Degree plan

GENERAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM

GEC 01. Written Communication (6 hours)
01. ENG 101
02. ENG 102

GEC 02. Basic Science and Mathematics (11 hours minimum)
Science Requirement (8 hours minimum)
01. Select 2 courses with labs:

  • AST 111/L (Recommended)
  • AST 112/L (Recommended)
  • BSC 103/L*** (Recommended)
  • BSC 110/L
  • BSC 111/L
  • BSC 250/L
  • BSC 251/L
  • CHE 104/L (Recommended)
  • CHE 106/L
  • CHE 107/L
  • GHY 104/L
  • GHY 105/L
  • GLY 101/L (Recommended)
  • GLY 103/L
  • MAR 151/L
  • PHY 103/L
  • PHY 111/L
  • PHY 112/L
  • PHY 201/L
  • PHY 202/L
  • PSC 190/L (Recommended)

Mathematics Requirement (3 hours)
02. MAT 100 or higher Mathematics

GEC 03. Global History and Culture (12 hours)
Social Sciences Requirement (3 hours)
01. Select 1 course:

  • ANT 101
  • GHY 101***
  • SOC 101

Humanities Requirement (9 hours)
02. ENG 203
03. Select 2 courses, 1 History required:

  • HIS 101*
  • HIS 102*

GEC 04. Aesthetic Values (3 hours)
01. Select 1 course:

  • ART 130
  • DAN 130
  • MUS 165
  • THE 100

GEC 05. Decision-Making and Responsibility (3 hours)
01. Select 1 course:

  • COH 100
  • ECO 101
  • PHI 171
  • PS 101
  • PSY 110

GEC 06. Computer Competency Requirement* (3 hours)
01. LIS 201

GEC 07. Writing-Intensive Requirement* (Major Area)
01. Students must take one Major Area of Study course
designated as Writing-Intensive (WI).
ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites

GEC 08. Oral Communication Requirement* (3 hours)
01. Select 1 course:

  • CMS 111 (SI)
  • CMS 305 (SI)
  • CMS 320 (SI)
  • CMS 330 (SI)

GEC 09. Capstone Requirement* (Major Area)
01. PS 491 (Capstone)
Must be taken Senior Year; ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites

*This particular GEC course is required for this major.
**These particular GEC courses are the available options for this major
***GEC restrictions apply. View a full description of the GEC.

PROGRAM CURRICULUM

DEG 01. Bachelor of Arts Requirements (9 hours minimum)
01. Select 1 course:

  • PHI 151
  • REL 131

02. Select 1 course:

  • ENG 200
  • ENG 201
  • ENG 202
  • HIS 201
  • HIS 202
  • FLM 170
  • WS 301

03. **** BA Social Sciences requirement fulfilled in Major Area
04. Foreign Language Requirement:
12 hours in a single foreign language; fewer hours may
suffice, but course level 202 must be completed.

DEG 02. Major Area of Study Requirements (36 hours)
01. PS 101
02. PS 201****
03. Select 1 course from each of the four areas of Political
Science:
1) Theory and Methods:

  • PS 311
  • PS 321
  • PS 420
  • PS 421
  • PS 426

2) American Politics:

  • PS 301
  • PS 303
  • PS 304
  • PS 305
  • PS 401
  • PS 402
  • PS 404
  • PS 405
  • PS 406
  • PS 407
  • PS 408
  • PS 409

3) Global Politics:

  • PS 330
  • PS 331
  • PS 350
  • PS 431
  • PS 432
  • PS 435
  • PS 450
  • PS 451
  • PS 452
  • PS 453
  • PS 454
  • PS 456
  • PS 457
  • PS 458
  • PS 459

4) Public Law and Adminstration:

  • PS 370
  • PS 375
  • PS 380
  • PS 470
  • PS 472
  • PS 473
  • PS 474
  • PS 480
  • PS 481
  • PS 484
  • PS 485
  • PS 488
  • PS 489

04. Select 5 additional courses from at least 2 groups above.
05. PS 491 (Capstone)

DEG 03. Required Minor (18 hours)
01. Students must fulfill requirements to receive a minor in
another discipline.

DEG 04. Electives
01. Choose electives as needed with adviser’s approval.
(See Hours to Degree below.)

HOURS TO DEGREE

124 hours are needed to graduate with a BA in Political Science. At least 50 percent of the hours applied to a degree at the University of Southern Mississippi must be earned from a senior college, and 45 of these hours must be in courses numbered 300 or above. The last 25 percent of course work must be earned from Southern Miss. The student must earn at least 12 hours in the major area of study from Southern Miss.