Political Science, BS

Liberal Studies (42 hours)

Liberal Studies Program Requirements  

Major Requirements

The major requires 36 hours as follows:

Core Courses: 15 hours

(must earn ”C” or better in each core course)

• PSC 101 - American Government and Politics Credits: 3
• PSC 230 - Political Analysis I Credits: 3
• PSC 240 - Political Theory Credits: 3
• PSC 499 - Senior Capstone Credits: 1

• and

• PSC 169 - Global Issues Credits: 3

• or

• INST 200 - Introduction to International Studies Credits: 3

• When taking INST 200 instead of PSC 169, students should take three additional hours of any PSC elective.

American Politics (3 hours)

Select one course from the following list:

• PSC 301 - Congress Credits: 3
• PSC 308 - American Presidency Credits: 3
• PSC 312 - Judicial Process Credits: 3
• PSC 313 - Constitutional Law: Structure and Powers Credits: 3
• PSC 314 - Southern Politics Credits: 3
• PSC 315 - Political Parties, Campaigns and Elections Credits: 3
• PSC 316 - Gender and Politics Credits: 3
• PSC 318 - Political Communication Credits: 3
• PSC 322 - Public Administration Credits: 3
• PSC 323 - The Nonprofit Sector Credits: 3
• PSC 324 - Political and Organizational Leadership Credits: 3
• PSC 325 - Public Policy Credits: 3
• PSC 326 - Natural Resources Policy and Administration Credits: 3
• PSC 327 - State and Local Government Credits: 3
• PSC 328 - U.S. Social Policy Credits: 3
• PSC 494 - Special Topics in American Politics Credits: 3, R6

Comparative Politics/International Relations (3 hours)

Select one course from the following list:

• PSC 352 - International Security Credits: 3
• PSC 353 - International Political Economy Credits: 3
• PSC 354 - International Environmental Politics Credits: 3
• PSC 357 - Political Violence Credits: 3
• PSC 358 - United States Foreign Policy Credits: 3
• PSC 359 - International Law Credits: 3
• PSC 361 - On War Credits: 3
• PSC 370 - Politics of Ethnic Conflict Credits: 3
• PSC 375 - European Politics Credits: 3
• PSC 376 - African Politics Credits: 3
• PSC 377 - Middle East Politics Credits: 3
• PSC 378 - Asian Politics Credits: 3
• PSC 379 - Latin American Politics Credits: 3
• PSC 380 - Politics of Developing Areas Credits: 3
• PSC 451 - Model United Nations Credits: 3, R6
• PSC 452 - Model United Nations II Credits: 3
• PSC 493 - Special Topics in World Politics Credits: 3, R6

Research Requirement (3 hours)

• PSC 231 - Political Analysis II Credits: 3

Electives (9 hours)

Anything with a PSC prefix counts for this requirement.

Engaged Experience (3 hours)

Select one course from the following list:

• PSC 451 - Model United Nations Credits: 3, R6
• PSC 452 - Model United Nations II Credits: 3
• PSC 455 - Civic Engagement Credits: 3
• PSC 483 - Internship in Political Science Credits: 3
• PSC 484 - Internship in Political Science Credits: 3
• PSC 485 - Internship in Political Science Credits: 3

• Study abroad also counts for this category. Talk to your advisor for details.

Additional Requirements

Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in the major, and no grade below a C (2.0) for any core course in the major will be accepted.  No more than six hours can be applied to cooperative education or internship.

In addition to the requirements for the major and Liberal Studies, 42 additional hours are required, including a minor, second major, or other approved program. To meet one of the gerneral university requirements, at least 30 hours taken at WCU must be at the junior-senior level.

Visit the department’s website at https://www.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/cas/social-sciences/poliscipublicaffairs/psc/index.aspx to view the eight-semester curriculum guide.