Political Science with Civic and Nonprofit Leadership Option (B.A.)
Total Semester Hours required for the Degree: 120 semester hours
Total Semester Hours for the Major in Political Science with Civic & Nonprofit Leadership Option: 40 semester hours
Introductory Courses (13 hours):
PLS 1153G
American Government and Constitution. (3 credits)
or
PLS 1193G
American Government and Constitution, Honors. (3 credits)
PLS 1500
Political Science Forum. (1 credits)
PLS 2000G
Introduction to Public Affairs. (3 credits)
PLS 2033
Research Methods in Political Science. (3 credits)
And complete one of the following:
PLS 1003
Introduction to Politics. (3 credits)
PLS 3613
Public Policy. (3 credits)
PLS 3623
Public and Nonprofit Management. (3 credits)
Required Courses (6 hours):
Take two of the following:
PLS 4793
Civic and Nonprofit Leadership. (3 credits)
PLS 4873
Human Resource Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations. (3 credits)
PLS 4893
Budgeting in Government and Nonprofit Organizations. (3 credits)
Electives (12 hours):
PLS 3603
State and Local Government. (3 credits)
PLS 3653
American Indian Politics. (3 credits)
PLS 3703
African American Politics. (3 credits)
PLS 3713
Political Parties and Elections. (3 credits)
PLS 3723
Political Behavior. (3 credits)
PLS 3733
Interest Groups and Lobbying. (3 credits)
PLS 3743
Congress. (3 credits)
PLS 3753
The American Presidency. (3 credits)
PLS 3773
Religion & Politics in the U.S. (3 credits)
PLS 3862A,
Special Topics: U.S. Politics, Policy & Public Administration. (1 to 3 credits)
PLS 3903
Women & Politics. (3 credits)
PLS 4763
Environmental Politics & Policy. (3 credits)
PLS 4783
Health Politics and Policy. (3 credits)
PLS 4793
Civic and Nonprofit Leadership. (3 credits)
*
PLS 4873
Human Resource Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations. (3 credits)
*
PLS 4893
Budgeting in Government and Nonprofit Organizations. (3 credits)
*
PLS 2333
Political Campaigning. (3 credits)
Footnote:
* Cannot count for both a Required Course and an Elective.
Applied Learning (3 hours):
PLS 2503
Legal Research and Argument. (3 credits)
(only one credit hour may be counted toward applied learning experience)
PLS 25131
Moot Court I. (1 credits)
or PLS 25132 or PLS 25133
(Limited to 3 hours of Political Science Credit)
PLS 26111
Model Illinois Government I. (1 credits)
or PLS 26112
(Limited to 3 hours of Political Science Credit)
PLS 3970
Study Abroad. (1 to 15 credits)
(See Footnote *)
PLS 4275
Internship. (1 to 12 credits)
(See Footnote **)
PLS 4444
Honors Independent Study. (3 credits)
(See Footnote #)
PLS 4503
Independent Study. (1 to 6 credits)
(See Footnote ***)
PLS 4555
Honors Research. (3 credits)
(See Footnote #)
PLS 4644
Honors Thesis. (3 credits)
(See Footnote #)
GIS Requirement (3 hours):
GEO 3810
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems. (3 credits)
Capstone Requirement (3 hours):
All Political Science majors will complete the capstone course after completing at least 75 hours, PLS 1500, PLS 2033, and at least 6 hours of PLS coursework at the 3000-4000 level. PLS 4600 also satisfies the senior seminar requirement in the General Education program.
PLS 4600
Political Science Capstone. (3 credits)
Students are encouraged to take electives, minors, or a double-major in fields that complement their interests, including other social sciences, foreign languages, humanities, and business.
Footnote:
* Three credit hours will count for this requirement. Additional credit hours may be substituted for Electives, with departmental approval.
** Three credit hours will count for this requirement. Additional credit hours cannot be substituted for Electives, but will count towards degree completion.
*** Three credit hours will count for this requirement. Additional credit hours cannot be substituted for Electives, but will be included in computing the major G.P.A.
# Students enrolled in Honors Independent Study, Research, or Thesis must be enrolled in Political Science Departmental Honors.
