Political Science, B.A./M.A.

Major Requirements

• The Department of Political Science does not permit major coursework to also fulfill General Education or Dodge College of Arts and Sciences requirements.
• P SC 1113 does not count for major credit.

¹

A list of the courses approved for each group may be obtained in the Political Science Department or on the departmental website. 

²

This course should be taken during the senior year. (The capstone course must be completed with a grade of C or better.) 

• A minimum of 30 undergraduate upper-division free elective hours is needed to bring the total applicable hours to 144, including 48 upper-division hours.

M.A. Component

¹

These 12 hours are shared with undergraduate degree. 

²

Major Emphasis Areas: American Government and Politics, Political Theory, Comparative Government and Politics, International Relations, Public Administration, Public Policy.

³

Secondary Emphasis Areas: American Government and Politics, Political Theory, Comparative Government and Politics, International Relations, Political Methodology, Public Administration, Public Law, Public Policy.

General Education and College Requirements

Courses for fulfillment of General Education and Dodge College of Arts & Sciences requirements must be from the approved General Education course list published in the Class Schedule or at http://www.ou.edu/gened/courses. Courses graded P/NP will not apply.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS

¹

College of Arts and Sciences Requirements: college requirements are not automatically fulfilled by a previous degree.

²

One course at the intermediate level or demonstrated competency at that level

³

6 upper-division hours, 2 courses, at the 3000- 4000-level. Must be outside the major.

Free Electives

Electives to bring total applicable hours to the minimum total required for the degree including 48 upper-division hours.

Information Concerning General Rules, Regulations and Minimum Requirements

Arts and Sciences Hours: At least 80 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BA degree. At least 55 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BS degree.
Pass/No Pass Enrollment: A maximum of 16 semester hours of free elective credit may be attempted under this option.
Individual Studies (e.g., courses titled “Independent Study”): A maximum of 12 total semester hours may be counted toward graduation, excluding Honors Reading and Honors Research.
P.E. Courses: No physical education activity courses will be counted toward the 120 semester hours of acceptable credit for graduation.
Senior Institution Hours: A minimum of 60 semester hours applied toward graduation must be earned at senior (4-year) institutions.
Residency:

• At least 15 of the final 30 hours applied toward the degree or at least 50 percent of the hours required by the institution in the major field must be satisfactorily completed at the awarding institution.
• At least 15 semester hours of upper-division major work must be completed in residence at OU.
• OU correspondence courses are not considered resident credit.

Grade Point Averages: Students must earn a minimum over all 2.00 for each of the following: Combined Retention GPA (all college grades), OU Retention GPA, GPA for all major courses, and GPA for all major courses taken at OU. Some schools and departments of the College have higher minimum grade point averages required for their students.
 

Suggested Semester Plan of Study

This plan shows one possible grouping of courses that would allow students to graduate in four years. Please refer to the front of the degree checksheet for official requirements. Students must consult with Dodge College of Arts and Sciences and Department of Political Science academic advisors to verify that courses selected each semester fulfill the recommended plan and satisfy University, College of Arts and Sciences, and Political Science major requirements.