"The professors in the Political Science department are by far some of the best professors on our campus. They are always there to listen and help their students with issues which may arise. My professors have taught me so much more than textbook teaching. They have taught us what to expect in the world of policy and politics, and enhanced lectures with their own experiences to give us a better perspective of what to expect once we graduate."
     -A. Paul, '08 

A native of the Dutch Antilles, Ms. Paul was vice-president of the College Democrats and completed an internship with the Obama campaign in Washington, DC. After graduation, she enrolled in Norwich University's MA program in Intl. Diplomacy and taught English in Korea.

"I chose Political Science because of the small classes and my ability to meet with professors individually. My professors have taken a close interest in my abilities and where I want to go in life. They've helped me to take advantage of internships, scholarships, and events that are taking place both locally and nationwide."
     -K. Taylor, '07 

Ms. Taylor double-majored in political science and criminal justice. As a sophomore, she interned in the Greensboro office of US Rep. Howard Coble . During her senior year, she was accepted by a top-tier law school, but instead chose to pursue graduate coursework in political science at Georgetown University.

The critical thinking skills that I learned at HPU are allowing me to succeed in law school. I can compete with any of my classmates, and I have HPU to thank for preparing me."
      -J. Walters, '05

Among his many other awards, Mr. Walters was named the university's top graduating senior in Political Science. He has since graduated from Wake Forest University’s law school, and he occasionally teaches  political science courses at HPU's campus in Winston-Salem.

"The Political Science faculty has given me gentle guidance and allowed me to find and start my own path into politics."
      -P. Hall, '06

Ms. Hall studied abroad at England's Oxford  Brookes College and was elected president of the senior class. She earned a graduate degree in political science from Georgia State University, where her MA thesis examined the voting behavior of young citizens. She has continued her studies at Georgia State, where she presently is completing her PhD.

High Point University » Academics » Political Science

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR OR MINOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE 

Which set of requirements apply to you?  

As of the academic year 2010-2011, the Department of Political Science will have a new curriculum for its majors and minors. The modifications to our program are substantial. Not only will most of the department's classes be offered on the four-credit format, but also we have expanded considerably the number and choices of courses that majors and minors--even those who enrolled at University before the new curriculum was adopted--can use to fulfill their requirements. Because current students have completed a significant portion of their major under requirements listed in their catalog of entry and the three-credit course format, the specific requirements for the major or minor in political science vary slightly by year of entry. Please make sure to consult the requirements that apply to you:

Requirements for students who will enter the University in 2010/11 or later


To earn a MAJOR in political science, students entering the University in AY 2010-11 or later must complete 36 hours of coursework including:

Required Core Courses (8 hours): 

PSC 2018: Research Methods in Political Science and Sociology 
PSC 2310: American Politics

Required Elective Courses (12 hours):

Choose one class from each category:

PSC 1010: Contemporary Issues and Politics
or PSC 1011: Enduring Issues in Political Thought

PSC/GBS 2510: Comparing Foreign Political Systems
or PSC 2710: International Relations

PSC 4071-72: Student Intern Program, subject to departmental approval
or PSC 4099: Senior Seminar

General Electives (16 hours):

Elective coursework will include 16 hours of political science courses outside of the classes taken to meet the requirements listed above. General elective coursework may include independent study coursework, special topic classes, and a maximum of four hours in the Student Intern Program (internship subject to departmental approval) if the student is not using internship hours to meet other major requirements.

Other Requirements:

Majors are required to take at least three courses at the 3000-level or higher; at least one class must be at the 4000-level.

Although neither STS 2020 nor STS 2610 is required, majors who plan to pursue a graduate degree in the social sciences or public/foreign policy are strongly encouraged to take at least one class in statistical analysis outside of the major’s required research methods class.

To earn a MINOR in political science, a student must complete 20 hours of coursework including:

Choose two of the following courses:
PSC 2310: American Politics
PSC/GBS 2510: Comparing Foreign Political Systems
PSC 2710: International Relations

Elective coursework in the minor will include 12 hours of political science courses outside of the classes taken to meet the requirements listed above. 

 

 

Former President Bill Clinton and some of
the department's many College Democrats.

