PLS Major Requirements Pre-2008
Note: These requirements are only for students who entered GVSU prior to catalog year 2008. For the 2008 catalog year and later requirements, click here. We strongly recommend study abroad and internship.
Students seeking the B.A. or B.S. degree in Political Science are required to take at least 33 credits in political science, including:
_____PLS 102 American Government & Politics
_____PLS 103 Issues in World Politics
_____PLS 495 Seminar in the Study of Politics (Capstone)
The 33 credits must also include:
2 courses from American politics,
1 course from international relations,
1 course from comparative politics, and
1 course from political thought.
At least three of these courses must also be at the 300 level.
American Politics
_____PLS 202 American Election Campaigns
_____PLS 203 State Politics
_____PLS 205 The Policy Process
_____PLS 206 American Constitutional Foundations
_____PLS 207 Environmental Policy
_____PLS 302 Women, Politics, and Public Policy
_____PLS 304 Political Parties & Interest Groups
_____PLS 305 Congress & The Presidency
_____PLS 306 American Constitutional Law I
_____PLS 307 American Constitutional Law II
_____PLS 308 American Judicial Politics
_____PLS 310 Politics & Health Policy
_____PLS 330 Religion & Politics
_____PLS 340 Mass Media and American Politics
_____PLS 341 Elections & Voting Behavior
_____PA 307 Local Politics and Administration
International Relations
_____PLS 211 International Relations
_____PLS 212 Great Decisions
_____PLS 311 International Conflict and Conflict Resolution
_____PLS 312 U.S. Foreign Policy
_____PLS 313 International Organization
_____PLS 314 International Law
_____PLS 315 International Political Economy
_____PLS 316 Human Rights in International Politics
_____PLS 321 The European Union
Comparative Politics
_____PLS 221 Government and Politics of Western Europe
_____PLS 240 The Holocaust
_____PLS 281 Comparative Political Systems: Canada
_____PLS 283 Chinese Politics and US-Chinese Relations
_____PLS 284 Latin American Politics
_____PLS 319 African Politics
_____PLS 327 Politics of Developing Countries
_____PLS 339 Comparative Democratization
_____PLS 382 Politics of Post-Communist Europe
_____PLS 385 Russian and Post-Soviet Politics
Political Thought
_____PLS 231 Classical Political Thought
_____PLS 232 Modern Political Thought
_____PLS 333 Contemporary Political Thought
_____PLS 337 U.S. Political Thought
_____PLS 338 Citizenship
Special Topics, Independent Study, Internship
_____PLS 380 Special Topics in Politics
_____PLS 399 Readings in Political Science
_____PLS 490 Internship
_____PLS 499 Independent Research
A maximum of six credits in 399 and 499, and no more than nine credits in 399, 499, and 490 may be taken.
Degree Cognate (choose B.A. or B.S):
_____The B.A. degree requires third-semester proficiency in a foreign language.
_____The B.S. degree requires the completion of, in sequence, the following:
____STA 215,
____PLS 300, and
____PLS 315 or 341.
When taken as part of the B.S. cognate, PLS 300, 315 and 341 do not count toward the 33 required credits for the major.
NOTE: Transfer students must complete at least 12 credits in the major at GVSU.
Page last modified February 3, 2012
