Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in Political Science
Program Learning Outcomes for the BA Degree with a Major in Political Science
Upon completing the BA degree with a major in Political Science, students will have:
- Developed a broad understanding of political science and more specific knowledge in one or more subfields (Substantive knowledge).
- Developed critical thinking skills and the ability to apply political science theories to understand the political world (Critical thinking).
- Learned how to interpret, conduct, and evaluate political science research, including data collection and data analysis techniques and statistical software (Empirical analysis).
- Developed and strengthen written, oral and visual communication skills and the ability to present political science research to an audience (Communication).
- Become informed citizens able to participate effectively and meaningfully in the political process (Citizenship).
Requirements for the BA Degree with a Major in Political Science
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BA degree with a major in Political Science must complete:
- A minimum of 13 courses (41 credit hours) to satisfy major requirements.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 8 courses (26 credit hours) taken at the 300-level or above.
- A minimum of 4 courses (14 credit hours) from the Core Requirements.
- A minimum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) from the Seminar Requirements.
- A minimum of 7 courses (21 credit hours) from the Elective Requirements.
- A maximum of 4 courses (12 credit hours) from study abroad or transfer credit. For additional program guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor or, where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Political Science | 41 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BA Degree with a Major in Political Science | 120 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| Introductory Courses | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN POLITICS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS | ||
| Research Methods Courses 1 | ||
| SOSC 302 | QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES | 4 |
| POLI 395 | APPLIED RESEARCH METHODS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE | 4 |
| Seminar Requirements | ||
| Select at least 2 seminar courses from departmental (POLI) course offerings at the 400-level 2 | 6 | |
| Elective Requirements | ||
| Select 4 additional courses from departmental (POLI) course offerings at the 300-level (between course numbers POLI 300 and POLI 399) 3 | 12 | |
| Select 3 additional courses from departmental (POLI) course offerings at any level 4 | 9 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in Political Science | 41 | |
| Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements * | 48 | |
| University Graduation Requirements * | 31 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| * | Note: University Graduation Requirements include 31 credit hours, comprised of Distribution Requirements (Groups I, II, and III), FWIS, and LPAP coursework. In some instances, courses satisfying FWIS or distribution requirements may additionally meet other requirements, such as the Analyzing Diversity (AD) requirement, or some of the student’s declared major, minor, or certificate requirements. Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements include general electives, coursework completed as upper-level, residency (hours taken at Rice), and/or any other additional academic program requirements. |
| 1 | SOSC 302 should be taken before POLI 395. These courses must be taken at Rice University. |
| 2 | Departmental (POLI) seminars are courses numbered at the 400-level (excluding POLI 405 and POLI 406). Students must take seminars from two different instructors. These courses must be taken at Rice University. |
| 3 | The 4 courses (12 credit hours) taken at the 300-level (between course numbers POLI 300 and POLI 399, excluding POLI 305, POLI 306, POLI 307, and POLI 395) must be taken at Rice University. |
| 4 | This excludes POLI 110, POLI 111, and POLI 112, which do not count toward any major requirements. POLI 305 and POLI 306 (Directed Readings) are eligible for credit as 'additional courses,' as is POLI 307 and up to two POLI 3XX courses (POLI 3XX are transfer credit hours). See the Policies tab and the program's official transfer credit advisor for more information regarding transfer credit. |
Policies for the BA Degree with a Major in Political Science
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the designated transfer credit advisor for the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content). The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with the applicable transfer credit advisor as well as their academic program director when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the major in Political Science should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guideline:
- No more than 4 courses (12 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the major.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Political Science website: https://politicalscience.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the BA Degree with a Major in Political Science
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Political Science website at: https://politicalscience.rice.edu/.