security | |
Concentration in Law and Legal Studies
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 16 |
| American Political Thought | |
| The U.S. Congress | |
| Judicial Process and Behavior | |
| Law and Society | |
| International Law | |
| U.S. Constitutional Law | |
| U.S. Civil Liberties | |
Concentration in Public Policy
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
POLS 3307 | Public Policy and Administration | 4 |
| 12 |
| Urban Policies and Politics | |
| Science, Technology, and Public Policy | |
| Environmental Politics and Policy | |
| U.S. Foreign Policy | |
Concentration in Security Studies
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
| 16 |
| U.S. National Security Policy | |
| Terrorism and Counterterrorism | |
| U.S. Foreign Policy | |
| Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection | |
| Politics of Developing Nations | |
| International Security | |