Apr 19, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science, B.A.


The major in political science provides a comprehensive understanding of politics. It does so by acquainting students with the literature of the discipline in six different areas (American politics, comparative politics, international politics, law, political theory, and public policy) and by equipping students with methodological tools necessary for sound and critical analysis of political institutions of behavior and of processes by which public policy is formed. The faculty also seek to engage students in a partnership of research and other scholarly endeavors.

There are 36 hours of required classes for the Bachelor of Arts. In addition, students are required to complete 15 hours of political science electives.

Special admission requirements: To declare a major in political science, criminal justice, organizational leadership, or international studies, students - including transfer students - must have earned a GPA of at least 2.0 in all prior college work. First-semester students who wish to declare a major in one of the above programs are required to have ACT scores of at least 18 for English, Math, and Reading or SAT scores of at least 430 for Math and Writing and 450 for Critical Reading, or 23.5 for Math and 25 for Reading, Writing, and Language.

Four-Year Plan: Click here  to view the Four-Year Plan for this specific program. To find out more about Four-Year Plans, visit the Policies and Procedures  page.

♦  Indicates prerequisite.

Degree Requirements (51 credits)


Additional program information


  • The Bachelor of Arts is conferred upon those students completing all requirements for the major or minor in political science and other NKU requirements for the degree, which includes a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all major coursework and earning at least a C- in each course counted.
  • Only two courses meeting these degree requirements may also be used to satisfy general education requirements or to meet a minor or focus (with the exception of the pre-law focus) when the accompanying major is within the department.
  • PSC 496  and PSC 499  cannot count toward secondary requirements.