About

Have you ever wondered how cities decide where to put traffic signals? Are you interested in being part of the process of developing policies that will improve daily life?

East Carolina's political science program allows you to work closely with dynamic teachers studying a wide range of subjects, ranging from United States politics, to war and terrorism, as well as various areas of comparative politics, international relations and public policy.

You will take some required introductory courses to ground you in the disciplines, which will prepare you to study a wide variety of specific subjects. In addition, you will have an expanded array of requirements and structured electives, to ensure thorough coverage of the fields. Your education will cover analytical research, thinking and writing.

A Political Science degree provides you the opportunity to learn about the world, and polish skills in writing, research and analysis, and developing and presenting clear and persuasive arguments about issues which may impact people's daily lives.

ECU Advantage

The study of Politics is interesting and exciting, and engages you in the larger world. Political Science has great teachers doing cutting-edge research in their fields, and bringing that knowledge and energy into the classroom. The skills you learn and the contacts you develop will help you to build the career and life you choose.

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Jody Baumgartner (A-114 Brewster Building; 252-328-2843; baumgartnerjo@ecu.edu)

The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:

1. General education requirements - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

    2. Core - 21 s.h.
    • POLS 1010 - National Government
    • POLS 2010 - Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics
    • POLS 2020 - Introduction to International Relations

    • POLS 2090 - Writing for Political Science (required for restricted elective students)
      • OR
    • POLS 2091 - Legal Writing (required for pre-law concentration students)

    • POLS 3031 - Research Design for Political Science
    • POLS 3032 - Statistical Methods for Political Science
      • Choose 3 s.h. from:
      • POLS 2070 - Introduction to Political Theory
      • POLS 3008 - Topics in Political Theory
      • POLS 3050 - Theory and Politics of Social and Protest Movements in the United States
    3. Restricted electives or pre-law concentration

    (Choose either restricted electives or the pre-law concentration.)

      a. Restricted electives - 33 s.h.
        American politics, campaigns and elections (6 s.h.)

        Choose 2 courses from the following: 

        • POLS 3006 - Topics in American Politics
        • POLS 3033 - Voting Behavior and Public Opinion
        • POLS 3035 - American Political Parties and Politics
        • POLS 3036 - Interest Groups and Lobbying
        • POLS 3037 - Campaigns and Elections
        • POLS 3038 - Public Opinion Polling
        • POLS 3039 - Black Politics in America
        • POLS 3040 - Women in Politics
        • POLS 3045 - Humor and American Politics
        • POLS 3090 - Religion and American Politics
        • POLS 3202 - The American Legislature
        • POLS 3203 - The American Executive
        • POLS 3241 - Urban Political Systems
        • POLS 3244 - North Carolina Politics
        • POLS 4310 - Mass Media and American Politics
        • POLS 4321 - Contemporary Southern Politics
        Comparative government and international relations (6 s.h.)

        Choose 2 courses from the following: 

        • POLS 3007 - Topics in International Relations and Comparative Politics
        • POLS 3140 - Politics of Globalization
        • POLS 3144 - American Foreign Policy
        • POLS 3155 - National Security Policy
        • POLS 3180 - The US Intelligence Community
        • POLS 3232 - The European Union
        • POLS 3233 - Visegrad in the 21st Century
        • POLS 3234 - West European Political Systems
        • POLS 3236 - Russian Politics
        • POLS 3260 - Middle Eastern Political Systems
        • POLS 3265 - African Political Systems
        • POLS 3290 - Communities in Conflict: Causes, Dynamics, and Resolutions of Civil Wars
        • POLS 3291 - Politics of Genocide in the Twentieth Century
        • POLS 3293 - International Organizations
        • POLS 3295 - International Law
        • POLS 3297 - International Political Economy
        • POLS 3298 - Diplomacy and International Negotiation
        • POLS 4360 - Politics of Developing Areas
        • POLS 4382 - Politics of Terrorism
        • POLS 4383 - Clash of Nations: The Drivers Behind Interstate Conflict
        Public Administration and Policy (6 s.h.)

        Choose 2 courses from the following: 

        • POLS 3009 - Topics in Public Administration and Public Policy
        • POLS 3041 - Women and Public Policy
        • POLS 3240 - State and Local Government
        • POLS 3242 - Municipal Policy and Administration
        • POLS 3252 - Public Administration
        • POLS 3253 - Government Fiscal Administration
        • POLS 3255 - Domestic Public Policy
        POLS electives (15 s.h.)

        Choose 5 POLS courses above 2999. 

        b. Pre-law concentration - 33 s.h.

        (A minimum 2.5 GPA is required to be accepted into this concentration. Pre-law students are required to complete program core courses.)

          Required concentration courses (12 s.h.)
          • POLS 3204 - The American Judiciary
          • POLS 3223 - Constitutional Powers
          • POLS 3224 - Civil Liberties
          • POLS 4175 - Legal Negotiation and Analysis
          Restricted electives (12 s.h.)

          Choose 4 courses from the following (at least 1 courses must be above 2999): 

          • CLAS 1300 - Greek and Latin for Vocabulary Building
          • HIST 3010 - Constitutional History of the United States to 1888
          • HIST 3011 - Constitutional History of the United States Since 1888
          • PHIL 1175 - Introduction to Ethics
          • PHIL 1180 - Introduction to Critical Reasoning
          • PHIL 1500 - Introduction to Logic
          • PHIL 2275 - Professional Ethics
          • PHIL 2282 - Philosophy of Law
          • PHIL 4270 - Ethics
          • PHIL 4276 - Social and Political Philosophy
          • POLS 3205 - The US Supreme Court
          • SOCI 4320 - Sociology of Law
          • SOCI 4322 - Law and Social Change
          POLS electives (9 s.h.)

          Choose 3 POLS courses above 2999.

        4. Minor (or second major) and electives to complete requirements for graduation.

        (No course counted for the POLS major may count for the POLS minor.)

          For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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