Undergraduate programs

The program in political science leading to the B.A. or B.S. degree is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to learn more about public and international affairs, government, and the demands of citizenship. It is appropriate for professionally motivated students who wish to pursue careers in political science, public administration, international organizations, domestic government, communications, education, or law. It is also appropriate for inquiring students desiring to learn more about the way human beings live together and the structures and institutions they have developed (or might develop) to facilitate social cooperation and conflict management.

The most current information about undergraduate degree programs, internships, and other opportunities is available on our website.

Degree Maps and Learning Outcomes

Admission requirements

Degree requirements

Political Science B.A./B.S.

Political Science Honors Program

Bachelor + Master's Program

Political Science Minor

Law and Legal Studies Minor

Campaigning to Win a US Political Campaign Undergraduate Certificate

Women's Leadership Undergraduate Certificate

Political Science B.A./B.S.

The standard Political Science major offers a traditional course of study in political science that involves some exposure to three basic areas of the discipline. In addition to meeting the University’s general education requirements, a student wishing to pursue a basic major in political science must take a minimum of 56 credits in political science distributed as follows.

A minimum of 24 credits must be taken in residence at PSU.

Requirements

Core Courses (16 credits)

Choose four courses from the following five options:

PS 101	United States Government	4
	or
PS 102	United States Politics	4

PS 204	Comparative Politics	4
PS 205	International Politics	4
PS 206	Introduction to Public Policy	4
PS 208	Introduction to Political Theory	4

Elective Courses (40 credits)

	Additional PS electives (minimum 12 upper division)	20
	Five 400-level PS courses	20
Total Credit Hours:		56

Public Service Track

The Public Service track option for our Political Science major is designed for students who want a more hands-on experience in the major or are interested in practical politics. The curriculum provides students with a strong foundation in American government, while instilling in them an understanding of public service. Students in this track are required to serve an internship in a governmental or political office.

Lower Division Core Requirements (16 credits)

Chose four courses from the following five options:

PS 101	United States Government	4
	or
PS 102	United States Politics	4

PS 204	Comparative Politics	4
PS 205	International Politics	4
PS 206	Introduction to Public Policy	4
PS 208	Introduction to Political Theory	4

Upper Division Core Requirements (8 credits)

Take two from the following four options:

PS 331	Oregon Politics	4
PS 335U	Race and Politics in the United States	4
PS 419	Political Reform	4
PS 431	State and Local Politics	4

Additional electives (24 credits, minimum of 16 credits must be in Political Science)

Political Science options:

PS 310	How to Win a U.S. Political Campaign	4
PS 312	Legislative Process	4
PS 313U	The Power Game: A Simulation of Washington Politics	4
PS 316U	Politics and the Arts	4
PS 318U	Media, Opinion, and Voting	4
PS 319U	Politics of the Environment	4
PS 331	Oregon Politics	4
PS 335U	Race and Politics in the United States	4
PS 380U	Women and Politics	4
PS 381U	Women's Leadership	4
PS 412	The Presidency	4
PS 413	Congress	4
PS 414	Issues in Public Policy	4
PS 416	Political Parties and Elections	4
PS 417	Interest Groups	4
PS 418	Contemporary Political Protest in America	4
PS 419	Political Reform	4
PS 421	The Supreme Court and American Politics	4
PS 424	Law, Politics, and Society	4
PS 427	The Politics of Public Opinion	4
PS 429	American Immigration Politics & Policy	4
PS 431	State and Local Politics	4
PS 435	Disasters and Public Policy	4
PS 471	Gender & Politics: A Comparative Perspective	4

Courses used to meet the core requirements cannot be used at the same time to fulfill the elective requirements.

Public Administration options:

PA 311U	Introduction to Civic Engagement	4
PA 312U	Foundations of Community Leadership	4
PA 313U	Fundamentals of Public Service	4
PA 320U	Introduction to Nonprofit Management	4
PA 412	Civic Engagement: The Role of Governing Institutions	4
PA 413	Civic Engagement: The Role of Individuals	4
PA 414	Civic Engagement: The Role of Social Institutions	4
PA 417	Ethical Leadership	4
PA 425	Grantwriting for Nonprofit Organizations	4

Field Experience (8 credits)

PS 404	Cooperative Education/Internship	8
Total Credit Hours:		56

Courses not required for the Public Service Option, but recommended for those interested in public service careers:

Comm 312U	Media Literacy	4
Comm 313U	Communication in Groups	4
Ec 201	Principles of Microeconomics	4
Ec 202	Principles of Macroeconomics	4
Ec 311	Microeconomic Theory	4
Ec 312	Macroeconomic Theory	4
USP 316	Community Organizing and Social Change	4
USP 317U	Introduction to International Community Development	4
USP 386U	Portland Past and Present	4
USP 419/Soc 441	Population and Society	4
USP 428	Concepts of Community Development	4

International Development Track

The International Development track option for our Political Science major involves questions of global governance, international and development economics, foreign aid and humanitarian assistance, poverty reduction and human development, sustainable development, and international and intergenerational justice.

