Bachelor of Arts: Political Science
Degree Requirements
The department requirement for a major is 30 hours of political science.
Required Courses
Students must take the following political science courses:
- 210 American Government
- 220 Comparative Politics
- 490 Senior Seminar
-or-
492WI Senior Seminar (Capstone)
At least 24
hours of political science coursework (including
490
or 492WI) must be at the 300- to 400-
level, and at least 12 hours must be earned at UMKC. Students transferring from
other institutions should check as soon as possible to determine which of their
credits will transfer as 300- to 400-level political science courses.
A political science degree will be granted only to those who have achieved at
least a 2.0 GPA in their approved departmental program.
The major in political science serves both to foster a liberal arts education
and to meet a range of pre-professional educational objectives. Courses
210 and
220 should be taken as early in the student's program as possible.
Because there are optional ways for students to meet the remainder of the
requirements for the major, students should, through
consultation with a department faculty adviser, develop an approved
program of study that best suits their educational goals.
Political science majors are also required to take at least one 300-400 level
course in at least five of the following eight subfields:
Approaches to the Study of Politics
- 302 Political Research And Analysis
- 303 Introduction To Comparative Politics
- 305 Survey Research And Analysis
- 318 Political Psychology
Political Theory
- 301 Western Political Philosophy
- 338 Religion And Politics
- 341 The Theory Of Democracy
- 342 American Political Thought
- 344 Jurisprudence
- 345 The Politics Of Sex And Gender
- 403 Political Ideology
- 440 Contemporary Political Thought
- 441 Political Freedom
- 442 American Political Thought
Public Law
- 346 Introduction to the Trial Process
- 348 Constitutional Law: The Federal System
- 349 Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties
- 405 American Constitutional Thought
- 429 Courts And Public Policy
Comparative Politics
- 304 Politics Of The Developing Nations
- 311 Comparative Politics: Techniques Of Social Control
- 317 Revolutionary Origins Of The Modern State
- 327 Nationalism And Ethnic Conflict
- 338 Religion And Politics
- 353 Chinese Politics
- 354 Politics In Russia
- 355 Politics In Eastern And Central Europe
- 357 European Politics
- 369 Politics Of The Middle East
- 425 Comparative Politics
- 428 Political Culture And Political Behavior
- 432 National Security Policy
International Relations
- 306 International Relations
- 307 The United Nations: Politics And Economics
- 316 Terrorism And Political Violence
- 327 Nationalism And Ethnic Conflict
- 336 American Foreign Policy
- 435P Politics Of The Environment
- 451 International Politics In Europe
American National Politics
- 308 Politics, Parties And Pressure Groups
- 309 Public Opinion And Voting Behavior
- 310 Parliamentary Systems
- 312 Mass Media And American Politics
- 315 Public Policy
- 319 Campaigns And Elections
- 326 Racial & Ethnic Politics
- 406 Presidential Politics
- 406P Political Leadership
- 407 Congressional Politics
- 407P Politics Of Representation
- 408 Judicial Politics
- 409 Bureaucratic Politics
- 409P Bureaucratic Politics
American State and Local Politics
- 313 Politics In The American States
- 314 Local Governments
- 328 State And Local Government
- 343 The Politics Of Social Security
- 424 Urban Politics and Community Power Structures
- 438 Urban Politics
Study Abroad Programs, Experiential Courses and Internships
- 491 Internship
- Other courses specifically approved by the undergraduate adviser
Note: Courses
497 and
498 will only satisfy a subfield requirement if specifically approved by the undergraduate adviser.
