Political Science Undergraduate Major (BA, BS, HBA, HBS)
This program is available at the following locations:
- Corvallis
- Ecampus
- OSU-Cascades (hybrid)
Options available:
Political Science is the systematic study of politics wherever it takes place—in governmental institutions, the international arena, and civil society. Political science majors at Oregon State may choose the general political science major, or one of the three options that focus on law and politics, international affairs, or environmental and energy politics. All political science majors learn to think critically, write clearly and speak persuasively. They learn the ideas of great political thinkers, learn the political fundamentals behind the headlines, and have engaging discussions from all points of view with other students and professors.
Major Code: 960
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Describe the basic structures and processes of government systems and/or theoretical underpinnings.
- Analyze political problems, arguments, information, and/or theories.
- Apply methods appropriate for accumulating and interpreting data applicable to the discipline of political science.
Students selecting the Political Science major must complete 52 credits of political science coursework, of which at least 36 credits must be upper-division courses. As part of these overall credit totals, Political Science majors must complete the following requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | ||
| Select three courses from the following: | 12 | |
| +*INTRODUCTION TO UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS | ||
| *INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | ||
| +*INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| PPOL 415 | +PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT SKILLS | 2 |
| or SSCI 211 | +CAREER EXPLORATION IN THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | |
| PPOL 460 | +POWER, INEQUALITY, AND PUBLIC POLICY | 4 |
| Methods/WIC | ||
| PS 300 | ^RESEARCH METHODS | 4 |
| Upper-Division Subfield Courses | ||
| Select one course from at least three of the four following subfields: 1 | 12 | |
| Subfield 1: American national government and politics, to include the judiciary, state and local government, public policy, public administration | ||
| CONGRESSIONAL POLITICS | ||
| PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS | ||
| CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS | ||
| *THE POLITICS OF MEDIA | ||
| GENDER AND POLITICS | ||
| *GENDER AND THE LAW | ||
| JUDICIAL PROCESS AND POLITICS | ||
| *STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS | ||
| PUBLIC POLICY PROBLEMS | ||
| PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION | ||
| *SUSTAINABLE LIVING: PRACTICES AND POLICIES | ||
| *THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND POLICIES | ||
| CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: GOVERNMENT POWERS AND CONSTRAINTS | ||
| CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: CIVIL LIBERTIES | ||
| *CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: CIVIL RIGHTS | ||
| CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED | ||
| *THE POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE | ||
| US ENERGY POLICY | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY | ||
| SCIENCE AND POLITICS | ||
| INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY | ||
| RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY | ||
| Subfield 2: Comparative politics | ||
| *EUROPEAN AND EU POLITICS | ||
| THE POLITICS OF CORRUPTION | ||
| *RUSSIAN POLITICS | ||
| *LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS | ||
| *POLITICS OF DEVELOPING NATIONS | ||
| *MIDDLE EAST POLITICS | ||
| *CHINESE POLITICS | ||
| *JAPANESE POLITICS | ||
| DEMOCRACY AND AUTOCRACY: GLOBAL TRENDS | ||
or PS 446 | EAST ASIAN POLITICAL ECONOMY | |
| Subfield 3: International relations | ||
| AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY | ||
| *INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND GLOBAL POLITICS | ||
| INTERNATIONAL POLITICS OF ASIA PACIFIC | ||
| NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION AND ARMS CONTROL | ||
| TERRORISM AND GLOBAL SECURITY | ||
| INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY | ||
| *THE POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE | ||
| US-CHINA RELATIONS | ||
| INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY | ||
| GLOBAL FOOD POLITICS AND POLICY | ||
| INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND POLICY | ||
| INTERNATIONAL ENERGY POLITICS AND POLICY | ||
| Subfield 4: Political philosophy | ||
| CLASSICAL POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| *GENDER AND RACE IN AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THEORY | ||
| AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| ETHICS IN PUBLIC POLICY | ||
| Upper-Division PS Courses | ||
| Select 24 credits of additional upper-division PS courses | 24 | |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Remaining Core Ed, Option and/or Electives | 122 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
I. Foundation Courses
The school encourages students to take the foundation courses in their first or second year.
