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 , PUAD 3329 , POLS 3334 , PUAD 3340 , PUAD 3352 .
A minimum of 9 upper-level Political Science hours must be taken in residence at Texas Tech University.
* These concentrations are no longer accepting new students effective Spring 2026.
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 .
Fall
- POLS 2371 - Comparative Politics 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
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
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
Spring
- POLS Jr./Sr. Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
- POLS Jr./Sr. Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
- Minor 6 Semester Credit Hours
- Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
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.
Return to: