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Political Science (BA)

Hours - 43 Credit Hours
Effective Sep. 2021
Last Revision 3/3/2023
Faculty Unit Assignment: Faculty of Business & Government
Sponsoring Program: Political Science
Holokai Catalog: Math & Sciences

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Program

The Discipline

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Program Requirements


I. Required courses — 25 Credits

Course Number Title Semesters Offered Credit Hours Prerequisite
POSC 101 Introduction to Politics F, W, S 3.0
POSC 110 or
The U.S. Political System
F, W 3.0
POSC 170 International Relations F, W, S 3.0
POSC 190 Foundations of Critical Thinking F, W 3.0
POSC 202 History of Political Philosophy F, W 3.0
POSC 220 Historical Systems of Power F, S 3.0
POSC 230 Fundamentals of Good Governance F, W 3.0
POSC 280 Professionalism in the Political Environment F, W, S 1.0
POSC 300 Political Inquiry and Writing F, W 3.0
POSC 304 Quantitative Political Research F, W 3.0 POSC 300 or permission of instructor


II. Advanced Content — 12 Credits

Course Number Title Semesters Offered Credit Hours Prerequisites
POSC 318 Decentralized Power & Effective Governance S 3.0
POSC 322 Oceanic Governments and Politics W 3.0
POSC 330 Introduction to Public Administration W 3.0
POSC 331 Public Policy F 3.0
POSC 335 Issues of Terrorism W 3.0
POSC 338 The Economics of Political Violence F 3.0
POSC 340 Asian Governments and International Relations W 3.0
POSC 343R Asian Empires and Societies S 3.0
POSC 345 Power in the Vietnam War W 3.0
POSC 350 International Law F 3.0
POSC 352 or Ethics and the Legal Environment or F, W, S 3.0
BUSM 342 Business Law and Ethics F, W, S 3.0 BUSM 180 w/C- or better (for non-ACCT majors), ACCT 203 (for ACCT majors); ENGL 101
POSC 354 Legal Research and Writing S 3.0
POSC 356 International Legal Drafting and Transactions W 3.0
POSC 358 Comparative Law F 3.0
POSC 362 International Political Economy F 3.0
POSC 364 Strategic Logic of International Interaction S 3.0
POSC 366 Politics and Economics of the Developing World F 3.0
POSC 384 The United Nations and Intergovernmental Organizations F 3.0
POSC 386 Pacific Regionalism and Conflict F 3.0
POSC 390R Special Topics in Political Science Variable 3.0
POSC 392R Field Study Variable 3.0
POSC 495R Independent Study Variable 3.0
POSC 496R Student Research Variable 3.0

Electives may include any two of the following

Course Number Title Semesters Offered Credit Hours Prerequisite
ECON 350 Economic Development W 3.0 ECON 201 and MATH 121
PMGT 300 Public Policy F 3.0
PMGT 350 Crisis Management W 3.0
PMGT 360 Disaster Management F 3.0


III. Capstone & Internship — 6 Credits

Course Number Title Semesters Offered Credit Hours Prerequisite
POSC 410 or The Constitution of the United States or W 3.0
POSC 420 or Complexity and Public Policy or W 3.0
POSC 470 or International Relations Theory or S 3.0
PMGT 499 Public Management F 3.0
POSC 498R* or Political Science Internship or F, W, S 3.0 POSC 202 and POSC 300 or permission of instructor
POSC 499 Political Science Research and Writing W 3.0 POSC 202 and POSC 300 or permission of instructor


    Additional Program Requirements

    * Only three credits of internship are required to fulfill the requirement. Further internship credits will not be substituted for electives vis-à-vis completion of the political science major.

    No grade less than C- will be counted towards the major. Double-counting is managed with your advisor.


    Program Learning Outcomes

    Upon completing a major in political science, students will be able to:

    1. Demonstrate reasonable competence vis-a-vis political science concepts/theories/systems and use that competence to complete their capstone experience. (Perception)
    2. Use critical thinking skills, analyze information or data, and construct valid, sound, and meaningful conclusions and employ those skills in their capstone experience. (Analyze)
    3. Employ effective, persuasive, and professional communication in person, on paper, and online readying them for employment and careers. (Communication)

    Career Opportunities

    The Political Science Program offers an undergraduate degree in political science for students preparing for graduate degrees in related fields, professional degrees (law or business), a wide range of public service occupations (local, state, federal, or Foreign offices), or countless posts in organizations seeking to influence public policy. The degree also serves the liberal arts students interested in an under graduate major that focuses on challenging questions facing modern society. Students may emphasize the subfields of American government, comparative government, international politics, political philosophy, and public policy.


    The Discipline

    Political science is the study of power and how human beings organize their public life. Political science majors typically leave their undergraduate education prepared to enter graduate study, law school, business careers, and a host of other opportunities. Often times, political science majors serve their nations and the world through government service. They learn valued skills, such as qualitative and quantitative analysis, written and oral communication, and critical thinking and graduate prepared to work and serve in a rapidly changing world.

    Politics embraces more than the immediate concerns of politicians or pollsters. It involves fundamental choices concerning life in our communities - whether local, national, or global. Politics also allows humans to build order and peace from chaos and conflict. Indeed, prosperity and fulfillment require a healthy political life - one that reflects our basic needs and interests, our highest aspirations, and balances the harsh requirements of power.

    Political science involves a full range of inquiry, addressing questions such as: “Who gets what?” “What is a just political order?” and “Why is it so often abused?” The discipline utilizes methods ranging from statistical analysis to input historical comparison. To develop skills in these methods, political science students reflect on influential and time-tested texts while also exploring cutting-edge theories. Political science students also examine issues such as campaign finance reform and engage debates and the value of international organizations in the Pacific. Students also study events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and phenomena such as the rise of global terrorism. Political science students also examine key ethical questions and can thus explain intelligently whether or not the Athenians were justified in condemning Socrates to death.

    Since we are all significantly shaped by the assumptions and practices of the institutions we inhabit, political science helps us to understand not only our world but also ourselves. If we choose to ignore politics, it doesn’t go away; we just lose the opportunity to influence our communities for the better.