Dec 17, 2024

American University Catalog 2024-2025

Political Science (BA)

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Political Science, B.A. (Sample Plans)

Offered by the Department of Government , School of Public Affairs .

Admission to the Program

New first-year 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 2.00 or higher and the approval of the undergraduate academic advisor.

University Requirements

120 credit hours with minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 2 )
Completion of all requirements for a major (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 9 )

AU Core Requirements

Completion of AU Core foundation requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.2-8.6 )
Completion of AU Core Habits of Mind requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.7 )
Completion of AU Core integrative course requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.8-8.11 )

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
Specializations: American Government; Comparative Politics; Gender, Race, and Politics; Law and Politics; Political Theory; Policy; Non-Specialization
Portfolio Requirement: Students submit a portfolio of 2-4 papers of their best written work, including capstone work whenever possible, from upper-level major courses for departmental assessment

Course Requirements

Foundation (12 credit hours)

Major Related Social Science (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from one of the following disciplines:

American Studies

Anthropology

Communication

Economics

ECON course at or above 200-level

History

History course at or above 200-level

International Studies

SISU course at or above 200-level

Philosophy

Psychology

PSYC-205 Social Psychology (3)

Sociology

SOCY course at or above 200-level

Women’s and Gender Studies

WGSS-225 Gender, Politics, and Power (3)

Specialization (24 credit hours)

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

Note: With prior department approval, in addition to the courses below, up to 9 credit hours may be taken from the following: internship, independent study, 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 9 credit hours of approved electives may be taken through AU Abroad.

American Government

Comparative Politics

Gender, Race, and Politics

Law and Politics

Political Theory

Policy

Non-Specialization

24 credit hours from 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), at least 6 credit hours at or above 400-level, including at least one approved capstone course

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