Requirements for students who entered in 2008/09 or 2009/10 

 

To earn a MAJOR in political science, students entering the University in AY 2008/09 or AY 2009/10 must complete 36 hours of coursework including: 

(1) Complete one of the following two options:

a. Take either PSC 121 Intro to Political Science
  or PSC 1010 Contemporary Issues and Politics

or

b. Take either PSC 122 Western Political Thought 
  or PSC 1011 Enduring Issues in Political Thought

(2) Take either PSC 201 US Government or PSC 2310 American Politics

(3) Complete one of the following two options:

a. Take either PSC/GBS 309 Comparative Politics
or PSC 2510 Comparing Foreign Political Systems

or

b. Take PSC 305/2710 International Relations

(4) Take either PSC 318 Research, Writing, & Statistics 
      or PSC/SOC 2018 Research Methods in Political Science and Sociology

(5) Complete one of the following two options:

a. Take either PSC 499/4099 Senior Seminar

or

b. Student Internship Program (the internship must be at least 4 credit hours) and at least one PSC course at the 4000-level. Internship hours used to fulfill the department’s experiential requirement must be pre-approved and credit-bearing: PSC 471-475, 4071-72  

(6) Complete as many PSC elective credits as are necessary to graduate with a minimum of 36 hours in political science. Students may earn the balance of their required major hours by taking any PSC course not used to fulfill one of the requirements listed above (for example, a student who takes both PSC 121/1010 and PSC 121/1011 may count one of these classes towards their electives). With departmental approval, a major’s elective hours may include a maximum of 6 hours of credit from the Student Internship Program (PSC 4071-72, credit subject to departmental approval) and a maximum of 4 hours of Independent Study credit (PSC 4011-12)

To earn a MINOR in political science, a student who entered before Fall 2010 must complete 18 hours of coursework including:

Choose one course from two of the following three categories:

1. PSC 201 US Government  
or PSC 2310 American Politics

2. PSC/GBS 309 Comparative Politics
or PSC 2510 Comparing Foreign Political Systems

3. PSC 305/2710 International Relations 

The balance of the minor will be made up of electives. Minors will complete as many PSC elective credits as are necessary to graduate with a minimum of 18 hours in political science. Students may earn the balance of their required major hours by taking any PSC course not used to fulfill one of the requirements listed above.

Requirements for students who entered in 2007/08 or earlier 

To earn a MAJOR in political science, students entering the University in AY 2007/08 or earlier must complete 39 hours of coursework including: 

(1) Complete one of the following two options:

a. Take either PSC 121 Intro to Political Science
  or PSC 1010 Contemporary Issues and Politics

or

b. Take either PSC 122 Western Political Thought 
  or PSC 1011 Enduring Issues in Political Thought

(2) Take either PSC 201 US Government or PSC 2310 American Politics

(3) Complete one of the following two options:

a. Take either PSC/GBS 309 Comparative Politics
or PSC 2510 Comparing Foreign Political Systems

or

b. Take PSC 305/2710 International Relations

(4) Take either PSC 318 Research, Writing, & Statistics 
      or PSC/SOC 2018 Research Methods in Political Science and Sociology

(5) Take PSC 499/4099 Senior Seminar

(6) Complete as many PSC elective credits as are necessary to graduate with a minimum of 39 hours in political science. Students may earn the balance of their required major hours by taking any PSC course not used to fulfill one of the requirements listed above (for example, a student who takes both PSC 121/1010 and PSC 121/1011 may count one of these classes towards their electives). With departmental approval, a major’s elective hours may include a maximum of 4 hours of credit from the Student Internship Program (PSC 4071-72, credit subject to departmental approval) and a maximum of 4 hours of Independent Study credit (PSC 4011-12)

To earn a MINOR in political science, a student who entered before Fall 2010 must complete 18 hours of coursework including:

Choose one course from two of the following three categories:

1. PSC 201 US Government  
or PSC 2310 American Politics

2. PSC/GBS 309 Comparative Politics
or PSC 2510 Comparing Foreign Political Systems

3. PSC 305/2710 International Relations 

The balance of the minor will be made up of electives. Minors will complete as many PSC elective credits as are necessary to graduate with a minimum of 18 hours in political science. Students may earn the balance of their required major hours by taking any PSC course not used to fulfill one of the requirements listed above.

 

 

 

 


Last updated on Thursday, November 12, 2009
by Mark Setzler [msetzler@highpoint.edu]

 

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