Program leading to the associates degree and the B.A. or B.S. in Political Science
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 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. The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Social Science Composite with a Political Science Emphasis are also available. As part of the program, students take a minor in another area, such as criminal justice, environmental studies, or business.
Transfer |
SHSU |
Hours |
GOVT 2301/2302 |
POL 261 and second 200 level course | 6 |
One course from SPCH 1315, 1321, 2335, DRAM 1351, 2336 |
One course from COM161, 282, 284, THR 164, 231 |
3 |
| BCIS 1305 or COSC 1301 | CS133 or CS143 | 3 or 4 |
Applicants wishing to completing the B.A. must satisfy the univeristy foreign language requirement and complete an additional fine arts course. The department recommends applicants for the B.A. degree select a 3 hour Philosophy course from the university core (satisfies core and department degree requirements). Those wishing to receive a B.S. must complete 16 hours of lab science.
The Core Curriculum at Sam Houston State University contains 42 semester credit hours, encompassing six component areas. Each component area has a minimum credit hour requirement and a set of specific courses that may be used to satisfy the requirement. The chart below details the Sam Houston State University courses and their Texas Common Course Number (TCCN) equivalents that comprise SHSU's core curriculum. Course requirements to meet the university foreign language component of the Bachelor of Arts degree have been included for convenience.
Many departments require specific courses from core component areas to meet degree requirements. Selecting departmentally specifed core courses to complete university core requirements reduces the total number of hours required to graduate.
Component Area 1 Communication |
||
| Common Course # | SHSU Course | Credit |
ENGL 1301 |
English 164 | 3 |
ENGL 1302 |
English 165 | 3 |
Component Area 2
Mathematics |
||
| Common Course # | SHSU Course | Credit |
MATH 1332 OR 2312 |
Math 164 or 170 or 142 or 163 or 199 |
3 |
| MATH 1350 & MATH 1351 (both required) | MATH 184 & MATH 185 | 6 |
Credit for MATH 184 & MATH 185 is applicable only toward elementary/middle school certification.
Component Area 3 Natural Science |
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| Common Course # | SHSU Course | Credit |
Select two courses with Labs |
8 |
|
BIOL 1308 & 1108 | Biology 134 & 114 | |
| BIOL 2306 & 2106 or 2406 | Biology 137 & 117 |
|
BIOL 1311 & 1111 | Biology 161 & 111 |
|
BIOL 1313 & 1113 | Biology 162 & 112 |
|
BIOL 2401 | Biology 245 |
|
CHEM 1305 & 1105 | Chemistry 135 & 115 | |
CHEM 1307 & 1107 | Chemistry 136 & 116 |
|
CHEM 1311 & 1111 | Chemistry 138 & 118 |
|
| CHEM 1312 & 1112 | Chemistry 139 & 119 | |
| GEOL 1305 & 1105 | Geology 132 & 112 |
|
GEOL 1303 & 1103 | Geology 133 & 113 |
|
| GEOL 1304 & 1104 | Geology 134 & 114 |
|
GEOG 1301 | Geography 131 & Lab 111 (lab required @ SHSU) |
|
PHYS 1311 & 1111 | Physics 133 & 113 | |
PHYS 1312 & 1112 | Physics 134 & 114 -subject to THECB approval | |
PHYS 1305 & 1105 | Physics 135 & 115 | |
PHYS 1307 & 1107 | Physics 136 & 116 |
|
PHYS 1301 & 1101 | Physics 138 & 118 |
|
PHYS 1302 & 1102 | Physics 139 & 119 |
|
| PHYS 2425 | Physics 141 | |
Component Area 4 Humanities & Visual & Performing Arts |
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| Common Course # | SHSU Course | Credit |
| Select 3 hrs from visual and performing arts: | 9 |
|
| ARTS 1301 | AGR 299 |
|
| ARTS 1301 | Art 160 |
|
ARTS 1311 | Art 161 |
|
ARTS 1316 | Art 163 | |
| ARTS 1303 | Art 260 |
|
| DANC 2303 | Dance 172 |
|
DANC 1301 | Dance 176 |
|
MUSI 1308 | Music 138 | |
MUSI 1301 | Music 161 |
|
MUSI 1310 | Music 264 |
|
MUSI 1306 | Music 265 |
|
| DRAM 1330 | Theatre 160 | |
DRAM 1351 | Theatre 164 |
|
DRAM 1310 | Theatre 166 |
|
| DRAM 1341 | Theatre 230 | |
| DRAM 2336 | Theatre 231 | |
| Select 3 hours from Literature or Philosophy: | ||
| ENGL 2331OR 2332 | English 265 | |
ENGL 2342 | English 266 |
|
| ENGL 2343 | English 267 |
|
PHIL 1301 | Philosophy 261 |
|
| PHIL 2306 | Philosophy 263 | |
| Select 3 hours from Cultural Studies: | ||
NO TCCN | BSL 236 |
|
Foreign Languages 263 FREN, GERM, SPAN 2311/2312 (Sign and other languages may be substituted) |
Foreign Languages 264 FREN, GERM, SPAN 2312 | |
| GEOG 1303 | Geography 265 |
|
GEOG 1303 | Geography 266 |
|
HIST 2311 | History 265 |
|
HIST 2312 | History 266 |
|
| SOCI 2319 | Sociology 168 | |
Component Area 5 Social and Behavioral Sciences |
||
| Common Course # | SHSU Course | Credit |
| Select 9 hours from: | 15 | |
| HIST 1301 | History 163 | |
| HIST 1302 | History 164 | |
| GOVT 2301 or 2306 | Political Science 261 | |
| GOVT 2302 or 2305 | Political Science 285 | |
| Select 3 hours from: | ||
| SOCI 1301 | Agriculture 236 | |
| ECON 1301 | Economics 230 | |
| ECON 2302 | Economics 233 | |
| ECON 2301 | Economics 234 | |
| GEOG 1300 | Geography 161 | |
| PHIL 2303 | Philosophy 262 | |
| PSYC 2301 | Psychology 131 | |
| PSYC 2315 | Psychology 289 | |
| SOCI 1301 | Sociology 131 | |
| SOCI 1306 | Sociology 264 | |
| NO TCCN Local Political Systems | Political Science 231 |
|
| NO TCCN State Political Systems | Political Science 232 | |
| NO TCCN Politics of Ethnic Minorities and Gender | Political Science 235 |
|
| NO TCCN Comparative Survey of World Political Systems | Political Science 265 | |
| NO TCCN Introduction to Public Administration | Political Science 266 |
|
| NO TCCN American Foreign Policy | Political Science 281 | |
Component Area 6 Institutionally Designated Option |
||
| Common Course # | SHSU Course | Credit |
Select 1 hour from: |
||
| PHED 1164 | KIN 215 | |
B.A. Foreign Language Component |
|
language 1411 |
Language 141 |
| language 1412 | Language 142 |
| language 2311 | Language 263 |
| language 2312 | Language 264 |
Degrees require a minimum of 120 hours with 42 advanced hours (300 and 400 level courses). Some degrees require additional hours. All students are required to complete at least six writing enhanced courses accumulating a minimum, of 18 semester hours towards degree completion. Six of the hours must come from the student’s major field of study. SHSU students MUST complete ENG 164, ENG 165, Core Composite Area 2, and one-half of Composite Area 3 prior to enrollment in any upper-level class. In general, the Bachelor of Arts degree requires 8 hours of lab science and the Bachelor of Science degree requires 16 hours of lab science. Applicants for the Bachelor of Arts degree should consult their major department web page for foreign language requirements. Many colleges and programs have additional prerequisites for upper-level classes.
Prior to enrolling in core classes, students are encouraged to review specific degree requirements for their major. Selection of major specified core courses may reduce the total number of hours required for graduation.
Students are encouraged to select the university catalog offering them the most advantages with respect to degree completion. The respective university and/or college catalog selected for graduation determines final degree requirements.
Sam Houston State University
A Member of The Texas State University System