Lower Division Core Requirements (16 credits)

Take four courses from the following five options:

PS 101	United States Government	4
	or
PS 102	United States Politics	4

PS 204	Comparative Politics	4
PS 205	International Politics	4
PS 206	Introduction to Public Policy	4
PS 208	Introduction to Political Theory	4

Upper Division Core Requirements (8 credits)

Take two courses from the following options:

PS 410	Political Economy of Development	4
PS 447	International Organization	4
PS 448	International Law	4
PS 449	International Environmental Politics and Law	4
PS 454	International Political Economy	4
PS 477	Global Food Politics and Policy	4

Political Science electives (20 credits)

Choose five courses from the following options:

PS 319U	Politics of the Environment	4
PS 352U	Introduction to European Politics	4
PS 353U	Introduction to Latin American Politics	4
PS 354U	Introduction to Asian Politics	4
PS 355U	Introduction to African Politics	4
PS 361U	Introduction to the Politics of the Middle East	4
PS 362U	Arab-Israeli Conflict	4
PS 364	Politics of Identity and Inequality in the Middle East	4
PS 373	Violence, Rebellion, and Civil War	4
PS 460	Political Development in Modern Turkey	4
PS 461	Politics of Economic Reform in Modern Turkey	4
PS 466	Politics of China	4
PS 471	Gender & Politics: A Comparative Perspective	4
PS 472	Democratization and Authoritarianism in the Middle East and North Africa	4
PS 473	Government and Politics of Arab North Africa	4
PS 474	Democracy and Development in Latin America	4
PS 479	Transitions to Democracy	4
PS 483	Justice in the Modern World	4

Non-Political Science Electives (8 credits)

Choose two courses from the following options:

Ec 340	International Economics	4
Ec 442	The Multinational Enterprise in the World Economy	4
Ec 445	Comparative Economic Systems	4
Ec 447	Economics of Transition	4
Ec 450	Economics of Development	4
Intl 203	International Development Strategies	4
Intl 445/USP 445	Cities and Third World Development	3
Intl 490	Global Sustainable Development	4
USP 312U	Urban Housing and Development	4
USP 317U	Introduction to International Community Development	4
USP 419/Soc 441	Population and Society	4
USP 490	Green Economics and Sustainable Development	3

Research Project (4 credits)

Students participating in the PS International Development track option are required to execute a substantial research paper (20-25 pages) on a development-related topic of their choosing. Students should identify a Political Science faculty member who agrees to oversee the PS 405 project, offer educational guidance and support and enroll the student using the “By Arrangement” form. The minimum credit requirement for the Final Project is 4 credit hours, with a maximum of 6 credits possible for larger projects. For students completing projects worth more than 4 credits, the additional credits may not substitute for other requirements in the International Development track option. In certain cases, students seeking Political Science Honors credit may use their PS Honors paper to fulfill the requirements for the International Development track option with the approval of the faculty member(s) overseeing these projects.

As an alternative to the research project, students may participate in a professional internship that supports the International Development track option’s basic educational goals. Students must independently locate an internship opportunity, identify a Political Science faculty member who will oversee the internship, sign off on the PS 404 internship contract, and enroll in the internship using the “By Arrangement” form. A written report (6-8 pages) specifying how the internship experience fits with the student’s educational goals and how it relates to and advances the educational content of the degree track option is to be submitted to the student’s faculty advisor by the end of finals week during the quarter in which the internship is completed. The number of credits gained through an internship is proportional to the number of work hours the internship requires, with each credit worth 30 hours of work during a quarter. Students must complete an internship worth 4 credits to satisfy the track option requirements, with a maximum of 12 credits possible. For students completing internships worth more than 4 credits, the additional credits may not substitute for other requirements in the International Development track option.

PS 404	Cooperative Education/Internship	1-12
	or
PS 405	Reading and Conference	1-6
Total Credit Hours:		56

Once a student has been admitted to Portland State University, upper-division courses used to meet political science major requirements must be taken at the University. Courses taken at another college or university must have received prior approval from the Department of Politics and Global Affairs.

All courses used to satisfy political science major requirements, whether taken at PSU or elsewhere, must be graded C- or above.

Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits of political science coursework at PSU.