B.A. in Political Science - Government and Politics Concentration

College of the Sciences and Mathematics
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Academic Foundations
First Year Experience requirement4
English Composition requirement6-7
Mathematics requirement3-4
Interdisciplinary requirement3
Diverse Communities requirement3
Ethics requirement3
Distributed Disciplinary Foundations
Science requirement6-8
Behavioral & Social Science requirement6
Humanities requirement6
Arts requirement3
ADDITIONAL BACCALAUREATE REQUIREMENTS
University Requirements
Writing Emphasis requirement9
Speaking Emphasis requirement9
Degree Requirements
Language/Culture requirement0-15
Demonstrating language proficiency through the intermediate level (202) or demonstrating language proficiency through the elementary II (102) level of a language and further acquiring a cultural foundation.
Capstone requirement1-15
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Core Courses
With the exception of the Capstone Seminar, the core courses (15 credits) should be taken during the first and second year.
PSC 100United States Government and Politics3
PSC 200Political Analysis3
PSC 213International Relations3
PSC 230Introduction to Political Thought3
PSC 240Introduction to Comparative Politics3
Additional 200-level Elective
Select one course: 13
Politics of Diversity in the U.S.
Elements of Public Administration
The Politics of the Judicial Process
State and Local Government
Institutions of American Government
Select two courses:6
U.S. Political Parties
U.S. Political Thought
Constitutional Law I: Government Institutions: Power and Constraints
Constitutional Law II: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Congressional Politics
Presidential Politics
Political Behavior
Select two courses:6
Gender and Politics
Public Opinion, Media and Politics
Racial/Ethnic Politics
Campaigns and Elections
Courts, Law and Policy
Contemporary Political Thought
Latinx Politics
Public Policy
Select two courses: 16
Urban Politics
U.S. Foreign Policy
Pennsylvania Government & Politics
Energy and the Political Process
Sustainability Politics and Policy
US Social Policy
Additional Upper-level Elective
Select an internship or additional 300-level course from above. 13-15
Internship In Political Science
Capstone Requirement 2
PSC 401Senior Project in Political Science3
or PSC 402 Advanced Political Analysis
Total Minimum Credits Required120
1

Students interested in the MPA Accelerated Program should see the suggested course substitutions below.

2

These courses fulfill the Capstone requirement.

Accelerated B.A. in Political Science - Government and Politics Concentration to the Master of Public Administration Program

Any Political Science major with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher who has completed at least 90 credits may substitute up to 12 credits of graduate coursework in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program to satisfy course requirements for the B.A. in Political Science - Government and Politics Concentration. Those credits will also apply toward the MPA program. Students must apply to the MPA program after successful completion of 90 undergraduate credits with a 3.0 minimum GPA. If accepted, the student will receive conditional acceptance to the MPA program contingent on successful completion of their undergraduate degree. 

Additional 200-level Elective
PPA 500Foundations of Public Service3
Public Policy
PPA 504Public Human Resource Management3
Additional Upper-Level Elective
PPA 501Analysis and Decision Making I3
Free Elective
PPA 502Analysis and Decision Making II3

To track their individual degree progress, students are advised to access their Degree Progress Report (DPR) via myWCU regularly. For more information, visit wcupa.edu/DegreeProgressReport.

The following is a sample suggested course sequence for this program; course offerings and availability are not guaranteed. Students should consult their academic advisor with any questions.

Accelerated B.A. in Political Science - Government and Politics Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
PSC 100 United States Government and Politics 3
WRT 120 Effective Writing I 3
FYE XXXFirst-Year Experience 4
Language 101 3
Humanities Gen Ed 3
 Credits16
Spring
MAT 121 Introduction to Statistics I 3
WRT 2XX200-Level WRT Course 3
Language 102 3
Behavioral & Social Science Gen Ed 3
Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed 3
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
PSC 230 Introduction to Political Thought 3
PSC 240 Introduction to Comparative Politics 3
Language 201 (or culture cluster) 3
Arts Gen Ed 3
Science Gen Ed 3
 Credits15
Spring
PSC 200 Political Analysis 3
PSC 213 International Relations 3
Language 202 (or culture cluster) 3
Interdisciplinary Gen Ed 3
Behavioral & Social Science Gen Ed 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Fall
PSC 3XXPolitical Behavior Course 3
PSC 3XXInstitutional Course in Group B 3
Science Gen Ed 3
Humanities Gen Ed 3
Elective or Culture Cluster 3
 Credits15
Spring
PSC 3XXInstitutional Course in Group B 3
PSC 3XXBehavior Course in Group C 3
PSC XXXGovernment and Politics Policy Course in Group D 3
Ethics Gen Ed 3
Diverse Communities Gen Ed 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
PSC 401 Senior Project in Political Science 3
PPA 500 Foundations of Public Service 3
PPA 501 Analysis and Decision Making I 3
Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed 3
Elective 3
 Credits15
Spring
PSC XXXGovernment and Politics Policy Course in Group D 3
PPA 502 Analysis and Decision Making II 3
PPA 504 Public Human Resource Management 3
Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed 3
Elective or 300-Level Writing Emphasis Course if not already completed 3
 Credits15
Summer Session I
PPA 601 Public Policy and Administration Internship 3
PPA XXXPublic Policy Elective 3
 Credits6
Summer Session II
PPA XXXPublic Policy Elective 3
 Credits3
Year Five
Fall
PPA 503 Public Budgeting & Finance 3
PPA 506 Foundations in Nonprofit Administration 3
PPA XXXPublic Policy Elective 3
 Credits9
Spring
PPA 505 Public Sector Organization Theory 3
PPA 600 Capstone Seminar in Public Administration 3
PPA XXXPublic Policy Elective 3
 Credits9
 Total Credits148