Political Science - Bachelor of Arts
Requirements
Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements, Viewing a Wider World requirements, and elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Area I: Communications | 10 | |
English Composition - Level 1 1 | ||
English Composition - Level 2 1 | ||
Oral Communication 1 | ||
| Area II: Mathematics 1,2 | 3-4 | |
| Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences | 11 | |
| American National Government | 3 | |
| Introduction to Political Science | 3 | |
or HNRS 2180G | Citizen and State Great Political Issues | |
Area III: Laboratory Sciences Course (4 credits) 1 | ||
| Area V: Humanities 1 | 3 | |
| Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts 1 | 3 | |
| General Education Elective 1 | 3-4 | |
| Viewing A Wider World 4 | 6 | |
| Departmental/College Requirements | ||
| The department requires (POLS 1120G) and (POLS 1110G or HNRS 2180G) as degree requirements. These courses will count towards the General Education and Departmental requirements 3 | ||
| POLS 1111 | Introductory Government Seminar 3 | 1 |
| POLS 300 | Political Research Skills | 3 |
or | ||
Another social science research methods course 5 | ||
| Select one upper-division course from four of six subfields: | 12 | |
Public Administration and Policy (POLS 20/30 series) | ||
American Government and Politics (POLS 40/50 series) | ||
International Relations (POLS 60 series, may include HNRS 304V) | ||
Comparative Politics (POLS 70 series may include HNRS 307V) | ||
Political Theory POLS 80 series may include POLS 380V) | ||
Public Law (POLS 90 series) | ||
| POLS 415 | Senior Seminar (take in final year) | 2 |
| Select additional credits in government to bring total credits in major to 33, including 20 upper-division. | 9 | |
| Second Language: (required - see below) | 0-14 | |
| Electives, to bring the total credits to 120 6 | 38-54 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
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See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses
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A Mathematics course is required for the degree but students may need to take any prerequisites needed to enter the Mathematics course of their course first.
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Majors should complete these lower level requirements before registering for upper-division government credits.
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See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses
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A list of approved options is available in the department office.
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Elective credit may vary based on General Education course selection, second language requirements, prerequisites, dual credit, AP credit, double majors, and/or minor coursework. The amount indicated in the requirements list is the amount needed to bring the total to 120 credits and may appear in variable form based on the degree. However students may end up needing to complete more or less on a case-by-case basis and students should discuss elective requirements with their advisor.
Note: Students may not count S/U grades taken in their major unless the particular course is regularly graded S/U. All courses must be passed with grades of C- or better. In addition, while research methods courses taken outside of the department may count toward the methods requirement, only POLS 300 Political Research Skills counts toward the 33 credits in the major.
Up to twelve hours of internship credit are available. However, only three hours count toward the major. Internship guidelines are available in the department office and on the Government Department web page, http://deptofgov.nmsu.edu/.
Second Language Requirement
For the Bachelor of Arts in Government there is a two year second language requirement, the options to complete this requirement are listed below. The number of credits that a student needs to take may vary depending on what level they come in with. Please speak with an advisor for more information as to which courses you will need to take to fulfill the second language requirement for this degree.
Option 1:
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following sequences: | ||
| FREN 1110 & FREN 1120 & FREN 2110 & FREN 2120 | French I and French II and French III and French IV | 3-14 |
| GRMN 1110 & GRMN 1120 & GRMN 2110 & GRMN 2120 | German I and German II and German III and German IV | 3-14 |
| JAPN 1110 & JAPN 1120 & JAPN 2110 & JAPN 2120 | Japanese I and Japanese II and Japanese III and Japanese IV | 3-14 |
| SPAN 1110 & SPAN 1120 & SPAN 2110 & SPAN 2120 | Spanish I and Spanish II and Spanish III and Spanish IV | 3-14 |
| PORT 1110 & PORT 1120 | Portuguese I and Portuguese II | 3-6 |
| For Heritage Speakers: | ||
| SPAN 1210 & SPAN 1220 & SPAN 2210 | Elementary Spanish for Heritage Learners I and Spanish for Heritage Learners II and Spanish for Heritage Learners III | 3-9 |
Option 2:
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following sequence for American Sign Language (with a C- or better): | ||
| SIGN 1110 | American Sign Language I | 3 |
| SIGN 1120 | American Sign Language II | 3 |
| SIGN 2110 | American Sign Language III | 3 |
Option 3:
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge the 2120 level for the following courses: | ||
OR | ||
| Challenge the 1120/2210 level for the following courses: | ||
| PORT 1120 | Portuguese II | 3 |
| or SPAN 2210 | Spanish for Heritage Learners III | |
Option 4:
Pass a three-credit, upper-division course (numbered 300 or above) taught in a second language by the department of Languages and Linguistics.
Option 5:
Obtain college certification of completion of three years of a second language at the high school level with a grade of C- or higher in the second-year level.
Option 6:
By obtaining certification of a working knowledge of a Native American language from the American Indian program director.
Option 7:
By obtaining, from the head of the Department of Languages and Linguistics, certification of a working knowledge of a second language if such language is not taught at NMSU.
Option 8:
In the case of a foreign student who is required to take the TOEFL exam admission, the dean will automatically waive the second language requirement.
A Suggested Plan of Study for Students
This roadmap assumes student placement in MATH 1130G Survey of Mathematics and ENGL 1110G Composition I . The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English. It is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change.
| Freshman | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I 1 | 4 |
| MATH 1130G | Survey of Mathematics 1 | 3 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| American National Government | ||
| Introduction to Political Science | ||
| FYEX 1112 | The Freshman Year Experience | 3 |
| Area V: Humanities Course 2 | 3 | |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Introduction to Communication Honors | ||
| Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture | ||
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Political Science | ||
| American National Government | ||
| POLS 1111 | Introductory Government Seminar | 1 |
| Area III: Laboratory Science Course 2 | 4 | |
| Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts Course 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Professional and Technical Communication Honors | ||
| Writing in the Humanities and Social Science | ||
| POLS Series Elective Courses | 6 | |
| First Course in Second Language Series (or Elective) | 3-4 | |
| Next Course in Second Language Series (or Elective) | 3-4 | |
| General Education Elective Course | 3 | |
| POLS 300 | Political Research Skills | 3 |
| Elective Courses | 9 | |
| Credits | 30-32 | |
| Junior | ||
| Next Courses in Second Language Series (or Elective) | 6 | |
| VWW: Viewing a Wider World Courses 3 | 6 | |
| POLS Series Elective Courses | 6 | |
| POLS Elective Course | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective Course | 3 | |
| Elective Courses | 6 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Senior | ||
| POLS 415 | Senior Seminar (Spring Only) | 2 |
| POLS Upper-Division Elective Courses | 6 | |
| Upper-Division Elective Courses | 18 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 120-122 | |
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These courses may have prerequisites and/or co-requisites, and it is the students responsibility for checking and fulfilling all those requirements.
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See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
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See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.