Bachelor of Arts or Science in Political Science

Articulation Agreement for 2004 and 2006 Catalogue Years

Hill College and SHSU are proud to offer a joint program allowing a student to complete an Associate Degree at Hill College and a Bachelor's Degree at SHSU.

Political Science. The study of political science pulls together the drama of politics and public issues with the development of skills of analysis and communication - skills that are useful in everyday life and a wide range of professions.

Careers. The political science program meets the career needs of two different sets of students. Some want primarily the traditional liberal arts education that provides a foundation to deal with a broad range of ideas and challenges. With today's economy, in which most people experience several major career changes, this is a valuable foundation. Other students want courses that will prepare them for specific career goals.

The majority of our graduates work in private business and have been quite successful. Others attend the major Texas law schools, teach (from junior high to university level), work in public service (at the federal, state, county, or city level), or go into political life (such as state legislator, judge, county commissioner, or lobbyist). There is an increasing need for trained people to work in nonprofit organizations. The department has just implemented a program to provide the skills in administration, research, and writing that will prepare graduates to enter this exciting area. The department also advises pre-law students.

Degree Options. At SHSU, students can earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Political Science. As part of the program, students take a minor in another area, such as criminal justice, environmental studies, or business.

Core Curriculum for
HC - Associate of Arts
SHSU - Bachelor of Arts or Science

*NOTE: Adjustments as to when courses are taken should be made according to whether the B.A. or B.S. degree is sought. In particular, students wishing to take the B.A. may wish to take a foreign language course each of their first four semesters. An additional fine arts course is also required for the B.A. Those wishing to receive a B.S. may wish to take their additional math and science courses during the first four semesters. Be aware that only freshman and sophomore level classes count toward the Core. The following paragraph list the specific requirements for the B.A. and B.S. degrees.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) general requirements: Major - 31 hrs; Minor - 18-24 hrs; Core - 45hrs; Fine Arts - 6 hrs (3 hours beyohd the Core); Philosophy - 3 hrs (may be from the Core); Foreign Languages (excluding English courses) 12-14 hrs (will meet Core cultural studies requirement); Electives - generally 11-17 hrs.; Total 128 hrs. The degree must contain a minimum of 42 hours advanced credit, 6 hours writing enhanced courses (ENG 164, ENG 165, 2 courses in the student's major, and 2 courses from any discipline). A minimum of 32 hours, including 12 semester hours of advanced work in the major, must be completed in residence at SHSU. A minimum of 6 semester hours of advanced work in the minor must be completed in residence.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) general information: Major - 37 hours; Minor - 18-24 hours, depending on the minor; Core - 45 hours; Mathematics - 6 hrs. (3 hrs. beyond Core: STA 379 or 169); Lab Science - 16 hrs (8 hrs beyond the Core; take 4 hours each of the two sciences taken in the Core); Math or Lab Science - 6-8 hrs. (beyond other requirements, take 3 hrs. of math or science; science hrs. must be from a different discipline than those taken for the Core); Electives - generally 10-17 hrs.; Total - 128 hrs. The degree must contain a minimum of 42 hours of advanced credit, 6 hours writing enhanced courses (ENG 164 and 165, 2 courses in Political Science, and 2 courses from any discipline). A minimum of 32 hours, including 12 hours of advanced work in the major, must be completed in residence at SHSU. A minimum of 6 semester hours of advanced work in the minor must be completed in residence.

Political Science Requirements for Both Degrees: POL 261, other 200-level course, 377, 379, 410, and 472.

A maximum of 66 credit hours (excluding kinesiology) may be transferred from a community college to Sam Houston State University. Students should carefully select courses to complete the associate degree while minimizing the number of hours that might exceed the 66 hour cap for transfer credit.

All requirements are based on the SHSU 2004-2006 catalogue. The respective catalogues are the final word if a discrepancy appears between this pamphlet and a catalogue

SHSU courses with 300 and 400 level numbers are considered as upper division and most must be completed at SHSU.  Credit may not be transferred from a community college for upper division courses.

Texas Grant
Texas residents who have graduated from high school within the past 16 months with the Recommended or Distinguished curriculum, or received your first Associate's Degree within the past 12 months may qualify for the Towards Excellence, & Success (TEXAS) Grant, a state financial aid program. Please review the basic qualifications. If you believe you qualify, contact your respective community college or university financial aid office. The financial aid office at SHSU may be contacted at (936) 294-1724 or at http://www.shsu.edu/~sfa_www/. Additional information may be found at http://www.collegefortexans.com. For more information, visit the SHSU Political Science webpage at http://www.shsu.edu/~pol_www.

Sam Houston State University and Hill College are both accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Revised 11/15/05

Sam Houston State University
A Member of The Texas State University System