Political Science (BA)
This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2022–Spring 2023 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Political Science
Academic Plan Code(s): See Track Requirements tab.
Program Information
This program can be completed in a traditional classroom format or entirely online.
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science program at UofL cultivates an understanding of policy, politics and governments in the United States and around the globe. We offer a wide range of courses including campaigns and elections, the Presidency and Congress, social movements and civil rights, terrorism and war, constitutional law, environmental policy, religious politics, urban politics and poverty, and international politics. The department is a particularly inviting environment for students, with small class sizes, our own building, a computer lab, and options to specialize via several tracks in our major.
Political Science majors at the University of Louisville have been extremely successful in earning prestigious scholarships and fellowships. The roster of recent successes includes numerous Fulbright Award winners and multiple Truman Scholars. Since 2010, three of our students have won the annual Mary Churchill Humphrey scholarship, often described as UofL’s Rhodes Scholarship because it supports graduate study in Great Britain. Many of our majors go on to have successful careers in government, international affairs, nongovernmental organizations, business, academia, and media.
Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.
Degree Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | 31 | |
| College/School Requirements | 22 | |
| Program/Major Requirements 1 | 15 | |
| Track Requirements 1, 2 | 53 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121 | |
| 1 | Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. |
| 2 | Political Science offers three BA options (two tracks and one non-track). For all three options, including the non-track, please refer to the Track Requirements tab. |
Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.
Accelerated BA-BS/MA in Political Science
Political Science majors who are considering pursuing a master’s degree (MA) in Political Science can speed up the process by applying some of their undergraduate credit hours toward a master's degree. Students accepted into the Accelerated BA-BS/MA take three graduate courses (9 credit hours) as an undergraduate that apply toward both the bachelor’s degree and the eventual master's degree.
Interested students must apply for admission to the program in the first semester of the senior year (i.e., after completing 90 hours). Applicants must meet the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School and must submit an application to the Department of Political Science. Applicants should have an undergraduate major or minor in social science or have sufficient alternative preparation in the social sciences.
Departmental Admission Requirements
There are no specific admission requirements for this degree plan.
The Application for Major form can be found on the Arts & Sciences Advising Center website.
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements * | 31 | |
| The following courses are required by the program and satisfy the respective General Education Requirement(s): | ||
| Introduction to Comparative Politics - SB, D2 | ||
*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above). Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
College/School Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Arts & Sciences Requirements | ||
| GEN 100 | Student Success Center First Year Experience | 1 |
| or GEN 101 | Arts & Sciences First Year Experience | |
| Foreign Language 1 | 12 | |
| Electives in Humanities or Natural Sciences 2 | 9 | |
| WR—two approved courses at the 300 level or above 3 | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 22 | |
Program/Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Political Science | ||
| POLS 201 | Introduction to American Government and Politics - SB 4 | 3 |
| POLS 202 | Introduction to Comparative Politics - SB, D2 4 | 3 |
| POLS 330 | International Relations | 3 |
| POLS 390 | Contemporary Political Research 5 | 3 |
| POLS 495 | Senior Seminar - WR, CUE (CUE) 6 | 3 |
| Minimum Total Hours | 15 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Track Requirements (see tracks tab for coursework) 7 | 53 | |
No more than 6 hours of POLS 430, POLS 510, POLS 511 and/or POLS 512 may count toward the major.
At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement) | ||
| Requirement fulfilled by completing: | ||
| Senior Seminar - WR, CUE | ||
| 1 | Completion of the intermediate level of a single foreign language |
| 2 | In addition to courses counted toward General Education; 6 hours must be at 300 level or above |
| 3 | May be incorporated into other degree requirements |
| 4 | Fulfills General Education requirement. |
| 5 | Substitutions may be approved by the departmental advisor. |
| 6 | Fulfills WR requirement. |
| 7 | Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree. |
Track Requirements
Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
Track in Applied Politics
Academic Plan Code(s): POLSBA_APO
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Political Institutions | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Urban Political Economy | ||
| Urban Politics | ||
| State Government | ||
| American Presidency | ||
| Judicial Politics | ||
| American Congress | ||
| Public Administration | ||
| Public Policy - SB | ||
| The United Nations and International Organization - WR | ||
| Political Identity and Behavior | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Gender, Sexuality & Law | ||
| Religion and United States Politics - SB, D1 | ||
| Media and Politics | ||
| Civil Rights and the Law II | ||
| Political Psychology and Public Opinion - SB | ||
| American Political Parties and Elections - SB | ||
| Queer Politics | ||
| Women in American Politics | ||
| African-American Politics - SB, D1 | ||
| Information Technology and Politics | ||
| Global Environmental Politics | ||
| Women in Developing Countries - WR | ||
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Policy, Community & Service | ||
| Political Science Internship I | ||
| Chinese Culture | ||
| Louisville Metro Council Internship | ||
| Internship II | ||
| Frankfort Legislative Internship | ||
| Coping with Conflict | ||
| International Negotiation | ||
| POLS Elective | 3 | |
| Supporting Courses | ||
| ECON 202 | Principles of Macroeconomics - SB | 3 |
| Minimum Electives | 32 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 53 | |
Track in Global Politics and International Affairs
Academic Plan Code(s): POLSBA_GIA
