Program Honors and Program Distinction
Students must have at least a 3.250 GPA and complete one of the following courses: PSC 492 , PSC 495 , PSC 497 , or (with the permission of the instructor) any graduate seminar with a grade of B or better. Students must also meet the remaining Program Honors criteria outlined in the Academic Honors policy.
Majors who do not pursue a thesis but have exceptional grades are eligible for Program Distinction upon degree conferral if the criteria are met. These criteria are also found in the Academic Honors policy.
Curricular Plan
A Curricular Plan provides a roadmap for completing this academic program and the UB Curriculum on time. Your actual plan may vary depending on point of entry to the university, course placement and/or waivers based on standardized test scores, earned alternative credit and/or college transfer credit.
All students are encouraged to use this plan in conjunction with other academic planning resources such as your academic advisor, the HUB Academic Advisement Report , My Planner and Path Finder tool.
In addition to following this course roadmap, all other admission and academic requirements of this major as listed in the Undergraduate Catalog must be met in order to successfully complete this degree.
YEAR 1
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
YEAR 2
Fall Semester
- PSC Methods of Inquiry Credits: 3
- Math and Quantitative Reasoning Credits: 4
- Pathway Credits: 3
- Pathway Credits: 3
- Scientific Literacy 1 Credits: 3
- Scientific Literacy Lab Credits: 1
Total Credits: 17
Spring Semester
- PSC Field Requirement Credits: 3
- PSC Elective Credits: 3
- Pathway Credits: 3
- Scientific Literacy 2 Credits: 3
- Elective Credits: 3
Total Credits: 15
YEAR 3
Fall Semester
- PSC Field Requirement Credits: 3
- PSC Elective Credits: 3
- Communication Literacy 2 Credits: 3
- Elective Credits: 3
- Elective Credits: 3
Total Credits: 15
Spring Semester
YEAR 4
Fall Semester
- PSC Elective 300/400 Level Credits: 3
- PSC Elective 300/400 Level Credits: 3
- Elective Credits: 3
- Elective Credits: 3
- Elective Credits: 3
Total Credits: 15
Spring Semester
- PSC Elective 300/400 Level Credits: 3
- Elective Credits: 3
- Elective Credits: 3
- Elective Credits: 3
- Elective Credits: 2
Total Credits: 14
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED: 120
Note: Some classes may count toward both a major and UB Curriculum requirement.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge of:
- Developing writing skills to intellectually communicate their ideas and research findings about political topics
- Develop the ability to communicate ideas clearly and persuasively in writing
- Develop the ability to effectively take a position and defend an argument against criticism
Be able to write an essay or paper presenting a clear thesis supported by relevant research
- Develop the analytical skills necessary to think critically about political, social, and economic behavior
- Be able to identify and critically evaluate the arguments of scholarly research in political science.
- Engage in conceptual analysis and theoretical interpretation of political ideas and phenomena
- Develop the ability to analyze a scholarly question in political science by drawing logical inferences from qualitative and/or quantitative data
- Develop an understanding of their role as an engaged citizen in a democratic political system
- Be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of government policies
- Develop an awareness of the global dynamics that influence the context of domestic and international politics
- Develop the ability to apply social scientific reasoning in the analysis of a wide range of political issues and problems
(HEGIS: 22.07 POLITICAL SCI & GOVERN, CIP: 45.1001 Political Science and Government, General)
