Nov 22, 2025

2025-2026 UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG

Political Science, (Accelerated B.A./M.A)

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Program objectives for a B.A. in Political Science are: (a) basic understanding of political institutions and processes in the United States and other countries; (b) basic understanding of the ways in which countries interact with one another, directly or through intermediary institutions; (c) basic understanding of the development of political thought; (d) able to apply basic political science methodologies to political science questions; (e) able to analyze and explain political processes and outcome; (f) able to interpret political attitudes, values, and beliefs; (g) have the critical thinking skills necessary for careers in government, business, law, or academia.

University General Education Program (41 hours)

See Graduation from the University for the University General Education Program requirements.

College and Degree (B.A.) Requirements (6-9 hours)

The College and Bachelor of Arts requirements are in addition to the University General Education Program requirements that are listed above.

The Major (36 hours)

For the purposes of defining undergraduate requirements for the political science major and minor, the department employs four subfields, with the following courses in each:

Note:

Students must complete POLS 1120 and POLS 4101 .

Students must complete at least 6 hours in each of the four subfields listed above.

No more than 9 total hours of internship (POLS 4230 , POLS 4231 ), mock trial (POLS 4709 ), research and study abroad (POLS 4399 ), and independent study (POLS 4702 ) combined may be counted toward the 36 hours required for a major in Political Science. Of these 9 hours, no more than three hours of Administrative Internship (POLS 4231 ), and no more than six total hours in any combination of POLS 4709 , POLS 4399 , and POLS 4702 may be counted toward the major.

At least 15 hours in political science must be earned in residence at the University of Memphis.

NOTE: Students who have successfully completed an equivalent social statistics course prior to declaring a Political Science major are exempted from the requirement to take POLS 4101 , and must substitute another upper-division course in Political Science.

NOTE: We also offer a Pre-Law specific concentration in Political Science for students interested in the legal profession. As well, the College of Arts and Sciences offers Pre-Law advising and a minor in Legal Thought – Liberal Arts. Students are encouraged to explore all the law-related opportunities the University of Memphis has to offer.

Any major in Political Science may earn a second major in International & Global Studies. Political Science courses in International Relations and Comparative Politics fulfill requirements for both the Political Science major and the interdisciplinary major in International & Global Studies.

Accelerated B.A./M.A Program in Political Science

This program allows outstanding undergraduates to begin the coursework for the Master of Arts in Political Science during their senior year. Students are encouraged to begin planning to enter the Accelerated B.A./M.A. program early in their undergraduate career, in consultation with their advisor in the Department of Political Science.

Working with the undergraduate and graduate academic coordinators, undergraduates selected into this program begin a carefully tailored course of study which will allow them to complete their B.A. degree while they also begin the coursework toward their M.A.

To apply, students must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, and must submit two reference letters and a copy of their transcript to the Political Science department. Each applicant will complete an interview with the graduate academic coordinator in political science.

Students must also apply to the Graduate School for the accelerated B.A./M.A. program, which allows them to take graduate courses in political science. To continue in the program past the B.A., students must apply for full admission into the Graduate School and into the Political Science department’s M.A. program.

Only in ABM programs, up to 12 hours of graduate course work may be applied to both the undergraduate and graduate programs. However, any graduate coursework will not apply to undergraduate GPA.

Electives

Electives must be chosen to bring the total number of hours to 120.

Honors Program

The department offers an honors program to qualified majors who choose to pursue a more sophisticated knowledge of the discipline, a more rigorous level of analysis, and a deeper understanding of politics. Students who have completed 55 hours of course work (with at least 9 hours in Political Science), have an inclusive grade point average of at least 3.0 and a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 in the major, or who can present equivalent qualifications, are invited to apply for admission to the program.

The program requires 18 hours of honors course work, 12 or more of which must be upper-division Political Science courses, and minimum final grade point averages of 3.00 overall, 3.25 in Political Science, and 3.25 in honors coursework. Honors students also have the option of completing a Senior Thesis in Political Science (POLS 4999 ). Those students who complete the program and the regular college requirements will be recognized at the commencement ceremony by having their degrees conferred “With Honors in Political Science.” Moreover, the student’s diploma and the record at the University of Memphis will reflect this distinction. Details of the program are available in the Political Science Office.

Typical 4-Year Political Science Sequence

Freshman Year

ENGL 1010 - English Composition** Credit Hours: (3)
MATH* (3-4)
POLS 1120 - Politics & Law: An Introduction Credit Hours: 3
Elective (3)
Foreign Language/B.A. (3)
ENGL 1020 - English Comp/Analysis** Credit Hours: (3)
Elective (3)
POLS 1501 - International Relations** Credit Hours: (3)
POLS 1101 - Ancient Political Thought: An Introduction Credit Hours: (3)
or
POLS 1102 - Modern Political Thought: An Introduction Credit Hours: (3)
Foreign Language/B.A. (3)

Semester Totals 30-31 hrs

Sophomore Year

ENGL 2201 - Literary Heritage ** Credit Hours: (3)
or
ENGL 2202 - Lit Heritage: African-American ** Credit Hours: (3)
History* (3)
Natural Science* (4)
POLS 1301 - Comparative Politics Credit Hours: (3)
Fine Arts* (3)
POLS Political Theory (3)
Natural Science* (4)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
COMM 2381 - Oral Communication Credit Hours: (3)

Semester Totals 32 hrs

Junior Year

UD elective (3)
Elective (3)
UD POLS (3)
UD POLS Comparative Politics (3)
POLS 4101 - Political Statistics ** Credit Hours: (3)
UD POLS Amer. Gov. & Policy (3)
UD POLS International Relations (3)
UD POLS (3)
UD elective (3)
Elective (3)

Semester Totals 30 hrs

Senior Year

POLS 4212 - Const Law Civil Liberty ** Credit Hours: (3)
or
POLS 4405 - Origin/Dev Amer Pol Thought ** Credit Hours: (3)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)
UD elective (3)
UD elective (3)
UD elective (3)
UD elective (3)
UD elective (3)
Elective (4)

Academic Catalog

Political Science, (Accelerated B.A./M.A)

University General Education Program (41 hours)

College and Degree (B.A.) Requirements (6-9 hours)

The Major (36 hours)

POLS Major Core Requirements (6 Hours)

American Government and Politics:

Comparative Politics:

International Relations:

Political Theory: