Political Science
The BA in political science allows you to work with dynamic teachers to learn about the world and develop skills to research, analyze and solve issues impacting our everyday lives.
Political Science Program Overview
Can you picture yourself running a major political campaign? Are you interested in learning how to create policies or work in organizations that address the problems that families face? Are you interested in analyzing information to detect threats to our national security?
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, and 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. As a classic liberal arts degree, the BA allows you to shape your curriculum by focusing on the specific classes and fields which most interest you.
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.
What You Will Study
Program Coordinator: Jonathan Morris (252-328-1067; morrisj@ecu.edu)
The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:
Core Requirements:
1. General education requirements - 40 s.h.
(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)
2. Demonstrated foreign language proficiency through level 2004 - 12 s.h.
(For information about the foreign language requirement view Special Requirements for the BA Degree in the Academic Advisement, Progression and Support Services section and Placement Testing, Foreign Language in the Admission and Readmission section.)
3. Core - 36 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
- POLS 3031 - Research Design 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
Choose a minimum of 18 s.h. of POLS 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.)
ECU Minor Requirements Policy
The university's policy regarding double counting credits between major and minor can be found in the Academic Advisement, Progression and Support Services section of this catalog. See "Minor Requirements".
If you have questions, please reach out to your program coordinator or director.
- No more than 9 credit hours required for satisfying a major can count towards the credits required for satisfying a minor, excluding specified cognates (required courses but outside of the major discipline).
- Individual programs may have additional restrictions.
- A student may not major and minor in the same discipline as defined by the program's 6-digit CIP code.
For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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