Political Science, Bachelor of Science
A bachelor's degree in Political Science can prepare you for a range of diverse career paths or application to further education including graduate school or law school. You'll discover how our public lives are organized at the local, national, and international levels. Courses focus on the possibilities for and obstacles to democratic governance. The wide range of course offerings includes environmental politics, political development, and questions of diversity in the political realm.
Follow your interests with internships that provide "education by experience." Political science students have interned with legislators in the U.S. Congress and Arizona Legislature; federal agencies including the National Park Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and FBI; foreign and international bodies such as the United Nations and the German Parliament; and interest groups that include the Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Trust, and Friends of Flagstaff 's Future.
The bachelor's degree in Political Science provides students with opportunities to study the theory, principles, and practice of government and politics at the local, national, and international levels. The coursework engages students in diverse politicial science courses which allows exploration in areas of interest to the student. Faculty mentors provide academic support and guidance, preparing each student for a meaningful career path.
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Career Accordion Open
Career opportunities that might be pursued:
- Nonprofit administration
- Journalism
- Policy analysis
- Speech writing
With further education, one of these paths is possible:
- Diplomat
- Lawyer
- University faculty
- Lobbyist/Organizer
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University Requirements
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
- All of Northern Arizona University's liberal studies, diversity, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
- All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
- At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
- At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.
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Overview
In addition to University Requirements:
- At least 39 units of major requirements
- At least 18 units of minor requirements
- Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements
- Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units
Please note that you may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
| Major GPA | C |
| Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 114 |
| Emphasis, Minor, Certificate | Required |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Fieldwork Experience/Internship may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Research | Optional |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
Purpose Statement
The Bachelor of Science in Political Science degrees provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to understand and participate in the political systems of the United States and the world. This degree provides a broad perspective on experiences, international and domestic, from both theory and practice.
These degrees build a strong foundation in the basic knowledge of the political world, including contemporary political thought and public policies, and enables students to be able to use key concepts and analytical approaches from Political Theory, U.S. Government and Politics, Comparative Politics and International relations.
Building upon this fundamental knowledge, our curriculum ensures that students can define, design, and implement effective research projects in political science. In addition, they will be able to make clear and effective demonstrations of their work in writing and in public presentations. Students will also leave this program ready to understand, and be able to meet, the expectations of professionalism and citizenship. Students in the BA degree will also leave with an ability speak, read, and write in a second language.
Our goal is to train students to be active, engaged, and informed participants in the global system who cannot only understand the world around them but also shape and influence it.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Conceptual and Analytical: Students should have a basic knowledge of the political world, including contemporary political thought, and public policies, and be able to use key concepts and analytical approaches from Political Theory, U.S. Government and Politics, Comparative Politics, and International relations.
- Identify and use salient political science concepts and analytical method to evaluate current public policies, political actors’ behavior, political events, and institutional arrangements within a diverse world.
- Evaluate the strengths and limitations of a variety of significant analytical approaches used in political science.
- Analyze, synthesize and evaluate the interconnectedness and interdependence of the human experience on a global scale.
- Inquiry and Research: Students should be able to define, design, and implement effective research projects in political science.
- Devise a basic research design.
- Test hypotheses with basic empirical data.
- Write the findings in a research report.
- Communication: Students should be able to make clear and effective demonstrations of their work in writing and in public presentations.
- Students will demonstrate advanced writing skills and be able to summarize and explain scholarly political science articles.
- Analyze and critique the material read /discussed.
- Suggest and discuss alternative possibilities and outcomes.
- Engage and interest the reader.
- Speak in public settings.
- Demonstrate an ability to apply the discussion to policy and “real world” applications.
- Proficiency in and an ability to speak, read, and write in a language other than English. (Bachelor of Arts in Political Science only)
- Professional and Citizenship: Students should know, understand, and be able to meet the expectations of professionalism and citizenship.
- Demonstrate professional behavior in terms of demeanor, personal presentation, ethics, and civic participation in experiential learning and classrooms settings.
- Acquire the skills and knowledge base to understand the importance of and options for environmental sustainability and its tenuous relationship to economic development in local and global terms.
- Critically reflect upon the nature and consequences of diversity (e.g. race, gender, class, ethnicity, religion, culture, nation), and develop an understanding of how this diversity both alters and is altered in a world characterized by increasing global interaction.
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Details
Major Requirements
This major requires 57 to 63 units distributed as follows:
- Political Science Course Requirements: 36 units
- Experience of Difference Requirement: 3 units
- A Minor: 18 to 24 units
Take the following 57 - 63 units with a Grade of "C" or better in each course:
- POS 100 (3 units)
- POS 303 or an equivalent statistics course, with your advisor's approval (3 units)
- Select one from: POS 408, POS 423, POS 466, or POS 485 (3 units)*
- POS 301W which meets the junior-level writing requirement (3 units)
- POS 421C which meets the senior capstone requirement (3 units)
- POS courses, excluding POS 220 (24 units)
Experience of Difference Requirement*
As part of their degree program, students are required to complete 3 units of an experience of difference. This requirement can be met by selecting one of the following courses:
You must obtain prior written approval from a POS faculty member if you take POS 408, POS 466, POS 485. You may only use experience of difference coursework with a course prefix other than POS in exceptional circumstances, with your advisor's prior approval. If you take more than 3 units of experience of difference coursework, they will count in general elective credit.
Minor Requirements
- You must complete a minor of at least 18 units from those described in this catalog. In consultation with your advisor, you should select a minor that's appropriate for your career aspirations and educational needs. Your minor advisor will advise you about this part of your academic plan.
You may not pursue the Political Science Minor in conjunction with this degree.
Also note that you may elect to complete a merged or dual major instead of a minor; see your advisor for more information.
General Electives
Additional coursework is required, if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you. (Please note that you may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.)
Additional Information
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also take. For prerequisite information click on the course or see your advisor.
Bachelor/Juris Doctor 3+3 Program
This plan is eligible for NAU’s 3+3 program offered in conjunction with the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law. This program allows outstanding students to substitute their final year of undergraduate studies with their first year of law school and earn an undergraduate (BS or BA) and law (JD) degree in six years instead of seven years. Please refer to the Bachelor/Juris Doctor 3+3 Program for more information.
