Dec 11, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog

Political Science, B.A.


About the Political Science Bachelor’s Program


The Department of Political Science offers four concentrations for students:  American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, or Policy and Public Administration. Students who do not choose to have a concentration will receive a general B.A. in Political Science.

American Politics: Students seeking the notation “American Politics Concentration” on their transcripts must take four 3-hour courses (12 hours) with a grade of C or better from the following courses: POLS 3300 , POLS 3317 , POLS 3318 , POLS 3319 , POLS 3323 , POLS 3325 , POLS 3327 , POLS 3351 , POLS 3352 , POLS 3353 .

Comparative Politics. Students seeking the notation “Comparative Politics Concentration” on their transcripts must take four 3-hour courses (12 hours) with a grade of C or better from the following courses: POLS 3302 , POLS 3364 , POLS 3372 , POLS 3373 , POLS 3375 , POLS 3376 .

International Relations. Students seeking the notation “International Relations Concentration” on their transcripts must take four 3-hour courses (12 hours) with a grade of C or better from the following courses: POLS 3301 , POLS 3360 , POLS 3363 , POLS 3365 , POLS 3366 , POLS 3367 , POLS 3368 .

Policy and Public Administration. Students seeking the notation “Policy & Public Administration Concentration” on their transcripts must take four 3-hour courses (12 hours) with a grade of C or better from the following courses: POLS 3303 , POLS 3328 , POLS 3329 , POLS 3334 , POLS 3341 , POLS 3346 .

A minimum of 9 upper-level Political Science hours must be taken in residence at Texas Tech University.

Communication Literacy Requirement


Students majoring in political science are expected to develop proficiency in written, oral, and graphical/mathematical communication. To satisfy this requirement, all majors are required to take three 3-hour courses (9 hours) of communications literacy courses in the department. The three courses that satisfy this requirement are POLS 3314 , POLS 3300  or POLS 3303  (not both), POLS 3301  or POLS 3302  .

Recommended Curriculum


First Year


Fall


Total: 13


Spring


Total: 15


Second Year


Fall


  • 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Foreign Language (2000 level) 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • ENGL 2000-level Literature 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Creative Arts 3 Semester Credit Hours *
  • Personal Fitness and Wellness 1 Semester Credit Hours
  • POLS Jr./Sr. Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 16


Spring


Total: 15


Third Year


Fall


  • POLS Communication Literacy Course 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Oral Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours *
  • Life and Physical Sciences 4 Semester Credit Hours *
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences 3 Semester Credit Hours *
  • Minor 3 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 16


Spring


Total: 15


Fourth Year


Fall


  • POLS Communication Literacy Course 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Minor 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Language, Philosophy, & Culture 3 Semester Credit Hours *
  • Creative Arts 3 Semester Credit Hours *
  • POLS Jr./Sr. Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 15


Spring


  • POLS Jr./Sr. Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • POLS Jr./Sr. Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
  • Minor 6 Semester Credit Hours
  • Multicultural 3 Semester Credit Hours (Choose from the university’s multicultural  list.)

Total: 15


Total Hours: 120


40 hours must be at the junior/senior level; 9 hours must be communication literacy courses in the major.

* Choose from the university’s core curriculum .

Foreign Language


A student must complete 6 hours at the sophomore level or above in a single language. The prerequisite for all sophomore language courses is credit for the first-year level. This credit can be determined through a credit by examination. The exam score will determine if the student is placed in a second-year course, a 5-hour review course, or the first or second semester of a beginning (first-year) language course. See Arts & Sciences General Degree Requirements  for further explanation.