Students who choose to specialize in one of the options for the major are required to take two of the introductory courses as specified for the option and choose the third introductory course.
Few upper-division political science courses have enforced prerequisites, but taking the corresponding intro course is often good preparation.
II. Methods/WIC
PS 300 is the research methods and WIC course. The school encourages students to take the Methods/WIC course late in their second or early in their third year.
III. Upper-Division Subfield Courses
A. For the general major, students must take one course each from at least three of the four subfields.
B. For the options, students choose from a list of courses approved for the option.
IV. Potential for Specialization
Students may choose a general political science major or may choose from one of three transcript-visible options:
- Environmental and Energy Politics
- International Affairs
- Law and Politics
V. Potential for Learning Outside the Classroom.
Political science majors are strongly encouraged to pursue experiential learning and other educational opportunities outside of the classroom, and these experiences can be used to fulfill some political science graduation requirements. Such experiences can include research, thesis writing, projects, or internship. Credits will be placed in the appropriate PS 401–PS 410 subject code. A maximum of 8 credits from any combination of PS 401–PS 410 may be applied to the major, although additional credits from courses in this range may be applied to general graduation requirements. PS 410 is allowed for a maximum of 4 credits. Additional experiential learning opportunities include "field schools" and study abroad. Students should discuss all of these opportunities with the political science undergraduate advisor.
VI. Additional Requirements for the Major
- Majors are required to maintain a minimum cumulative 2.00 grade-point average for all political science coursework.
- Majors must earn a C– grade or better in PS 300.
- Students must complete the BA or BS requirements specified by the College of Liberal Arts.
Major Code: 960
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
Bachelor of Arts
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Foundation Course | 4 | |
| Language 111 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| Foundation Course | 4 | |
| Language 112 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Foundation Course | 4 | |
| Language 113 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Language 211 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Unrestricted Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Upper-Division Subfield or Option Course | 4 | |
| Language 212 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Unrestricted Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Upper-Division Subfield or Option Course | 4 | |
| Language 213 | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Unrestricted Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PS 300 | ^RESEARCH METHODS | 4 |
| PPOL 415 or SSCI 211 | +PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT SKILLS or +CAREER EXPLORATION IN THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | 2 |
| PPOL 460 | +POWER, INEQUALITY, AND PUBLIC POLICY | 4 |
| Unrestricted Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| Upper-Division Subfield or Option Course | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Unrestricted Elective | 4 | |
| Unrestricted Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Upper-Division PS or Option Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division PS or Option Course | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Unrestricted Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Upper-Division PS or Option Course | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Upper-Division Unrestricted Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Upper-Division PS or Option Course | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| Unrestricted Upper Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Upper-Division PS or Option Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division PS or Option Course | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Additional Course | 3-4 | |
| Unrestricted Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
Bachelor of Science
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Math | 4 | |
| Foundation Course | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| Foundation Course | 4 | |
| BS Math or Stats | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Unrestricted Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Foundation Course | 4 | |
| BS Math or Stats | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Unrestricted Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Upper-Division Subfield or Option Course | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| BS Science | 4 | |
| Unrestricted Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Upper-Division Subfield or Option Course | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Unrestricted Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PS 300 | ^RESEARCH METHODS | 4 |
| PPOL 415 or SSCI 211 | +PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT SKILLS or +CAREER EXPLORATION IN THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | 2 |
| PPOL 460 | +POWER, INEQUALITY, AND PUBLIC POLICY | 4 |
| Unrestricted Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| Upper-Division Subfield or Option Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division PS or Option Course | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Unrestricted Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Upper-Division PS or Option Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division PS or Option Course | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Unrestricted Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Upper-Division PS or Option Course | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Computer Science Course | 4 | |
| Unrestricted-Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| Upper-Division PS or Option Course | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| Unrestricted Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Unrestricted Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Upper-Division PS or Option Course | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Additional Course | 3-4 | |
| Unrestricted Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course