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    Mar 28, 2024  
American University Catalog 2019-2020 
    
American University Catalog 2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science (BA)


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Admission to the Program


New freshmen and transfer students are admitted through the university’s Admissions Office. Students currently enrolled in the university who wish to transfer into the Department of Government or develop a double major or minor should have a grade point average of 2.50 or higher and the approval of the undergraduate academic advisor.

University Requirements


AU Core Requirements


For additional information, see AU Core Curriculum .

Major Requirements


  • 39 credit hours with grades of C or better, including at least 18 credit hours at or above 300-level
  • Portfolio requirement: all students submit a portfolio of 2-4 papers of their best written work from upper-level major courses in the final semester of their program for departmental assessment

Course Requirements


Major Related Social Science (3 credit hours)


Complete 3 credit hours from one of the following disciplines: 

Specialization (24 credit hours)


Complete 24 credit hours in the Department of Government with a minimum of 12-15 credit hours at or above 300-level (dependent on whether an upper-level course fulfills the Major Related Social Science requirement) and at least 6 credit hours at 400- or 500-level. Students complete 15 credit hours in one specialization. The remaining credit hours are selected from other Government courses; courses may not be double counted.

American Government


With prior department approval, in addition to the courses below, up to 9 credit hours may be taken from the following: internship, independent study, independent reading, honors thesis, international service (SIS/SISU) courses, Washington Semester, and American University study abroad programs, with a maximum of 6 credit hours from any one area. Up to three 1 credit hour courses may be used toward the completion of a specialization.

Gender, Race, and Politics


With prior department approval, in addition to the courses below, up to 9 credit hours may be taken from the following: internship, independent study, independent reading, honors thesis, international service (SIS/SISU) courses, Washington Semester, and American University study abroad programs, with a maximum of 6 credit hours from any one area. Up to three 1 credit hour courses may be used toward the completion of a specialization.

Law and Politics


With prior department approval, in addition to the courses below, up to 9 credit hours may be taken from the following: internship, independent study, independent reading, honors thesis, international service (SIS/SISU) courses, Washington Semester, and American University study abroad programs, with a maximum of 6 credit hours from any one area.

Political Theory


With prior department approval, in addition to the courses below, up to 9 credit hours may be taken from the following: internship, independent study, independent reading, honors thesis, international service (SIS/SISU) courses, Washington Semester, and American University study abroad programs, with a maximum of 6 credit hours from any one area.

Policy


With prior department approval, in addition to the courses below, up to 9 credit hours may be taken from the following: internship, independent study, independent reading, honors thesis, international service (SIS/SISU) courses, Washington Semester, and American University study abroad programs, with a maximum of 6 credit hours from any one area. Up to three 1 credit hour courses may be used toward the completion of a specialization.

Non-Specialization


  • 24 credit hours in the Department of Government with a minimum of 12-15 credit hours at or above 300-level (dependent on whether an upper-level course fulfills the Major Related Social Science requirement) and at least 6 credit hours at 400- or 500-level

Combined Political Science (BA) and Political Science (MA)


American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Admission to a Combined Bachelor’s / Master’s Program  and Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees  for more information.

In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for combined bachelor’s/master’s programs:

  • Admission to the combined BA/MA program requires junior standing, a minimum 3.30 cumulative GPA, a completed application form, two written faculty recommendation, an essay on the student’s interests and abilities in political science, and an interview with a Department of Government  graduate advisor. Students must apply for admission to the graduate program no later than junior year, after completion of 75-90 credits. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission to the BA/MA program
  • Students must finish the master’s degree requirements within three years from the date of first enrollment in the master’s program

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