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| International Relations Area | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| The United Nations and International Organization - WR | ||
| International Law - WR | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| The Politics of Global Economic Relations | ||
| Global Environmental Politics | ||
| Politics of European Integration and Foreign Policy | ||
| Law, Diplomacy and Power: The Foreign Relations of the U.S. | ||
| National and International Security: Issues and Policies | ||
| Terrorism | ||
| Political Violence | ||
| Politics of Oil | ||
| World Order | ||
| Latin America in the World | ||
| Topics in International Relations | ||
| The United States and East Asia - WR | ||
| Topics in World Affairs | ||
| Topics in International Relations | ||
| Coping with Conflict | ||
| International Negotiation | ||
| Comparative Politics Area | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Comparative Urban Politics | ||
| Information Technology and Politics | ||
| Politics and Government of Western Europe | ||
| Political Violence | ||
| Russia and Eurasia - WR | ||
| Democratization | ||
| Comparative Political Culture - WR | ||
| African Government and Politics | ||
| Introduction to Middle East Politics | ||
| Political Islam | ||
| Religion and International Politics - SB, D2 | ||
| Comparative Political Economy | ||
| Politics of Oil | ||
| The People's Republic of China - D2, SB, WR | ||
| Politics of East Asia - SB, D2 | ||
| Politics and Government of Southeast Asia | ||
| Latin American Politics - D2, SB | ||
| Latin America in the World | ||
| Topics in Comparative Politics | ||
| The United States and East Asia - WR | ||
| Topics in Comparative Politics | ||
| Women in Developing Countries - WR | ||
| POLS Electives 1 | 6 | |
| Supporting Courses | ||
| ECON 202 | Principles of Macroeconomics - SB | 3 |
| Minimum Electives | 32 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 53 | |
No-Track Political Science BA
Academic Plan Code(s): POLSBA, POLSBAO
Students in this plan of study are required to take at least one course from each of Political Science's five subfields.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| American Politics 2 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| State Government | ||
| American Presidency | ||
| Constitutional Law | ||
| Constitutional Law | ||
| Judicial Politics | ||
| Race, Law and Politics - D1, SB | ||
| Gender, Sexuality & Law | ||
| American Congress | ||
| Religion and United States Politics - SB, D1 | ||
| Media and Politics | ||
| Civil Rights and the Law II | ||
| Political Psychology and Public Opinion - SB | ||
| American Political Parties and Elections - SB | ||
| Queer Politics | ||
| Women in American Politics | ||
| African-American Politics - SB, D1 | ||
| Topics in American Politics - WR | ||
| Topics in American Politics | ||
| Topics in Digital Politics | ||
| Public Policy 2, 3 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Urban Political Economy | ||
| Comparative Urban Politics | ||
| Urban Politics | ||
| Policy, Community & Service | ||
| Public Administration | ||
| Public Policy - SB | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| Topics in Public Policy | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
| Topics in Urban and Public Policy | ||
| Louisville Metro Council Internship | ||
| Internship II | ||
| Frankfort Legislative Internship | ||
| International Relations 2, 3, 4, 5 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| The United Nations and International Organization - WR | ||
| International Law - WR | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| The Politics of Global Economic Relations | ||
| Global Environmental Politics | ||
| Politics of European Integration and Foreign Policy | ||
| Law, Diplomacy and Power: The Foreign Relations of the U.S. | ||
| National and International Security: Issues and Policies | ||
| Terrorism | ||
| Political Violence | ||
| Politics of Oil | ||
| World Order | ||
| Latin America in the World | ||
| Topics in International Relations | ||
| Topics in World Affairs | ||
| The United States and East Asia - WR | ||
| Topics in International Relations | ||
| Coping with Conflict | ||
| International Negotiation | ||
| Comparative Politics 2, 4, 5 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Comparative Urban Politics | ||
| Information Technology and Politics | ||
| Politics and Government of Western Europe | ||
| Russia and Eurasia - WR | ||
| Political Violence | ||
| Democratization | ||
| Comparative Political Culture - WR | ||
| African Government and Politics | ||
| Introduction to Middle East Politics | ||
| Political Islam | ||
| Comparative Political Economy | ||
| Politics of Oil | ||
| Politics of East Asia - SB, D2 | ||
| The People's Republic of China - D2, SB, WR | ||
| Politics and Government of Southeast Asia | ||
| Latin American Politics - D2, SB | ||
| Latin America in the World | ||
| Topics in Comparative Politics | ||
| The United States and East Asia - WR | ||
| Topics in Comparative Politics | ||
| Women in Developing Countries - WR | ||
| Political Theory 2 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Early Political Thought | ||
| Modern Political Thought | ||
| American Political Thought | ||
| Democracy and Its Critics - WR | ||
| Political Theory and Utopia - WR | ||
| American Utopian Communities | ||
| Contemporary Political Theory | ||
| Topics in Political Theory | ||
| Topics in Political Theory - WR | ||
| Feminist Theory - WR | ||
| Political Science Electives | 6 | |
| Supporting Courses | ||
| ECON 202 | Principles of Macroeconomics - SB | 3 |
| Electives in Social Sciences other than Political Science, with 9 hours at the 300-level or above | 15 | |
| Minimum Electives | 14 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 53 | |
| 1 | The department encourages students to satisfy a portion of the elective requirement through completion of experiential learning courses such as POLS 430, POLS 465, POLS 510, POLS 511, POLS 520 or POLS 530. |
| 2 | POLS 399 may be an appropriate elective under any category depending on its topic in a given semester. A student must obtain her/his advisor's approval before attempting to use this course to satisfy an area requirement. |
| 3 | POLS 333 may be used as an elective option under Public Policy or International Relations. It may only satisfy one requirement. It may not be used to satisfy both requirements. |
| 4 | POLS 341 may be used as an elective option under International Relations and Comparative Politics. It may only satisfy one requirement. It may not be used to satisfy both requirements. |
| 5 | POLS 363 may be used as an elective option under International Relations and Comparative Politics. It may only satisfy one requirement. It may not be used to satisfy both requirements. |
