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Undergraduate Catalog 2021-2022
Political Science (BA)
Description
The Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science is organized around the various subfields of political science but also allows substantial focus in an area of interest to the student. It culminates in an integrating seminar. The major is flexible, consisting of 33 credit hours with at least a 2.0 GPA.
Students interested in pursuing a legal career will find the political science major emphasizes the development of skills, such as critical thinking and writing, necessary for entering and completing law school. Students may also consider completing the Legal Studies Certificate or the Business Certificate to supplement their interest in law.
Detroit Mercy’s innovative Accelerated 6-Year Law Scholars Program enables you to earn both a Bachelor of Science with a major in Political Science and a Juris Doctor degree in only six years rather than the traditional seven. You will spend the first three years earning credit toward your bachelor’s degree and the last three completing the Juris Doctor requirements.
Degree Requirements
To obtain this undergraduate degree, the student must fulfill the requirements of the University Core Curriculum, the requirements for the program major and have completed a minimum of 120 credit hours.
Requirements for the Major (33 credits)
Required Courses
- POL 1000 Introduction to Political Science (3 credits)
- POL 2100 American Politics (3 credits)
- POL 2510 International Relations (3 credits) OR POL 2600 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 credits)
- POL 3800 Elements of Political Thought (or other approved theory course) (3 credits)
- POL 4990 Senior Seminar (3 credits) OR LST 4990 Capstone Seminar (3 credits)
- STA 2250 Statistics (3 credits)
- POL Political Science Electives (15 credits)
The 15 elective credits required to complete the major may be organized into areas of focus or may be selected from all areas. The suggested areas of focus are:
Judicial Studies and Law
- POL 2010 Introduction to Law and the Judiciary (3 credits)
- POL 2020 Criminal Law and Procedure (3 credits)
- POL 2030 Topics in Legal Issues (3 credits)
- POL 2800 Legal Research (3 credits)
- POL 3100 Women and Politics (3 credits)
- POL 3420 American Constitution and Public Law (3 credits)
- POL 3460 Civil Liberties and Equality (3 credits)
American Studies and Theory
- POL 2050 Political Fiction (3 credits)
- POL 2100 American Politics (3 credits)
- POL 3100 Women and Politics (3 credits)
- POL 3390 Issues in Public Policy (3 credits)
- POL 3400 American Political Thought (3 credits)
- POL 3420 American Constitution and Public Law (3 credits)
- POL 3460 Civil Liberties and Equality (3 credits)
- POL 3860 Politics and the Media (3 credits)
International and Comparative Politics
Public Administration
- POL 3200 Public Administration (3 credits)
- POL 3390 Issues in Public Policy (3 credits)
- POL 3420 American Constitution and Public Law (3 credits)
Other electives, workshops, internships and independent studies are listed in the Courses section of this catalog.
Political Science Minor
The 18-credit (six-course) minor in Political Science provides students with a flexible program that will allow a broad understanding of the various aspects of the discipline. The program will provide the basic foundation in the introductory class followed by a sampling of the subfields. The minimum of three upper-division courses will provide the student with a more in-depth understanding of at least two subfields in which the student has the greatest interests.
Visit the Political Science minor page for more information.
Program Contact Information
Department Chair: Genevieve E. Meyers, Ph.D.
Briggs Building, Room 238
McNichols Campus
Email: meyersge@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-993-1089
Fax: 313-993-1166