Catalog 2024–2025

B.A. in Political Science Requirements

Group 1. General Education Foundation, Diversification, Structural, and Integrative Requirements in effect Fall 2018

Students may choose to graduate under the General Education Foundation, Diversification, Structural and Integrative requirements and graduation requirements in force at the time they entered the UH System, when they entered UH Hilo, or when they graduate, provided there is no break in enrollment.

Students should meet with their academic advisor to ensure that they enroll in courses that will enable them to meet these requirements as well as requirements for the major and for graduation. Some courses may meet both General Education requirements and major requirements.

The new GE foundations, diversification, structural and integrative requirements and lists of certified courses are posted on the General Education website.

Group 2. Major Requirements and Assigned Credits (42 credits)

  1. Foundation (3):

    • POLS 100 Intro to Political Science (3)

  2. Methods (3):

    • POLS 380 Methods Of Research (3)

  3. Two courses in American Politics (6)

    • POLS 101 Am Politics: National (3)
    • POLS 330 Mock Trial (3)
    • POLS 332 Race, Gender, & the Body (3)
    • POLS 335 Environmental Politics (3)
    • POLS 337 Politic of Hawaiʻi: State/Local (3)

  4. Two courses in Comparative Politics (6)

    • POLS 251 Intro to Comparative Politics (3)
    • POLS 351 Politics Of China Through Film (3)
    • POLS 353 Politics Of Japan (3)
    • POLS 355 Internatl Political Economy (3)
    • POLS 357 Politics of Pac Rim Thru Film (3)
    • POLS 457 U.S.-China Relations (3)

  5. Two courses in International Relations (6)

    • POLS 242 Intro To World Politics (3)
    • POLS 270 Negotiation (3)
    • POLS 340 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)
    • POLS 342 International Law (3)
    • POLS 345 Model United Nations (3)
    • POLS 346 International Organizations (3)
    • POLS 348 International Human Rights (3)
    • POLS 442 War and the State (3)
    • POLS 443 Int'l Conflict Management (3)

  6. Two courses in Political Theory (6)

    • POLS 201 Politics of the Ordinary (3)
    • POLS 304 Politics of Power (3)
    • POLS 402 Critical Aesthetics (3)

  7. Two courses in Public Law (6)

    • POLS 220 Law, Politics, & Society (3)
    • POLS 321 Civil Liberties & Civil Rights (3)
    • POLS 325 Environments of Law (3)
    • POLS 327 Law and Culture (3)
    • POLS 328 Visual Politics (3)
    • POLS 374 Indigenous Dispute Resolution (3)
    • POLS 377 Restorative Justice (3)
    • POLS 444 Law, Property, and Nature (3)

  8. Two POLS courses at the 400-level (6)

Total Semester Hours Required for the B.A. in Political Science

120 credits required.

Notes

  1. Students must earn at least a 2.0 GPA in courses required for the major.
  2. At least 45 credits must be earned in courses at the 300- or 400-level.
  3. To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, students must fulfill the requirements for the major and meet all of the University’s other baccalaureate degree requirements. (Please see the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements in this Catalog.)
  4. Students wishing to make timely progress toward graduation are urged to pay careful attention to all degree requirements.
  5. In addition, when planning a schedule of courses, it is imperative to be aware of course prerequisites and the frequency with which courses are offered. This information is available in the course listings in this Catalog.
  6. To ensure progress toward degree completion, students are urged to meet with an advisor each semester before registering.