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Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025
Political Science (BA)
Description
The Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science is organized around the various subfields of political science and 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 to supplement their interest in law.
Another program that students interested in pursuing a law degree should consider is Detroit Mercy’s innovative Accelerated 6-Year (3+3) Law Scholars Program through which a student will earn both a Bachelor of Science with a major in Political Science and a Juris Doctor law degree in only six years rather than the traditional seven.
The Department of Political Science also offers a Political Science minor that provides a basic understanding of the various aspects of the discipline.
Degree Requirements - Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science (120 credits)
To obtain this undergraduate degree, the student must fulfill the requirements of the University Core Curriculum, the requirements for the program major and complete 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 - five courses (15 credits)
The five elective courses (15 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 2040 Tort Law (3 credits)
- POL 2470 Administrative Law (3 credits)
- POL 2800 Legal Research (3 credits)
- POL 3100 Women and Politics (3 credits)
- POL 3220 Public Policy Analysis (3 credits)
- POL 3420 American Constitution and Public Law (3 credits)
- POL 3460 Civil Liberties and Equality (3 credits)
- POL 3510 International Law (3 credits)
American Studies
- POL 2050 Political Fiction (3 credits)
- POL 2100 American Politics (3 credits)
- POL 2470 Administrative Law (3 credits)
- POL 2520 Foreign Policy of The United States (3 credits)
- POL 3100 Women and Politics (3 credits)
- POL 3200 Public Administration (3 credits)
- POL 3220 Public Policy Analysis (3 credits)
- POL 3390 Issues in Public Policy (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
- POL 2510 International Relations (3 credits)
- POL 2520 Foreign Policy of The United States (3 credits)
- POL 2600 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 credits)
- POL 3510 International Law (3 credits)
- POL 4570 International Political Economy (3 credits)
- POL 4630 Politics of the Developing World (3 credits)
- POL 4670 Politics in Africa (3 credits)
Public Administration
- POL 2470 Administrative Law (3 credits)
- POL 3200 Public Administration (3 credits)
- POL 3220 Public Policy Analysis (3 credits)
- POL 3420 American Constitution and Public Law (3 credits)
Other electives, workshops, internships and independent studies are listed in POL courses of the catalog.
Program Contact Information
Genevieve E. Meyers, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Political Science
Director of the Pre-Law Program
Briggs Building, Room 238
McNichols Campus
Email: meyersge@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-993-1089
Fax: 313-993-1166