Political Science - Public Administration and Public Policy Emphasis, B.S.
Political science enjoys a central position among the social sciences. Aristotle characterized politics as the “queen of the sciences.” It is a broad discipline that encompasses philosophical, historical and analytical studies of governments, politics and policies. Political science students learn not only the concepts, theories and methods associated with the discipline, but also gain the cognitive and presentational skills required of tomorrow’s public and private leaders. At its core, politics is about building and maintaining communities at the local, state, national and international levels that enable citizens to live enriching and fulfilling lives. Political science students develop not only an understanding of those communities, but also the ability to influence them.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Requirements | 120 Credits | |
| Complete the requirements | 90 | |
| Emphasis Requirements | ||
| POLS 3300 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| POLS 3310 | Introduction to Public Policy WE | 3 |
| Complete 12 credits from the following courses: | 12 | |
| American Indian Law (3) | ||
| American Indian Policy and Tribal Government (3) | ||
| Public Finance (3) | ||
| Introduction to Human Resource Management (3) | ||
| Public Program Analysis (3) | ||
| State and Local Government (3) | ||
| Policy Analysis (3) | ||
| Nonprofits and The Public Sector (3) | ||
| Environmental Politics and Policy (3) | ||
| Public Innovation (3) | ||
| Health Politics and Policy (3) | ||
| The Politics of Economic Inequality (3) | ||
| Leading Cities (3) | ||
| Local Economic Development (3) | ||
| Urban Planning (3) | ||
| Issues and Topics in Political Science (3) | ||
| Independent Study (1-4) | ||
| Complete any 12 elective credits (at least 4 credits must be upper division) | 12 | |
Core Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours | 90 | |
| General Education Requirements | 35 Credits | |
| ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Academic Writing CC | 3 |
| or ENGH 1005 | Literacies and Composition Across Contexts CC | |
| ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing CC | 3 |
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning QL (3) (recommended) | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning with Integrated Algebra QL (6) (recommended) | ||
| Introduction to Statistics QL (3) | ||
| Introduction to Statistics with Algebra QL (5) | ||
| College Algebra QL (4) (recommended for business, Education, Science, and Health Professions majors) | ||
| College Algebra with Preliminaries QL (5) | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| American Civilization AS (3) | ||
| US History to 1877 AS and US History since 1877 AS (6) | ||
| US Economic History AS (3) | ||
| American Heritage AS (3) | ||
| Complete the following: | ||
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics and Values IH | 3 |
| HLTH 1100 | Personal Health and Wellness TE | 2 |
| or EXSC 1097 | Fitness for Life TE | |
| Distribution Courses: | ||
| Biology | 3 | |
| Physical Science | 3 | |
| Additional Biology or Physical Science | 3 | |
| Humanities | 3 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Discipline Core Requirements | 30 Credits | |
| POLS 1100 | American National Government AS | 3 |
| POLS 2100 | Introduction to International Relations SS | 3 |
| POLS 2200 | Introduction to Comparative Politics SS | 3 |
| POLS 230G | Introduction to Political Theory GI | 3 |
| POLS 3000 | Political Analysis | 3 |
| POLS 4990 | Senior Seminar WE (3) | 3 |
| or POLS 480R | Internship WE | |
| or PJST 4900 | Peace and Justice Studies Capstone WE | |
| Quantitative Requirement | ||
| POLS 3010 | Political Analysis II | 3 |
| Complete 9 credits from the following courses: | 9 | |
| Public Program Analysis (3) | ||
| Survey Research and Design Methods (3) | ||
| Experimental Methods in Political Science (3) | ||
| Qualitative Analysis (3) | ||
| Policy Analysis (3) | ||
| Elective Requirements | 25 Credits | |
| Any courses numbered 1000 or higher. (3 credit hours must be upper division (3000-4000 level courses) | 25 | |
Graduation Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 120 or more semester credits, 40 credits must be upper-division.
- Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or above, with no POLS course grade below C-.
- Residency hours: minimum of 30 credit hours through course attendance at UVU, with at least 10 hours earned in the last 45 hours.
- Completion of GE and specified departmental requirements.
- Successful completion of at least one Global/Intercultural course.
Graduation Plan
This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 1010 or ENGH 1005 | Introduction to Academic Writing CC or Literacies and Composition Across Contexts CC | 3 |
| POLS 1100 | American National Government AS | 3 |
| HLTH 1100 or EXSC 1097 | Personal Health and Wellness TE or Fitness for Life TE | 2 |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Lower-Div Elective | 3 | |
| Lower-Div Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing CC | 3 |
| MAT 1030 | Quantitative Reasoning QL | 3 |
| Humanities | 3 | |
| American Institutions | 3 | |
| POLS 2100 | Introduction to International Relations SS | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 3 | ||
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics and Values IH | 3 |
| Biological Science | 3 | |
| Physical Science | 3 | |
| Social/Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| POLS 230G | Introduction to Political Theory GI | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| POLS 2200 | Introduction to Comparative Politics SS | 3 |
| Biological / Physical Science | 3 | |
| POLS 3310 | Introduction to Public Policy WE | 3 |
| Lower-Div Elective | 3 | |
| Lower-Div Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester 5 | ||
| POLS 3250 | Introduction to Law and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3300 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| Upper-Div Elective | 3 | |
| POLS 3000 | Political Analysis | 3 |
| Lower-Div. Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| Quantitative Requirements | 3 | |
| POLS 3010 | Political Analysis II | 3 |
| POLS Concentration | 3 | |
| POLS Concentration | 3 | |
| Lower-Div. Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester 7 | ||
| Quantitative Requirements | 3 | |
| POLS Concentration | 3 | |
| POLS Concentration | 3 | |
| POLS Concentration | 3 | |
| POLS Concentration | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| Quantitative Requirements | 3 | |
| POLS 480R or POLS 4990 | Internship WE or Senior Seminar WE | 3 |
| POLS Concentration | 3 | |
| Lower-Div Elective | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate critical reading, analytical thinking, advanced writing, and oral presentation skills.
- Demonstrate competency in identifying and comparing various types of political models, political theories, and academic literature.
- Acquire civic knowledge and understand how it is important for civic engagement.