Political Science Major Options

Penn State Behrend
Political Science (POLSC) Major (42 credits)

All Options (12 credits)

  • PL SC 001
  • PL SC 003
  • PL SC 014
  • PL SC 007N or 017N

Choose One Option (18 credits)

Politics and Government Option

  • 12 credits of PL SC courses
  • 6 credits from an approved list of courses in related areas
    • Approved list includes:
      • All ECON courses
      • All GEOG courses
      • All HIST courses
      • All PHIL courses
      • All SOC courses
      • All STAT courses
      • CAS 175, COMM 100, COMM 118, COMM 292
      • EDTHP 115A, GLIS 102N, STS 200, SUST 200

Crime and Law Option

  • 6 credits from SOC 005, SOC 012, SOC 013, CRIMJ 100
  • 6 credits from PL SC 471, PL SC 472, PL SC 487
  • 6 credits of PL SC from an approved list
    • Approved list includes: PL SC 202, 178, 210N, 223N, 471, 472, 473, 482, 487

International Relations Option

  • 3 credits from ECON 104 or GEOG 126
  • 6 credits from PL SC 090, PL SC 140, PL SC 200N, PL SC 220
  • 3 credits of HIST from an approved list
    • Approved list includes: HIST 002, 011, 120, 141, 142, 143, 144, 173, 179
  • 6 credits of PL SC from an approved list
    • Approved list includes: PL SC 090, 132, 137, 140, 177N, 200N, 220, 223N, 291, 299, 436, 437, 439, 442, 451, 456, 458, 461, 467, 481, 484W, 487, 499

Public Policy Option

  • 3 credits from PL SC 202
  • 3 credits from PL SC 111 or PL SC 223N
  • 3-4 credits from PSYCH 200 or SCM 200 or STAT 200 or STAT 250
  • 3 credits of GEOG from an approved list
    • Approved list includes: GEOG 030N, 160
  • 6 credits of PL SC from an approved list
    • Approved list includes PL SC 111, 223N, 291, 419, 482, 488, 489

All Options (12 credits)

Choose 12 additional credits of PL SC courses not used to complete other requirements. At least 12 credits of courses in the major taken within or outside the option must be at the 400-level.

Additional Requirements

  • General Education Requirements – 39 credits (plus 6 credits also used toward the major for 45 total)
  • B.A. Knowledge Domains Requirement – 9 credits
  • Foreign Language Requirement – 4-12 credits
  • Electives 18-26 credits (if the B.A. Other Cultures requirement is completed within PL SC or general education)

Total Credits needed to complete the Penn State POLSC degree = 120