Political Science: Law and Policy, B.A.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

Major Hours: 33

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 48


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Major GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Program Code: B790 P415

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.
Research Methods
P SC 2013Introduction to Political Analysis3
Distribution Requirements
Choose four courses, one course each from 4 of the following 6 groups: 112
Group I: American Politics
Group II: Comparative Politics
Group III: International Relations
Group IV: Public Administration
Group V: Public Policy
Group VI: Political Theory
Law and Policy Concentration
Choose 15 hours of approved concentration coursework from the list maintained by the department. Students may choose 12-15 hours of approved P SC courses and 0-3 hours of approved courses from outside the department.15
Capstone
P SC 4093Capstone Seminar in Political Science 13
Total Credit Hours33
1

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

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/coursesCourses graded P/NP will not apply.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS)

Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication
English Composition (6 hours)
ENGL 1113Principles of English Composition3
ENGL 1213Principles of English Composition3
or EXPO 1213 Expository Writing
Language (0-13 hours in the same language)
The college requirement cannot be met by high school coursework.
Beginning Course0-5
Beginning Course, continued0-5
Intermediate Course (2000 level) 1,20-3
Mathematics (3 hours)
Choose one course from the General Education Mathematics list3
Core Area II: Natural Science (7 hours, including one laboratory component)
Biological Science
Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: BIOL, HES, MBIO, or PBIO 13-4
Physical Science
Choose an approved General Education Natural Science course with one of the following prefixes: AGSC, ASTR, CHEM, GEOG, GEOL, GPHY, METR, or PHYS 13-4
Core Area III: Social Science (6 hours)
P SC 1113American Federal Government3
Choose one course from the General Education Social Science list3
Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities (18 hours)
Artistic Forms
Choose one course from the General Education Artistic Forms list3
Western Culture
HIST 1483United States to 18653
or HIST 1493 United States, 1865 to the Present
Choose one course from the General Education Western Culture list (excluding HIST 1483/1493)3
World Culture
Choose one course from the General Education World Culture list3
Additional Core IV Upper-Division Arts & Humanities courses
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Choose one course from Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture 1,33
Core Area V: First Year Experience (3 hours)
Choose one course3
Total Credit Hours56
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.

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.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition (Core I) 3
HIST 1483
United States to 1865 (Core IV)
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
Social Science (Core III) 3
First Year Experience (Core V) 3
Artistic Forms (Core IV) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition (Core I)
or Expository Writing
3
Math (Core I) 3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government (Core III) 3
Natural Science without lab (Core II) 3
Western Culture (Core IV) 3
 Credit Hours15
Sophomore
First Semester
P SC 2013 Introduction to Political Analysis 3
P SC Distribution Requirement 3
Beginning Language (Core I) 5
World Culture (Core IV) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 1
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
P SC Distribution Requirement 3
P SC Distribution Requirement 3
Beginning Language continued (Core I) 5
Natural Science with lab (Core II) 4
 Credit Hours15
Junior
First Semester
Concentration coursework 3
Concentration coursework 3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
Intermediate Language 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
Concentration coursework 3
Concentration coursework 3
Arts & Humanities, upper-division, outside major (Gen. Ed.) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior
First Semester
Concentration coursework 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
P SC 4093 Capstone Seminar in Political Science 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours120