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College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Department of Politics and International Affairs

Political Science, Bachelor of Science

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The bachelor's degree in Political Science provides students with opportunities to study the theory, principles, and practice of government and politics at the local, national, and international levels. The coursework emphasizes the application of a range of analytical tools to critically evaluate and assess politics and policy. Faculty mentors provide academic support and guidance, preparing each student for a meaningful career path.

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Department of Politics and International Affairs

Political Science, Bachelor of Science

Careers

What Can I Do with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science?

A bachelor's degree in Political Science can prepare you for a range of diverse career paths or application to further education including graduate school or law school. You'll discover how our public lives are organized at the local, national, and international levels. Courses focus on the possibilities for and obstacles to democratic governance. The wide range of course offerings includes environmental politics, political development, and questions of diversity in the political realm.

Follow your interests with internships that provide 'education by experience.' Political science students have interned with legislators in the U.S. Congress and Arizona Legislature; federal agencies including the National Park Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and FBI; foreign and international bodies such as the United Nations and the German Parliament; and interest groups that include the Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Trust, and Friends of Flagstaff 's Future.

Career opportunities that might be pursued:

Nonprofit administration
Journalism
Policy analysis
Speech writing

With further education, one of these paths is possible:

Diplomat
Lawyer
University faculty
Lobbyist/Organizer

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Department of Politics and International Affairs

Political Science, Bachelor of Science

University Requirements

To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the general studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
- All of Northern Arizona University's general studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
- All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
- At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
- At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.
The full policy can be viewed here.

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Department of Politics and International Affairs

Political Science, Bachelor of Science

Overview

In addition to University Requirements:

36 units of major requirements.

18 - 24 units of minor requirements.

Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General Studies Requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.

Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion	120
Major GPA	2.0
Highest Mathematics Required	MAT 114
Fieldwork Experience/Internship	Optional
Research	Optional
University Honors Program	Optional
Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan	Optional
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A	Recommended
Progression Plan Link	Not Available

Purpose Statement

The Political Science, BS degree places an emphasis on a range of analytical methods and policy fields, designed to appeal to students who are interested in pursuing graduate school, work in the public sector, work in public policy, or work in the government.

It will also be attractive for students who may already have completed some course work in STEM-related fields. With this degree students will be prepared to engage in policy and data analysis, research, advanced graduate work, and more.

Building upon this fundamental knowledge, our curriculum ensures that students can define, design, and implement effective research projects in political science. In addition, they will be able to make clear and effective demonstrations of their work in writing and in public presentations. Students will also leave this program ready to understand, and be able to meet, the expectations of professionalism and citizenship.

This degree will give students the tools they need for professional work related to political science, particularly in the areas of analysis. Strong analytical skills will also place graduates at a competitive advantage in a wide variety of other fields.

Student Learning Outcomes

Conceptual and Analytical: Students should be able to engage in an in-depth analysis of issues and events in the political world and a strong understanding of the major forces shaping domestic and international politics.
- Identify and use salient political science concepts and analytical method to evaluate current public policies, political actors' behavior, political events, and institutional arrangements within a diverse world.
- Evaluate the strengths and limitations of a variety of significant analytical approaches used in political science.
- Analyze, synthesize and evaluate the interconnectedness and interdependence of the human experience on a global scale.

Inquiry and Research: Students should be able to define, design, and implement effective research projects in political science.
- Devise a basic research design.
- Test hypotheses with basic empirical data.
- Write the findings in a research report.

