Political Science (BS)
The mission of Dallas Baptist University's Political Science program is to foster an appreciation for the study of government and politics and to encourage students to become informed and concerned participants in a democratic society. To achieve this purpose, the program offers a broad introduction to political institutions, processes, and behavior. In doing so, the program seeks to produce servant leaders who have the ability to integrate faith and learning through their respective callings.
Goals of the Political Science Major
Expose students to foundational courses in American national government and state and local government.
Offer a variety of upper-level courses in the areas of American government, comparative governments, international relations, political theory, constitutional law, and public administration.
Provide a broad liberal arts background for those students intending to enter public service, to attend law school, or to pursue graduate study.
Encourage students to take advantage of practical learning opportunities through internship programs.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
courses | credit hours (bS) |
|---|---|
DBUE 1301 - Foundations for the DBU Experience | 3 |
Developing A Christian Mind | 3 |
English | 9-10 |
ENGL 1301/1401 - Composition and Rhetoric I ENGL 1302 - Composition and Rhetoric II and ENGL 2301 - World Literature I or ENGL 2302 - World Literature II | |
Fine Arts | 3 |
History HIST Lower Level (LL) | 3 |
Choose one 3-hour course from HIST LL Course List. | |
Kinesiology | 1 |
KNES 1101 - Fitness for Living | |
Mathematics (3-4 hour course) | 3-4 |
Choose one: MATH 1303 - College Algebra MATH 1307 - Finite Math for Business Analysis MATH 1405 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | |
Natural Science (3-4 hour LL course) | 3-4 |
Choose one 3-4 hour course from Nat. Lab Science LL Course List. | |
Religion | 9 |
RELI 1301 - Old Testament Survey RELI 1302 - New Testament Survey and one additional RELI course from RELI Course List. | |
Social Science | 3 |
POLS 2301 - American National Government | |
Total Core Experience | 40-43 |
Additional Program General Education Hours | 11-12 |
Choose two 4-hour courses from Nat. Lab Science LL Course List. Choose one 3-4 hour course from STEM LL Course List. | |
Political Science Major | 27 |
POLS 2302 - State and Local Governments POLS 3305 - Constitutional Law POLS 3313 - Internship in Political Science (S-L) POLS 4302 - Comparative Government POLS 4305 - American Political Tradition POLS 4306 - Religion and Politics in the United States POLS 4310 - Fundamentals of International Relations (S-L) Please select two additional upper level POLS classes. | |
Electives | |
Upper-Level Lower or Upper-Level | 27 11-25 |
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED | 120 |
A 120-credit-hour minimum for a bachelor's degree is required, including 36 upper-level credit hours.
At least 12 credit hours in the major program must be completed at Dallas Baptist University, including nine upper-level course hours.
Minimum GPA Required for Graduation from Dallas Baptist University
DBU requires a minimum institutional cumulative, major, and minor GPA of 2.0.
(S-L) = Course(s) with field-based service-learning component.
A Minor in Legal Studies is offered for interested students.
Refer to individual course descriptions for course requisites.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Find course descriptions by category under the Undergraduate Course Descriptions section in the navigation panel.