Mar 03, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Political Science (B.A.)

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Program: B.A.
Department of Political Science  
College of Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts Building 209 ~ 260-481-6686

Political Science is the study of how power, in its many forms, is used to organize human social relations. Our courses analyze how government and politics work at all levels of society, from the national, state, and local to the international. They also explore, in a rigorous and non-partisan way, the ethical dimensions of political debates.

Students who study Political Science not only become better-informed citizens; they also develop expertise in oral argument, written analysis, and critical thinking, all of which are in high demand from public- and private-sector employers in government, politics, law, education, business, and not-for-profit organizations. Our graduates have an outstanding record of success in gaining admission to top graduate schools and law schools, winning major national scholarships, and achieving leadership success in many professional fields.

For details on pursuing a secondary education second degree (BSEd) to teach Political Science in middle school/high school, click on the links to the Secondary Education - Second Degree  Program and the School of Education  page in this catalog.  Note:  The BSEd as a second degree in these programs cannot be earned without completion of the bachelor’s degree in the content area from the College of Liberal Arts.  See Program Requirements below for a link to the Secondary Education - Second Degree 4-Year Plan.

Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this degree, students will:

  • Demonstrate the ability to:
    • Communicate and write clearly and effectively
    • Use quantitative and qualitative analytical skills in appropriate situations
    • Analyze social and political issues with cutting-edge problem solving skills
    • Lead and engage others ethically and professionally with personal integrity, academic and professional honesty, respect for diversity, and civil deliberation, dissent, and discourse
  • Be prepared for:
    • Careers in public and private sectors, especially in the fields of government, politics, law, and public service (for a detailed account, see the latest edition of the American Political Science Association’s Careers and the Study of Political Science)
    • Graduate study/law school
    • Active and engaged leadership and citizenship in one’s community, the nation, and beyond
  • In the discipline, students will identify basic and explain advanced key terms and concepts in the major fields of the discipline:
    • Political Thought and Philosophy
    • American Government and Politics
    • Comparative Government
    • International Relations

Program Delivery:

  • This program is available on-campus

Declaring this Major:

General Requirements:

College Scorecard

The U.S. Department of Education has created a scorecard for each university and its programs.  The scorecard shows data for the university such as graduation rate, average annual cost, and median earnings.  Then, when certain minimum standards have been met, data are available for a specific program.  That data could include median earnings, median total debt, and number of graduates. The link below will help you learn more:

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?151102-Purdue-University-Fort-Wayne&fos_code=4510&fos_credential=3

Program Requirements:

Political Science (B.A.) 4-Year Plan :

  • A grade of C- or higher in all department courses required for the major and an overall GPA of 2.00 or higher for all courses required in the major.
  • No more than 9 credits taken at the 100xx level will count toward the major requirements.
  • Credit will not be given for both POL 20001 and POL 40101 courses with the same topic.
  • Neither POL 39800 or POL 48200 may count for more than 6 credits toward the major requirements.
  • Together POL 39800 and POL 48200 may not count for more than 9 credits toward the major requirements.

Political Science (B.A.) with Secondary Education 4-Year Plan :

  • Students pursuing a double degree (BSED and BA/BS) in Secondary Education with History, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology require a minor.  They may choose a minor in any of the following programs, provided the minor is different than the major: Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English, Exceptional Needs-Mild Intervention, French, German, History, Mathematics, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or Spanish.   See below for examples of 4-year plans.  Contact your History or Education advisor for assistance choosing your specific minor.

To earn the B.A. with a major in Political Science, you must fulfill the following requirements in addition to the General Requirements noted above:

General Education: Credits 30

Effective Fall 2025, the General Education program at PFW requires 30 credits to be completed, such that students pass each course listed below with a grade of C- or better:

  • Category A. Foundational Intellectual Skills (Foundational Intellectual Skills Course Lists)   
    • One course in A1. Written Communication Cr. 3. 
    • One course in A2. Speaking and Listening Cr. 3.
    • One course in A3. Quantitative Reasoning Cr. 3.
  • Category B. Ways of Knowing (Ways of Knowing Course Lists)   
    • One course in B4. Scientific Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
    • One course in B5. Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
    • One course in B6. Humanistic Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
    • One course in B7. Artistic Ways or Knowing Cr. 3.
    • One course in B8. Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
  • Six additional credits from any Foundational Skills (A1-A3) or Ways of Knowing (B4-B8) categories
  • At least one Ways of Knowing course that is designated as having a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or global awareness

Some programs recommend courses and/or require a specific course as part of the major that may also be used to fulfill General Education requirements. Please see below or your Academic Advisor for courses that fulfill both purposes.  You can familiarize yourself with other program regulations at General Education Requirements .

College of Liberal Arts Course Requirements

Click on the PFW College of Liberal Arts link above for detailed information on college requirements.

Introduction to the Liberal Arts: Credits 3

Second Semester Writing, Research, and Methods Class: Credits 3

International Language: Credits 12

You must complete two courses at the first-year level and two courses at the second-year level in a single international language or demonstrate equivalent proficiency.  Click on the PFW College of Liberal Arts link above for more details.

Thematic Requirements: Credits 15

Students will take one course in each of these five areas to ensure that they have an opportunity to deepen their traditional liberal arts education while also preparing for a culturally diverse, technologically advanced, and increasingly globalized and complex world:

  1. Gender, Sexuality, Race, and/or Ethnicity:  Credits 3
  2. Conflict and Cooperation:  Credits 3
  3. Institutions and Behavior:  Credits 3
  4. Regional/Geographic Study:  Credits 3
  5. Digital Humanities/Public Humanities:  Credits 3
     

List of Courses and Stipulations for the COLA Thematic Requirements 

Core and Concentration (Major) Courses Credits: 33

Core Courses: Credits 9

Concentration Area Courses: Credits 12

American Politics

 One of the following:

Comparative Politics

 One of the following:

International Relations

 One of the following:

Political Philosophy

One of the following:

Variable Topics Courses

The following courses are not listed in the concentration areas above; however, credit can be assigned to one of the concentration areas based on the course topic.

Additional Political Science Courses: Credits 12

  • Choose an additional 12 credits of POLS courses noting program restrictions:
    • No more than 9 credits taken at the 100xx level will count toward the major requirements
    • Credit will not be given for both POL 20001 and POL 40101 courses with the same topic.
    • Neither POL 39800 or POL 48200 may count for more than 6 credits toward the major requirements.
    • Together POL 39800 and POL 48200 may not count for more than 9 credits toward the major requirements.

General Electives

  • Sufficient additional credits to bring the total to 120.

Total Credits: 120 minimum

Student Responsibility

You are responsible for ensuring that you satisfy all graduation requirements specified for each selected program. Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career. If you cannot complete all program requirements by your stated graduation date but fail to remove those from your plan of study, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with your academic advisor will remove unmet pursuits from your plan of study. Changing curricular records during the graduation term of application may affect state or federal financial aid awards. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean. 

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