Communication: Students should be able to make clear and effective demonstrations of their work in writing and in public presentations.
- Students will demonstrate advanced writing skills and be able to summarize and explain scholarly political science articles.
- Analyze and critique the material read /discussed.
- Suggest and discuss alternative possibilities and outcomes.
- Engage and interest the reader.
- Speak in public settings.
- Demonstrate an ability to apply the discussion to policy and "real world" applications.
Professional and Citizenship: Students should know, understand, and be able to meet the expectations of professionalism and citizenship.
- Demonstrate professional behavior in terms of demeanor, personal presentation, ethics, and civic participation in experiential learning and classrooms settings.
- Acquire the skills and knowledge base to understand the importance of and options for environmental sustainability and its tenuous relationship to economic development in local and global terms.
- Critically reflect upon the nature and consequences of diversity (e.g. race, gender, class, ethnicity, religion, culture, nation), and develop an understanding of how this diversity both alters and is altered in a world characterized by increasing global interaction.

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Department of Politics and International Affairs

Political Science, Bachelor of Science

Details

Major Requirements

This major requires 54 - 60 units distributed as follows:
- Political Science Course Requirements: 24 units
- Comparative Politics/International Relations: 3 units
- Political Theory/Political Economy: 3 units
- US Government and Politics, Public Administration, and Public Law: 3 units
- Experience of Difference Requirement: 3 units
- Minor Requirement: 18 - 24 units
Take the following 54 - 60 units:
All non-minor coursework must be completed with a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Political Science Course Requirements (24 units)
- POS 100, POS 110, POS 120, POS 254, POS 304, POS 305 (18 units)
- POS 301W which meets the junior-level writing requirement (3 units)
- POS 421C which meets the senior capstone requirement (3 units)

Comparative Politics/International Relations (3 units)
- Select from the following (3 units):
  - POS 260, POS 312, POS 333, POS 344, POS 355, POS 356, POS 359, POS 361, POS 372, POS 374, POS 378, POS 455, POS 480, POS 482
  - POS 299 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)
  - POS 357 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 362 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 364 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 366 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 370 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 380 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 399 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)
  - POS 499 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)

Political Theory/Political Economy (3 units)
- Select from the following (3 units):
  - POS 335, POS 344, POS 351, POS 352, POS 355, POS 356, POS 359, POS 450, POS 455
  - POS 299 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)
  - POS 353 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 357 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 399 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)
  - POS 499 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)

US Government and Politics, Public Administration, and Public Law (3 units)
- Select from the following (3 units):
  - POS 224, POS 236, POS 241, POS 250, POS 312, POS 313, POS 314, POS 315, POS 316, POS 317, POS 318, POS 325, POS 326, POS 327, POS 336, POS 344, POS 355, POS 356, POS 358, POS 359, POS 445, POS 446, POS 450, POS 455, POS 482
  - POS 299 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)
  - POS 357 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 399 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)
  - POS 428 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 499 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)

Experience of Difference Requirement (3 units)
As part of their degree program, students are required to complete 3 units of an experience of difference. This requirement can be met by selecting one of the following courses:
- POS 408, POS 423, POS 466, POS 485
- SUS 450
You must obtain prior written approval from a POS faculty member if you take POS 408, or POS 485. You may only use experience of difference coursework with a course prefix other than POS in exceptional circumstances, with your advisor's prior approval. If you take more than 3 units of experience of difference coursework, they will count in general elective credit.

Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

- Politics and International Affairs, BA
- Political Science, Minor

Minor Requirements

You must complete a minor of at least 18 units from those described in this catalog. In consultation with your advisor, you should select a minor that is appropriate for your career aspirations and educational needs. Your minor advisor will advise you about this part of your academic plan.

Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program

- This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.

- Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Political Science and start a Master of Arts in Political Science at NAU.

- Students must apply to the master's program by the graduate program's application deadline, meet all admissions requirements listed in the policy Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs, as well as the admissions requirements for the specified master's plan to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year.
  
  Be sure to speak with the Master's Program Director/Coordinator regarding your interest in the accelerated plan.

- Students accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the following requirements:

- Major Requirements
  
  This major requires 60 - 66 units distributed as follows:
  - Political Science Course Requirements: 30 units
  - Comparative Politics/International Relations: 3 units
  - Political Theory/Political Economy: 3 units
  - US Government and Politics, Public Administration, and Public Law: 3 units
  - Experience of Difference Requirement: 3 units
  - A Minor: 18 - 24 units
  Take the following 60 - 66 units:
  All non-minor coursework must be completed with a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

- Political Science Course Requirements (30 units)
  - POS 100, POS 110, POS 120, POS 254, POS 304, POS 305 (18 units)
  - POS 301W which meets the junior-level writing requirement. (3 units)
  - POS 421C which meets the senior capstone requirement. (3 units)
  - POS 602, POS 607 (6 units)

Comparative Politics/International Relations (3 units)
- Select from the following (3 units):
  - POS 260, POS 312, POS 333, POS 344, POS 355, POS 356, POS 359, POS 361, POS 372, POS 374, POS 378, POS 455, POS 480, POS 482
  - POS 299 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)
  - POS 357 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 362 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 364 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 366 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 370 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 380 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 399 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)
  - POS 499 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)

Political Theory/Political Economy (3 units)
- Select from the following (3 units):
  - POS 335, POS 344, POS 351, POS 352, POS 355, POS 356, POS 359, POS 450, POS 455
  - POS 299 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)
  - POS 353 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 357 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 399 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)
  - POS 499 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)

US Government and Politics, Public Administration, and Public Law (3 units)
- Select from the following (3 units):
  - POS 224, POS 236, POS 241, POS 250, POS 312, POS 313, POS 314, POS 315, POS 316, POS 317, POS 318, POS 325, POS 326, POS 327, POS 336, POS 344, POS 355, POS 356, POS 358, POS 359, POS 445, POS 446, POS 450, POS 455, POS 482
  - POS 299 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)
  - POS 357 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 399 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)
  - POS 428 (Topic selected with your advisor)
  - POS 499 (Topic selected with your advisor, 3 units)

- Experience of Difference Requirement (3 units)
  
  As part of their degree program, students are required to complete 3 units of an experience of difference. This requirement can be met by selecting one of the following courses:
  - POS 408, POS 423, POS 466, POS 485
  - SUS 450
  You must obtain prior written approval from a POS faculty member if you take POS 408, or POS 485. You may only use experience of difference coursework with a course prefix other than POS in exceptional circumstances, with your advisor's prior approval. If you take more than 3 units of experience of difference coursework, they will count in general elective credit.

- Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

- - Politics and International Affairs, BA
  - Political Science, Minor

- Minor Requirements

- You must complete a minor of at least 18 units from those described in this catalog. In consultation with your advisor, you should select a minor that is appropriate for your career aspirations and educational needs. Your minor advisor will advise you about this part of your academic plan.

General Electives

Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or General Studies Requirements.

We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information

Bachelor/Juris Doctor 3+3 Program

This plan is eligible for NAU’s 3+3 program offered in conjunction with the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law. This program allows outstanding students to substitute their final year of undergraduate studies with their first year of law school and earn an undergraduate (BS or BA) and law (JD) degree in six years instead of seven years. Please refer to the Bachelor/Juris Doctor 3+3 Program for more information.

Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Department of Politics and International Affairs

Political Science, Bachelor of Science

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Flagstaff

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College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Department of Politics and International Affairs

Political Science, Bachelor of Science

Academic Information

Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Department of Politics and International Affairs

Political Science, Bachelor of Science

Careers

What Can I Do with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science?

Career opportunities that might be pursued:

With further education, one of these paths is possible:

.logo-yellow{fill:#f5b700;}.logo-white{fill:#fff;} Northern Arizona University (Home)

Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Department of Politics and International Affairs

Political Science, Bachelor of Science

University Requirements

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Department of Politics and International Affairs

Political Science, Bachelor of Science

Overview

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Department of Politics and International Affairs

Political Science, Bachelor of Science

Details

Major Requirements

Minor Requirements

Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program

General Electives

Additional Information

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Department of Politics and International Affairs

Political Science, Bachelor of Science

Campus Availability

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