Dec 13, 2024  
2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science Major, B.S.


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College of Arts and Sciences


Department of Political Science, International Affairs, and Public Administration


Political Science Program Information


Box 70651
Phone: (423) 439-4217
Web Address: www.etsu.edu/cas/PoliSci

Political Science is the study of government, politics, and public policy in the United States and other countries, and of the relations among nations and states in the world community. The Political Science curriculum is designed to provide students with factual knowledge of these subjects and with the ability to analyze and evaluate different governmental systems, ideologies, political practices, and policy proposals. The Political Science major prepares students to be informed and engaged citizens and to pursue careers in government, law, public administration, education, journalism, international institutions, and political organizations.

The total number of credits required for graduation in the Political Science major is 120. A minor field of study, of 18-27 credit hours, is required. The Political Science major requires the university-wide standard of a minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA). Double counting of credits for the Political Science major and for another major or a minor is limited and must have the approval of the Coordinator of the Political Science major or the Chair of the Political Science Department. Transfer students should note that the Political Science major requires that at least 15 of the 36 credit hours required must be completed at East Tennessee State University.

For further information about the Political Science major contact Prof. Andrew Battista, Coordinator, at battista@etsu.edu or 423-439-6628. The main office of the Department of Political Science may be reached at 423-439-4217. To find and contact an academic advisor in the Political Science major follow this link: www.etsu.edu/advisement/continuingstudents/default.aspx

General Program Information


To earn a degree from ETSU, there are specific course requirements put forth by ETSU, by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), by each college, and by each department. All students must meet the degree requirements at each of these levels. Please follow the format below:

University-level Degree and Graduation Requirements


Total Credit Hours for Degree: 120


College of Arts and Sciences B.S. Degree Requirements


Students majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences must meet the following requirements for the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. Some requirements must be taken in addition to the General Education Core, whereas others specify which courses from the General Education Core must be taken.

Mathematics Specified General Education Core: MATH 1530  or MATH 1910  as specified by major.
   
Natural Sciences Eight (8) credit hours in a SINGLE laboratory science from the following:
  1. ASTR 1010  and ASTR 1020 
  2. BIOL 1010  /BIOL 1011  and BIOL 1020  /BIOL 1021 
  3. BIOL 1110  /BIOL 1111  and BIOL 1120  /BIOL 1121  or BIOL 1130  /BIOL 1131 
  4. CHEM 1110  /CHEM 1111  and CHEM 1120  /CHEM 1121 
  5. GEOL 1040 /GEOL 1041  and GEOL 1050 /GEOL 1051 
  6. GEOG 1110  and GEOG 1120  (labs included)
  7. PHYS 2010  /PHYS 2011  and PHYS 2020  /PHYS 2021  or PHYS 2110  and PHYS 2120 
  * Higher-level laboratory courses in these departments also meet this requirement.
   
Social and Behavioral Sciences General Education Core departmental requirements: 6 credit hours
   
Philosophy of Science PHIL 2640 
   
Reasoning PHIL 2030  or SPCH 2320 

 

TBR General Education Requirements: 41 - 42 Credit Hours


Below you will see the categories and courses specified under TBR General Education Requirements. Note that certain courses are required for this degree, specific to this major. Thus, these courses will satisfy both a TBR General Education requirement AND a requirement of this major. (Other majors may require different General Education courses.) Where specific courses are required for this major, we only list those courses under the category. If there are no specific major requirements for a category, all course options appear.
 

Communication


9 credits, consisting of 6 credits of written composition and 3 credits of oral communication.

Written Composition


Complete both of the following: 

Oral Communication


Complete one of the following:

Humanities and Fine Arts


9 credits, consisting of 3 credits of literature, 3 credits of fine arts, and 3 credits of humanities electives.

History


6 credits, consisting of both of the following:

Natural Sciences


Eight (8) credit hours in a SINGLE laboratory science from the following*:

Mathematics


Students will enroll in the appropriate general education math course during their first calendar year of enrollment at ETSU. Students required to complete learning support in mathematics must enroll in a learning support-designated section (L01-L99) of MATH 1530  during their first 15 hours at ETSU (not including summer) unless they are also required to complete learning support in reading or writing. Students needing learning support in reading or writing in addition to learning support in math should enroll in MATH 1530-Lxx immediately upon completing their other learning support requirements. Additional information may be found on the University Advisement Center website www.etsu.edu/uac/learningsupport/

Complete one of the following:

Political Science Major Requirements: 36 Credit Hours


The following courses are required in this program of study.  Some can also be used to fulfill certain General Education requirements.  If students take other general education courses, they must still satisfy these requirements in the major.

One course at or above the 3000 level in each of the (5) five sub-fields: 15 Credit Hours


 

Select three: 9 Credit Hours


  • Three courses to be selected freely from the Political Science, International Affairs, and Public Administration Department’s offerings (9 credits)

Minor: 18 - 27 Credit Hours


Electives: 6-16 Credit Hours


 

Additional Information


Click here to view the Political Science Major Suggested Course Sequence .

Transfer Students–Transfer students must meet the specific requirements for the major or minor and must complete at least 15 credit hours and maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in their courses in Political Science (see section of this catalog on transfer students  for other requirements).

Teaching Program Information


Teacher Education–Students interested in pursuing a teacher education program for certification as a government teacher in grades 7-12 are asked to see an advisor in the Department of Political Science, International Affairs, and Public Administration and the professional advisor in the College of Education in 321 Warf-Pickel Hall.

Pre-Teacher Education–Declaration of Intent-All students desiring to complete a teacher education program or other public school licensure program must file a Declaration of Intent in 321 Warf-Pickel Hall. For filing deadlines and other information, see the professional advisor in 321 Warf-Pickel.

Professional Education Requirements–There is a total of 36 credit hours required for professional education. Please refer to the Secondary Education Minor  section in this catalog for a list of the required courses that must be taken with the professional semester.

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