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Political Science - B.A.

Political Science - B.A.

The Bachelor of Arts in Political Science offers a broad understanding of the political system, both domestically and internationally. With a flexible curriculum, knowledgeable faculty and experiential learning opportunities, you'll be equipped with the skills needed for a wide range of careers in the field. Apply now and start pursuing your passion for politics.

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Program Information

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science empowers students to be engaged global citizens and informed consumers of information who are competitive in a range of careers. Graduates work in the public and private sectors across the United States and around the globe. Many also go on to graduate programs or to law school.

Students in the major are provided internship and study abroad opportunities, including two semester-long, 15-credit hour internship programs, one in Washington, D.C., and one in Columbus, Ohio. In addition, the Department of Political Science offers study-abroad courses in multiple countries during the summer, and students often also take advantage of Kent State programs in Florence, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. More information can be found on the Department of Political Science website.

The Political Science major comprises the following concentrations:

  • The American Politics concentration investigates the political context of life in the United States in courses on public opinion, elections and the media, as well as Congress, the presidency, and the courts.
  • The International Relations-Comparative Politics concentration focuses on international policy and politics, including aid and development, energy and oil, human rights and regions of the world (e.g., Latin America,  the Middle East and Russia).
  • The General concentration allows students to design their own specialization rather than choosing a specific area to concentrate.
  • The Public Policy concentration explores how governments address major policy questions such as health care, environmental protection and foreign policy. Courses introduce students not only to policy questions and implications, but also to the skills involved in policy analysis. 
Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency unless they meet specific exceptions. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate critical thinking and analysis skills.
  2. Demonstrate advanced written and oral communication skills.
  3. Demonstrate advanced understanding of national and international issues and political systems.
  4. Demonstrate multicultural literacy.
  5. Demonstrate competence with quantitative statistical and qualitative analysis tools.
Coursework
On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
POL 10004COMPARATIVE POLITICS (DIVG) (KSS) 3
or POL 10500 WORLD POLITICS (DIVG) (KSS)
POL 10100AMERICAN POLITICS (DIVD) (KSS) 13
or POL 10300 PUBLIC POLICY
POL 30001RESEARCH METHODS (ELR) 3
POL 30002POLITICAL THOUGHT 3
or POL 30003 POLITICAL ECONOMY
Political Science (POL) Elective3
Political Science (POL) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 23
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)14-16
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)3
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Kent Core Additional3-6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credits hour, including 39 upper-division credit hours)39
Concentrations
Choose from the following:18
American Politics
General
International Relations - Comparative Politics
Public Policy
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

Students who choose POL 10100 will need to take 3 credit hours of Kent Core Additional. Students who do not choose POL 10100 will need to take 6 credit hours of Kent Core Additional.

2

The following courses may be applied toward upper-division electives as approved by the department: POL 40992, POL 40995, POL 40996, POL 41990 and POL 42990.

American Politics Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
POL 40191SEMINAR IN AMERICAN POLITICS (WIC) 13
Concentration Electives, choose from the following:15
POL 10200
INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN LEGAL PROFESSION
POL 30000
MAY 4 1970 AND ITS AFTERMATH
POL 30100
AMERICAN POLITICAL THEORY
POL 30110
THE CONGRESS
POL 30120
PRESIDENCY AND EXECUTIVE BUREAUCRACY
POL 30130
THE JUDICIAL PROCESS
POL 30430
OHIO POLITICS
POL 30450
URBAN POLITICS AND POLICY
POL 30460
STATE POLITICS AND POLICY
POL 40112
POLITICS AND THE MASS MEDIA
POL 40116
PUBLIC OPINION AND POLITICAL BEHAVIOR
POL 40118
POLITICAL PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS
POL 40182
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS
POL 40183
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES (DIVD)
POL 40410
REGULATORY POLICY
POL 40440
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICIES
POL 40450
HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL POLICY
POL 40470
WOMEN, POLITICS AND POLICY (DIVD)
POL 40620
POLITICS OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS (DIVD)
POL 40930
U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

General Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
POL 40191SEMINAR IN AMERICAN POLITICS (WIC) 13
or POL 40391 SEMINAR IN PUBLIC POLICY (WIC)
or POL 40591 SEMINAR IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS-COMPARATIVE POLITICS (WIC)
Political Science (POL) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 215
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18
1

A minimum C grade must be earned in one to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

The following courses may be applied toward upper-division electives as approved by the department: POL 40992, POL 40995, POL 40996, POL 41990 and POL 42990.

International Relations - Comparative Politics Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
POL 40591SEMINAR IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS-COMPARATIVE POLITICS (WIC) 13
Concentration Electives, choose from the following:15
POL 30500
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY
POL 30520
EUROPEAN POLITICS (DIVG)
POL 30530
ASIAN POLITICS (DIVG)
POL 30540
AFRICAN POLITICS (DIVG)
POL 30550
LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS (DIVG)
POL 30560
MIDDLE EAST POLITICS (DIVG)
POL 30570
PALESTINE AND ISRAEL (DIVG)
POL 30810
POLITICS OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
POL 30820
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AND LAW
POL 30840
NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
POL 40530
POLITICS OF WAR
POL 40540
POLITICS OF DEVELOPMENT (DIVG)
POL 40560
HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE (DIVG)
POL 40620
POLITICS OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS (DIVD)
POL 40840
COMPARATIVE FOREIGN POLICY
POL 40930
U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Public Policy Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
POL 40391SEMINAR IN PUBLIC POLICY (WIC) 13
Concentration Electives, choose from the following:15
POL 10200
INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN LEGAL PROFESSION
POL 30300
PUBLIC POLICY THEORY
POL 30301
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
POL 30310
PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS
POL 30350
ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION
POL 30430
OHIO POLITICS
POL 30450
URBAN POLITICS AND POLICY
POL 30460
STATE POLITICS AND POLICY
POL 30810
POLITICS OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
POL 30820
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AND LAW
POL 30840
NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
POL 40320
ETHICS AND PUBLIC POLICY
POL 40410
REGULATORY POLICY
POL 40440
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICIES
POL 40450
HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL POLICY
POL 40470
WOMEN, POLITICS AND POLICY (DIVD)
POL 40840
COMPARATIVE FOREIGN POLICY
POL 40930
U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language.1
To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options2:

  1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
  2. Elementary I and II of a second language
  3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:
  • Intermediate I of the same language
  • ARAB 21401
  • ASL 19401
  • CHIN 25421
  • MCLS 10001
  • MCLS 20001
  • MCLS 20091
  • MCLS 21417
  • MCLS 21420
  • MCLS 22217
  • MCLS 28403
  • MCLS 28404
1

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

2

Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular language coursework.

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
POL 10100
or POL 10300
 AMERICAN POLITICS (DIVD) (KSS)
or PUBLIC POLICY
3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
POL 10004
or POL 10500
 COMPARATIVE POLITICS (DIVG) (KSS)
or WORLD POLITICS (DIVG) (KSS)
3
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Three
POL 30002
or POL 30003
 POLITICAL THOUGHT
or POLITICAL ECONOMY
3
Foreign Language 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
Concentration Electives 6
Foreign Language 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
POL 30001 RESEARCH METHODS (ELR) 3
Concentration Electives 6
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
Political Science (POL) Elective 3
Concentration Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement or General Elective 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
Political Science (POL) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
General Electives 12
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
Concentration Seminar Requirement 3
General Electives 12
 Credit Hours15
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Internship Opportunities

The Political Science Department offers two in-house internship programs. The Washington Program in National Issues (WPNI) and the Columbus Program in State Issues (CPSI) may be count for hours required in a concentration, depending upon the nature of the internship undertaken. See the Undergraduate Advisor with specific questions.

Looking for Our Graduate Program?

Click here to learn more about our M.A. program in Political Science.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

Political scientists

6.1%

faster than the average

7,000

number of jobs

$125,350

potential earnings

Social science research assistants

5.8%

faster than the average

40,100

number of jobs

$49,210

potential earnings

Political science teachers, postsecondary

4.9%

about as fast as the average

19,800

number of jobs

$85,760

potential earnings

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

3.8%

about as fast as the average

1,050,800

number of jobs

$62,870

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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