About

The department seeks to instill in its students a variety of skills and levels of knowledge that will serve them regardless of the profession they ultimately choose. Students seeking the B.A. degree take courses in several different subfields, including American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, Public Law, and Public Policy. The department also provides majors with opportunities for internships, for credit, in the legal profession, political campaigns, legislative offices, and in public administration.

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

Learning Outcomes

  • To enhance a student’s ability to communicate in both written and oral form;
  • To enhance a student’s ability to think through and compare competing theories and information utilizing logical and analytical means;
  • To be knowledgeable in the six subfields of the discipline including major trends, debates, theories, and methods; and
  • To be prepared for graduate study in political science or a related discipline such as law.

Requirements

Political Science (BA)

The department seeks to instill in its students a variety of skills and levels of knowledge that will serve them regardless of the profession they ultimately choose. Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science take courses in several different subfields, including American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, Public Law, and Public Policy. The department also provides majors with opportunities for internships, for credit, in the legal profession, political campaigns, legislative offices, and public administration.

Please see the web page of the College of Liberal Arts, Department of Political Science for information about programs, faculty, and facilities.  Degree worksheets and 4/5 year plan for the major are available on the UNLV Degrees Directory.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Use critical reasoning skills for problem solving.
  2. Write persuasively so as to articulate, support, and defend an argument.
  3. Apply the research process in the social sciences so as to differentiate between normative and empirical perspectives, comprehend the difference between deterministic and probabilistic outcomes, and assess the strengths and weaknesses of the major analytical approaches used in applied research (e.g., quantitative, qualitative, formal).
  4. Consume and understand sophisticated information communicated through the media and scholarly writing.
  5. Fulfill the obligations and expectations of citizenship in a democratic society.
  6. Explain how political outcomes are shaped by the of the interplay between preferences and institutions.
  7. Describe the multiple motivations and constraints that underlie and shape political behavior.
  8. Explain how outcomes in the political and social world are affected by the multiple causal factors.
  9. Describe how multiculturalism shapes international political exchanges and outcomes.

Advising

Please see advising information at the UNLV College of Liberal Arts Wilson Advising Center.

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

University Graduation Requirements

Please see 

Graduation Policies
 for complete information.

Political Science (BA) Degree Requirements - Total: 120 Credits

 (See Note 1 below)

General Education Requirements - Subtotal: 35-46 Credits

First-Year Seminar - Credits: 3

English Composition - Credits: 6

Second-Year Seminar - Credits: 3

Constitutions - Credits: 3-6

Mathematics - Credits: 3

Distribution Requirement: Credits 19-20

Please see

Distribution Requirements
 for more information.

  • Humanities and Fine Arts: 9 Credits
    • Two courses 3 credits each from two different humanities areas - 6 credits
    • One course in fine arts- 3 credits
  • Social Science
    • Automatically satisfied by Major requirements
  • Life and Physical Sciences and Analytical Thinking: 10-11 credits
    • Two courses from life and physical sciences category; at least one must have a lab.
    • Analytical Thinking 3 credit course 

Multicultural and International: Credits: 0-6

Multicultural, one 3 credit course required
International, one 3 credit course required

These courses may overlap with general education and major requirements.  A single course may not meet the multicultural and international requirements simultaneously. Visit the Provost webpage for the list of approved Multicultural and International courses​.

Major Requirements - BA in Political Science - Subtotal: 61 Credits

COLA Gen Ed: 18 credits. Must be unique from those satisfied in the general education area.

Social Science - Credits: 9

Fine Arts - Credits: 3

Foreign Languages/Foreign Culture - Credits: 6

General Electives - Credits: 13-24

At least 12 of which must be in upper-division courses.

Total Credits: 120

Notes

  1. All political science courses must be completed with a grade of C- or higher to be counted towards the degree program in Political Science.
  2. PSC 200
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     and
    PSC 302
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     are Milestone Experience courses for Political Science B.A.
  3. PSC 499
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     or 
    HON 499
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      are Culminating Experience courses for Political Science B.A.
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Contacts

Department of Political Science

The Department of Political Science is dedicated to excellence in research, teaching, and service. Our students learn and receive mentorship from faculty members who specialize in various subjects including American politics, comparative politics, international politics, political theory, public law, and public policy.

Website
https://www.unlv.edu/politicalscience
Phone
702-895-3307
More

College of Liberal Arts

The College of Liberal Arts offers students a well-rounded education in the humanities and social sciences. Students develop strong analytical and communication skills for a lifetime of learning and discovery that can be applied to a wide variety of careers.

Website
https://www.unlv.edu/liberalarts
Email
liberalarts@unlv.edu
Phone
702-895-3401
More
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