Mar 19, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science, B.A.


Return to: 3470 Department of Political Science  

Political science is the study of “who gets what, when, and how” in the distribution of goods and values in society and in groups. Specifically, political scientists study the determinants of such distributions, including political parties and voters, public opinion, interest groups, bureaucracies and administrative behavior, public law, international relations, international law and organizations, national security, intergovernmental relations, political behavior, political philosophy, comparative politics, public policy, and conflict.

Students may specialize in any of the five fields of the discipline: American politics and government, comparative politics, international politics, political theory, and public policy and administration. The department also provides specific concentrations for majors and minors in pre-law and in international affairs. The department sponsors intercollegiate academic teams for Mock Trial, Model United Nations, and Model Arab League. The department sponsors student honor societies and clubs in pre-law, international relations, and political science. In addition, the department provides advisement for pre-law students.

The proximity of Georgia State University to the center of government for the Southeast and the State of Georgia and its location in an international city of business, communication, and transportation provide unique opportunities for students to observe and participate in government and politics. For example, many qualified students serve as interns as part of their academic program.

The Political Science department provides courses and advising in regard to the European Union Studies Certificate offered by the University System of Georgia. This program enables students to develop expertise in the European Unions and in EU studies. Dr. Jeannie Grussendorf of the department serves as campus representative. See European Union Studies for a detailed description. Courses that count towards the European Union Studies Certificate will have the EURO prefix. Students taking EURO courses can have these applied to their political science major. EURO courses can fulfill political science credit counting towards the International Affairs concentration. For more information, visit www.eustudiesprogram.org.

Degree Requirements


Internship and Practicum Credit: Applicants for internships must meet departmental prerequisites. Internship and practicum credit may not be applied toward the major or minor, but may be used as elective credit. Such credit includes: POLS 4930 , POLS 4940 , POLS 4951 , POLS 4952 , and POLS 4955 .

In addition to the Program Degree Requirements, students must fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements (see College Degree Requirements ) and the University Degree Requirements (see 1400 University Degree Requirements and Graduation ).

University Grade-Point Average and Grade Requirements

Georgia State University undergraduate students must achieve an overall institutional grade-point average of 2.0 and a major GPA of 2.0 in Areas G and H to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university. Grades of C- can be used to satisfy graduation requirements. However, some courses have prerequisites that require a grade of C or higher. (See 1460 GPA Requirement  for additional information.)

Area F: Courses Appropriate to the Major (18 Hours)


Required courses (6 Hours)


  • 3 Credit Hours (if not taken in Area E)
  • World language at the 1002 level or higher 3 Hours (See “World Language Requirement for B.A. and B.I.S. Majors,” previously described.)

Select additional courses as follows to complete 18 Hours in Area F:


Area H: Minor and/or Additional Courses


  1. Students majoring in political science who take either the general political science concentration or the international affairs concentration are not required to take a minor. Students in the pre-law concentration should see the department’s pre-law adviser for further information.
  2. Additional courses not in the major or in a minor must be taken as electives to complete a minimum of 120 semester hours.

Allied Field Concentration in Political Science for Pre-Education Majors in Other Social Science Departments (9 Hours)


Students majoring in other social sciences and who are pursuing a concentration in Pre-Education should choose from the following courses in using political science as an allied field to their major.

Graduation with Distinction in the Major


This department offers undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn the designation of graduation with distinction in the major. Please contact the department undergraduate director for the specific criteria for this honor.