Political Science Program of Study
General Requirements
The Political Science major at Tennessee Tech University offers two major options: (1) Political Science, General Track, (2) Political Science, Legal Studies concentration.
The Political Science major is part of a 120 hour degree program which includes: requirements for the major; requirements of the general education component of the curriculum; and, elective hours. At least 36 of the 120 hours required toward the degree must be at the upper division level (courses numbered at the 3000 or 4000 level).
The departmental requirements for the major (regardless of concentration) consist of a total of 48 hours including:
- POLS 1000 American Government 3 hrs
- POLS 1100 Introduction to Political Science 3 hrs
- Political Science 24 hrs
- Foreign Language (at least 3 hrs)
- Computer skills (DS 2810 or CSC 1100) 3 hrs
- English (upper division course) (at least 3 hrs)
- History (upper division course) 6 hrs
The Curriculum Worksheet for each of the major options are available here:
Additional graduation requirements must be satisfied including but not limited to:
A total of 120 semester hours; a total of 36 hours earned at the upper division (3000 or 4000 level courses); and, satisfactory completion of the general education requirements. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet all requirements for graduation, and should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis.
Political Science, General Track
The departmental requirements for the general Political Science major consist of a total of 48 hours including:
- POLS 1000 American Government 3 hrs
- POLS 1100 Introduction to Political Science 3 hrs
- Electives in Political Science 24 hrs
- Foreign Language 6 hrs (At least 3 hours must be in a language course. The other 3 hours may be in language or in a
- culture related course.)
- Computer skills (DS 2810 or CSC 1100) 3 hrs
- English (upper division course) 3 hrs
- History (upper division course) 6 hrs
- Social Science, Criminal Justice, or Philosophy
- Electives 6 hrs
Total departmental requirements for the major: 48 hrs
Total degree requirements: 120 (with at least 36 hours at the upper division)
Political Science, Legal Studies Track
The departmental requirements for the POLS/LS major with a concentration in Legal Studies consist of a total of 45 hours including:
- POLS 1000 American Government 3 hrs
- POLS 1100 Introduction to Political Science 3 hrs
- 9 hours from:
- POLS 2250 Mock Trial
- POLS 3110 Introduction to Legal Reasoning and Analysis
- POLS 3120 Legal Research and Writing
- POLS 3130 Moot Court
- POLS 3810 Judicial Process
- POLS 4700 Tennessee Trail Practices
- LAW 3810 Business Legal Environment and Ethics
- LAW 4720 Business Law
- CJ 2850 Criminal Law and Procedure
- CJ 3000 Rules of Evidence, or POLS Special Topics in Legal Studies related content
- 9 hours from:
- POLS 4100 International Law
- POLS 4310 Constitutional Law I
- POLS 4320 Constitutional Law II
- POLS 4730 First Amendment Law and Analysis
- POLS 4910 Seminar in Public Law
- POLS Special Topics in Legal Studies related content
- Electives in Political Science (upper division) 6hrs
- Foreign Language 3 hrs (must be a language course)
- Computer skills (DS 2810 or CSC 1100) 3 hrs
- History (upper division course) 6 hrs
- English (upper division course) 3 hrs
Total degree requirements 120 (with at least 36 hours at the upper division)
