Political Science Majors: BA & BS

The Department of Political Science offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA), a Bachelor of Science (BS), and a variety of minors. The following summarizes the similarities and differences between the BA & BS in Political Science.

The similarities:

  • Both degrees require 120 hours to graduate
  • Both degrees require a minor (18+ hours) or a second major
  • All programs at ECU (including Political Science) require a 2.0 GPA overall, and in the major, to graduate
  • All programs at ECU (including Political Science) require 40 hours of General Education curriculum courses

The main differences between the programs are summarized below:

Bachelor of Arts
Complete information about the program can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.

  • General Education: 40 Hours
  • Foreign Language: All candidates for the BA degree must demonstrate foreign language proficiency as defined in the Placement Testing, Foreign Language section of this catalog as part of their degree requirements.
  • Core: 36 Hours (POLS 1010, 2010, 2020, 2090, 3031)
    • 3 Hours Theory (Choose from POLS 2070, 3008 or 3050)
    • Electives: 18 Hours (any POLS class). Note that only 6 hours of independent study or internship may count toward the major
  • Minor or a second major Visit Political Science Double Major
Bachelor of Science
Complete information about the program can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.

  • General Education: 40 Hours
  • Foreign Language: Not required
  • Core: 30 Hours (POLS 1010, 2010, 2020, 2090, 3031, 3032)
    • 3 Hours Theory (Choose from POLS 2070, 3008 or 3050)
    • 9 Hours Electives above 2999 level
  • Optional Concentration: 24 Hours—See More Information below
    • Pre-Law
  • Minor or a second major Visit Political Science Double Major

 

​Bachelor of Science, Pre-Law

Complete information about the program can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.

The Pre-Law Concentration

 

Competition for admission to top-ranked law schools is intense. To be seriously considered by one of these schools, it helps to have a strong GPA and LSAT exam score.

The Department of Political Science’s new pre-law concentration allows students interested in attending law school to take the classes that will provide excellent preparation for the law school environment, as well as the reasoning and analytical skills necessary to succeed there.

Classes in the pre-law curriculum include Constitutional Powers, Civil Liberties, American Judiciary, and Legal Negotiation. These classes provide students with early exposure to the cases, concepts, and principles commonly taught in the law school setting. Individuals interested in pursuing careers as lawyers, judges, prosecutors, or other law-related fields would benefit greatly from this concentration in political science.

 

See course catalog for more details on courses

Political Sciences Major Maps
Major in a Minute video

 

Multidisciplinary Studies: Security Studies

The Department offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies: Security Studies. The most significant difference between the two is that the BA requires that students demonstrate foreign language proficiency as defined in the Placement Testing, Foreign Language section of the Undergraduate Catalog as part of their degree requirements.

Undergraduates can also choose to Minor in Security Studies

To explore a career in Security Studies, visit the Security Studies website.

QUESTIONS? CONTACT:

Dr. Jody Baumgartner, Professor & Undergraduate Director
Brewster A-114
Phone: (252) 328-2584
Email: baumgartnerjo@ecu.edu