Flight Plan
No Track - Political Science (BA)
Academic Plan Code(s): POLSBA
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| GEN 100 or GEN 101 |
Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience |
1 |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
| POLS 201 | Introduction to American Government and Politics - SB | 3 |
| POLS 111 | Political Discourse - OC | 3 |
| ECON 202 | Principles of Macroeconomics - SB | 3 |
| Foreign Language 1 | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
| POLS 202 | Introduction to Comparative Politics - SB, D2 | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 2 | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR | 3-4 | |
| Foreign Language 3 | 3-4 | |
| Political Science American Politics elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS 330 | International Relations | 3 |
| Humanities or Natural Science Wr elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences Lab - SL | 1 | |
| Foreign Language 4 | 3-4 | |
| Political Science Comparative Politics elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Social Science elective | 3 | |
| Social Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities US Diversity - AHD1 | 3 | |
| Political Science International Relations elective | 3 | |
| Humanities or Natural Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS 390 | Contemporary Political Research | 3 |
| Political Science Public Policy elective | 3 | |
| Social Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH | 3 | |
| Social Science elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Social Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Political Science Political Theory elective | 3 | |
| Humanities or Natural Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Political Science elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS 495 | Senior Seminar - WR, CUE | 3 |
| Political Science elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 122-126 | |
Track in Applied Politics
Academic Plan Code(s): POLSBA_APO
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| GEN 100 or GEN 101 |
Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience |
1 |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
| POLS 201 | Introduction to American Government and Politics - SB | 3 |
| Foreign Language 1 | 3-4 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 2 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
| POLS 202 | Introduction to Comparative Politics - SB, D2 | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 2 | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| POLS 330 | International Relations | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR | 3-4 | |
| Foreign Language 3 | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 15-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECON 202 | Principles of Macroeconomics - SB | 3 |
| Humanities or Natural Science WR Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences Lab - SL | 1 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 4 | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| General elective | 3 | |
| General elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities US Diversity - AHD1 | 3 | |
| Political Science elective | 3 | |
| Humanities or Natural Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS 390 | Contemporary Political Research | 3 |
| Political Science Political Institutions course | 3 | |
| General elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH | 3 | |
| Political Science Experiential Learning course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Political Science Political Institutions course | 3 | |
| Political Science Political Identity course | 3 | |
| General elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| Humanities or Natural Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS 495 | Senior Seminar - WR, CUE | 3 |
| Political Science Political Identity course | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121-126 | |
Track in Global Politics and International Affairs
Academic Plan Code(s): POLSBA_GIA
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| GEN 100 or GEN 101 |
Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience |
1 |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
| POLS 201 | Introduction to American Government and Politics - SB | 3 |
| Foreign Language 1 | 3-4 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 2 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
| POLS 202 | Introduction to Comparative Politics - SB, D2 | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 2 | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| POLS 330 | International Relations | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR | 3-4 | |
| Foreign Language 3 | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 15-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ECON 202 | Principles of Macroeconomics - SB | 3 |
| Humanities or Natural Science WR Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences Lab - SL | 1 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| Foreign Language 4 | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH | 3 | |
| Humanities or Natural Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| General elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS 390 | Contemporary Political Research | 3 |
| Political Science International Relations course | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities US Diversity - AHD1 | 3 | |
| Social Science elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Political Science International Relations course | 3 | |
| Political Science Comparative Politics course | 3 | |
| Humanities or Natural Science elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Political Science elective | 3 | |
| General elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS 495 | Senior Seminar - WR, CUE | 3 |
| Political Science Comparative Politics course | 3 | |
| Political Science elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121-126 | |
Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan. What-if reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan. Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.
To create either report:
- Log into your ULink account.
- Click on the Academic Progress tile.
- Next, click on "View my Degree Audit" to run a Degree Audit report in the Undergraduate Advising area.
- To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."
Click here to run a Degree Audit report, or create a What-if report.
Flight Planner
Based on your major, the Flight Planner tool may be available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan. The Flight Planner can be found in the ULink Student Center. Consult with your advisor for assistance with the Flight Planner.
