Mar 03, 2025

2025-2026 General Catalog

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2025-2026 General Catalog

Political Science, B.A.

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General Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements (124 Cr.)

Major Requirements (Minimum 30 Cr.)

POLS 120 - The Government of the United States Credits: 3
POLS 130 - Comparative Politics Credits: 3
POLS 240 - Political Theory Credits: 3
POLS 493 - Senior Seminar in Political Science Credits: 3

One concentration from the following options:

General Political Science: 18 Cr.

Take 18 additional credits of Political Science courses.

Must include at least one of the following courses:
POLS 326 - The Presidency Credits: 3
POLS 327 - Congress Credits: 3
POLS 336 - Politics of Latin America Credits: 3
POLS 342 - Political Ideologies Credits: 3
POLS 360 - Public Administration Credits: 3
POLS 361 - Public Policy Credits: 3
POLS 437 - Comparative Public Policy Credits: 3

Legal Studies Concentration: 18 Cr.

At least one course from the following options:

POLS 326 - The Presidency Credits: 3
POLS 327 - Congress Credits: 3
POLS 342 - Political Ideologies Credits: 3

At least fifteen of the remaining eighteen Political Science credits from the following options:

POLS 170 - The Field of Law Credits: 1
POLS 261 - State and Local Politics in the United, States Credits: 3
POLS 271 - The Judicial Process Credits: 3
POLS 290 - Topics in Political Science Credits: 3 (when topic is appropriate)
POLS 326 - The Presidency Credits: 3 (if not taken above)
POLS 327 - Congress Credits: 3 (if not taken above)
POLS 342 - Political Ideologies Credits: 3 (if not taken above)
POLS 352 - Model United Nations Credits: 3
POLS 371 - Constitutional Law: Separation of Powers and Federalism Credits: 3
POLS 372 - Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Credits: 3
POLS 386 - Internship in Political Science Credits: 1
POLS 390 - Adv Topics in Poli Sci I Credits: 3 (when topic is appropriate)
POLS 450 - Intl Regimes and Global Governance Credits: 3
POLS 490 - Adv Top: Poli Sci II Credits: 1 (when topic is appropriate)

Public Policy and Administration Concentration: 18 Cr.

POLS 360 - Public Administration Credits: 3
POLS 361 - Public Policy Credits: 3

At least twelve credits from the following options:

POLS 210 - Research Methods in Political Science Credits: 3
POLS 211 - Policy and Persuasion Credits: 3
POLS 221 - Political Behavior Credits: 3
POLS 261 - State and Local Politics in the United, States Credits: 3
POLS 271 - The Judicial Process Credits: 3
POLS 320 - Politics of Urban and Metropolitan Areas Credits: 3
POLS 326 - The Presidency Credits: 3
POLS 327 - Congress Credits: 3
POLS 386 - Internship in Political Science Credits: 1 (when topic is appropriate)
POLS 390 - Adv Topics in Poli Sci I Credits: 3 (when topic is appropriate)
POLS 437 - Comparative Public Policy Credits: 3
POLS 438 - Gender & Public Policy in Global Perspec Credits: 3
POLS 490 - Adv Top: Poli Sci II Credits: 1 (when topic is appropriate)

International Relations Concentration (18 Cr.)

POLS 150 - International Relations Credits: 3

At least one course from the following options:

POLS 336 - Politics of Latin America Credits: 3
POLS 342 - Political Ideologies Credits: 3
POLS 360 - Public Administration Credits: 3
POLS 361 - Public Policy Credits: 3
POLS 437 - Comparative Public Policy Credits: 3

At least twelve credits from the following options:

POLS 231 - Politics of Developing States Credits: 3
POLS 330 - Politics of Industrialized States Credits: 3
POLS 291 - Topics in International Relations Credits: 3
POLS 332 - Politics of China and E Asia Credits: 3
POLS 333 - Politics of Africa Credits: 3
POLS 334 - Politics of the Middle East Credits: 3
POLS 336 - Politics of Latin America Credits: 3 (if not taken above)
POLS 351 - American Foreign Policy Credits: 3
POLS 352 - Model United Nations Credits: 3
POLS 359 - Study Abroad Field Research Credits: 3
POLS 391 - Advtop in International Relations Credits: 3
POLS 437 - Comparative Public Policy Credits: 3 (if not taken above)
POLS 438 - Gender & Public Policy in Global Perspec Credits: 3
POLS 450 - Intl Regimes and Global Governance Credits: 3
POLS 454 - International Political Economy Credits: 3
POLS 456 - War and Conflict Credits: 3
POLS 491 - Adv Top in Intl Rel II: DC Credits: 1

Up to six credits of the following can be counted toward the twelve credits:

POLS 210 - Research Methods in Political Science Credits: 3
POLS 290 - Topics in Political Science Credits: 3
POLS 342 - Political Ideologies Credits: 3 (if not taken above)
POLS 343 - Principles of Peace and Social Justice Credits: 3
POLS 360 - Public Administration Credits: 3 (if not taken above)
POLS 361 - Public Policy Credits: 3 (if not taken above)
POLS 386 - Internship in Political Science Credits: 1
POLS 390 - Adv Topics in Poli Sci I Credits: 3
POLS 490 - Adv Top: Poli Sci II Credits: 1

Degree Map

Freshman Year

Fall: Semester 1

VUE 101 - Valparaiso University Experience: Exploring Values Credits: 4
World Language General Education Course Credits: 4
Humanities General Education Course Credits: 3
POLS 120 - The Government of the United States Credits: 3

Total Credits: 14

Spring: Semester 2

VUE 102 - Valparaiso University Experience: Finding Your Voice Credits: 4
World Language General Education Course Credits: 4
Natural Science (+Lab) General Education Course Credits: 4
POLS 130 - Comparative Politics Credits: 3

Total Credits: 15

Sophomore Year

Fall: Semester 3

POLS 240 - Political Theory Credits: 3
Writing Intensive Course (WIC) Credits: 3
Minor Course Credits: 3
REL 100 - Religion and Society Credits: 3
Natural Science (+Lab) General Education Course Credits: 4

Total Credits: 16

Spring: Semester 4

POLS Elective Credits: 3
POLS Elective Credits: 3
Social Science General Education Course Credits: 3
Humanities General Education Course Credits: 3
Minor Course Credits: 3

Total Credits: 15

Junior Year

Fall: Semester 5

POLS Elective Credits: 3
Minor Course Credits: 3
Minor Course Credits: 3
Second Religious Studies Course Credits: 3
XS 101 - Wellness and Stress Credits: 1
Elective Credits: 3

Total Credits: 16

Spring: Semester 6

POLS Elective Credits: 3
Minor Course Credits: 3
Minor Course Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3

Total Credits: 18

Senior Year

Fall: Semester 7

POLS 210 - Research Methods in Political Science Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3

Total Credits: 15

Spring: Semester 8

POLS 493 - Senior Seminar in Political Science Credits: 3
POLS Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3

Total Credits: 15

Additional courses:

Total Credits: 124

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