Political Science, with specializations in General Political Science, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Political Economy and Public and International Law (B.A.)

Bachelor of Arts

Political Science at AUC is taught as a humanistic discipline with the overall objectives of fostering understanding of the contemporary world and developing knowledge about, and an appreciation of, the complex mechanisms, authoritative structures, and the allocation of values, which characterize contemporary human communities. Political Science at AUC requires students to develop abilities of comprehension and analysis, and skills for oral and written presentations. The graduate of Political Science is thus well equipped for life in the modern world, and to follow those professions and lines of work that require independence of thought, initiative, creativity in solving problems, and continuing self development. AUC graduates of Political Science are presently found in business, journalism, research, analytic writing, and public contact work. They occupy positions in public, private, development agencies, the diplomatic service, governmental ministries and agencies, and university teaching. A significant number of past graduates have subsequently completed M.A. and Ph.D. degrees.

For students to declare a major in Political Science, they need to fulfill the below criteria:

1. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7.
2. B+ average in POLS 1001  or POLS 2003  and POLS 2104  or POLS 2405   with a minimum grade of B in each of the two courses taken towards declaration. Students substituting POLS 1001  with transferred credits are required to achieve a B+ average in POLS 2104  and POLS 2405  with a minimum grade of B in each of the two courses.
3. A minimum grade of B in the RHET 1020  course.

POLS 1001  fulfills the Social Science requirement at the primary level of the Core Curriculum and is not counted as part of the credits required for the Political Science major. If POLS 1001  is not taken in the Freshman year, POLS 2003  must be taken after the Freshman Year by those wishing to major in Political Science. Junior-year (3000-level) courses are required in four subfields and are prerequisites to the more advanced courses and seminars (4000-level). Each semester, a selection of 3000 and 4000 level courses and seminars is offered from which students may choose courses to complete the requirements of the major.

A total of 120 credits is required for the bachelor’s degree in Political Science as follows:

Core Curriculum: (40 credits)

Political Science Major Requirements: 

For students pursuing a BA in the General field of Political Science, Specialization in Comparative Politics, Specialization in Political Economy or Specialization in Public and International Law: 45 credits 

1. If students took POLS 1001 : 30 credits (10 courses) of general political science concentration courses plus 15 political science credits (5 courses).
2. If students took POLS 2003 : 33 credits (11 courses) of general political science concentration courses, including POLS 2003 , plus 12 political science credits (4 courses).

For students pursuing a Specialization in International Relations: 45 credits if students took POLS 1001 and 48 credits if students took POLS 2003 as follows:

1. If students took POLS 1001  : 30 credits (10 courses) of general political science concentration courses plus 15 political science credits (5 courses).
2. If students took POLS 2003  : 33 credits (11 courses) of general political science concentration courses, including POLS 2003 , plus 15 political science credits (5 courses).

Students can use political science courses towards pursuit of one or more of the political science specializations.
One of the capstone courses taken by students to fulfill the core requirement must be a political science capstone course. 

Collateral requirements: (6 credits)
General Electives: (29 credits, 26 in the case of students who took POLS 2003 and are pursuing a specialization in International Relations)

ENGL 0210   is a prerequisite to POLS 1001  and POLS 2003  

RHET 1010   is a prerequisite to POLS 2104 , POLS 2405 , POLS 2096 , POLS 3401 , POLS 3550  and POLS 3620  

RHET 1020  is a prerequisite to all other political science courses.