If you are interested in the structure, process, and outcomes of politics and government, then a degree in Political Science will allow you the opportunity to study courses in the areas of American politics, international relations, public administration and policy, and law.
In our program, you will learn the necessary skills in analysis, critical thinking and communication to prepare you for your future career path or for graduate study. Each year some majors study abroad or spend a semester in Washington, D.C.
Our graduates go on to successful careers with government agencies; in law and law enforcement; in local, state or national politics; and with non-profit organizations.
Political science remains the #1 major for law school, and many students combine the major with the Pre-Law Minor. While the largest number of alumni attend the University of South Carolina School of Law, others study at Georgetown, North Carolina Central, Penn State, Maryland, Yeshiva and other institutions. Alumni are prosecutors, public defenders and in all areas of private practice.
Others earn a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and serve as city or county managers or as government professionals.
Recent alumni have used Lander’s M.S. in Emergency Management program to launch their careers in this growing and important field.
The B.S. in Political Science is a program in the Department of Government, Criminology and Sociology at Lander University. Click here to learn more about the department.
The Department of Government, Criminology and Sociology is housed in Lander University’s College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. For more information on the college, click here.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Note: The information below provides convenient links to some of the courses required for this degree; however, it should not be used as a course registration guide. Please refer to the official Lander University Academic Catalog for the most accurate and up-to-date program requirements.
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS1 | CREDIT HOURS |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Core Skills |
|
||
| ENGL 101 | Writing and Inquiry I | 3 | |
| ENGL 102 | Writing and Inquiry II | 3 | |
| MATH 211 |
Statistical Methods I |
3 | |
|
B. Humanities and Fine Arts |
6 | ||
| C. Behavioral and Social Perspectives (6 hours selected from 2 different disciplines) |
6 | ||
| D. Scientific and Mathematical Reasoning | |||
| Approved Science or Mathematics | 3 | ||
| Approved Lab Science | 4 | ||
| E. Founding Documents of the United States | |||
| HIST 111R2 | United States History to 1877 OR HIST 112R2 United States History since 1877 |
3 | |
| F. World Cultures | 3 | ||
| G. LINK 101 | 1 | ||
| Total General Education Requirements | 35 | ||
1 For approved courses see the General Education section
2 If you already have credit for HIST 111, do not take HIST 111R; if you already have credit for HIST 112, do not take HIST 112R; if you already have credit for POLS 101, do not take POLS 101R
| MAJOR PROGRAM CORE REQUIREMENTS | CREDIT HOURS |
|
|---|---|---|
| POLS 101 | American National Government OR POLS 101R American National Government |
3 |
| POLS 103 | Introduction to World Politics | 3 |
| POLS 200 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 318 | Public Budgeting | 3 |
| POLS 386 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| POLS 499 | Capstone Senior Seminar | 3 |
| MAJOR PROGRAM ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS | CREDIT HOURS |
|---|---|
| American Politics (select 3) POLS 217: Introduction to Public Administration POLS 271: Special Topics in Political Science POLS 302: Political Behavior POLS 307: Public Opinion POLS 308: Law, Politics, and Society POLS 311: Constitutional Law POLS 312: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties POLS 313: Judicial Process POLS 350: Political Psychology POLS 360: Congress and the Presidency POLS 379: Emergency Management POLS 391: Homeland Security Policy SOSC 490: Internship in Social Sciences |
9 |
International Relations and Comparative Politics (select 2) POLS 250: Introduction to Homeland Security POLS 260: British Politics and Culture POLS 303: International Relations POLS 305: European Politics POLS 325: International Conflict and Terrorism POLS 331: Political Philosophy POLS 361: Topics in Global Issues and Cultures POLS 366: International Law POLS 390: The Politics of Globalization POLS 445: American Foreign Policy SOSC 490: Internship in Social Sciences |
6 |
| Total Major Program Requirements | 33 |
| Additional Electives | 52 |
| TOTAL FOR B.S. DEGREE | 120 |