Political Science, B.S. - Secondary Education

The program course outline and graduation requirements for this catalog year are listed below. To graduate, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 must be achieved, and a total of 120 credits is required. This total includes both the required courses for the program and any free electives selected. The department website provides an overview of the program, admission requirements for the major (when applicable), faculty biographies, learning outcomes, and careers: https://www.southernct.edu/academics/political– science/programs.

This is an educator preparation program in the State of Connecticut with additional admission requirements (see Admissions>>Teacher/Educator Preparation Programs). Candidates recommended for certification must also meet any additional Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) requirements (see Degree Requirements>>Teacher/Educator Preparation Programs) in effect on the date CSDE receives the certification application.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (46 Credits) 

All bachelor’s degree programs include liberal education (LEP) and writing (W) course requirements. To review more detailed information, please visit General Education (LEP) Degree Requirements.   

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (57 Credits)

Up to three courses in the major/cognate may also satisfy LEP requirements and will be indicated below; no more than two courses in the same subject may be used towards LEP Explorations.

Political Science Requirements (30 Credits)
PSC 200 – Political Change and Conflict (T2CC)
PSC 240 – Introduction to Political Thought (T2CE)
PSC 260 – U.S. Government (T2AE)
PSC 270 – International Relations (T2GA)
PSC 365 – Research Methods in Political Science
PSC 475 – Capstone Seminar
An additional 12 credits of PSC at the 300 level or higher, or other subjects as approved by the political science department

Education Requirements (27 Credits)
EDU 316 – Child Development and Psychology for Educators
EDU 413 – Secondary Education
EDU 471 – Supporting English Learners for School Success 
HIS 490 – Social Science (Secondary School)
HIS 494 – Student Teaching (History)
HIS 496 – Student Teaching Seminar - History 
RDG 470 – Literacy in the Content Areas 
SED 225 – Introduction to Exceptionalities

COGNATE REQUIREMENTS (24 Credits)

EDU 200 – Teachers, Schools, and Society (T2CC)
HIS 100 or HIS 101 Western Civilization to 1500 or Western Civilization from 1500 to present  (T2TP)
HIS 110  or HIS 111 – U.S. History to 1877 (T2AE) or U.S. History from 1877 to the present (T2AE)
SHE 203 – School Health (T2MB)

Select one non-western HIS course:
HIS 106 – East Asia to 1850
HIS 145 – History of Africa
HIS 242 – Imperial Russian and Soviet History, 1800- 1991
HIS 244 – Traditional & Modern East Asia
HIS 246 – African Politics & Culture
HIS 247 – Early Modern France
HIS 280 – Modern Iraq
HIS 291 – Latin American Revolutions and Rebellions
HIS 300 – The Vietnam War Era
HIS 342 – 20th Century China
HIS 392 – Hispanic Caribbean: Colony, Nation, and Diaspora

Additional 9 credits of HIS (excluding HIS 112)

ACCELERATED PATHWAY OPTION (6 Credits)

Students with a 3.0 GPA and at least 90 credits may be eligible to complete an accelerated pathway during their senior year to earn dual credit towards both their current undergraduate program and future graduate program of interest. Approval to start graduate coursework does not guarantee admission to the graduate program.

Students will meet with their faculty advisor to prepare a Graduate Course Plan (500-level courses or higher), with a maximum of 6 credits per semester, based on their graduate program of interest. Approval from both the Program Department Chairperson and the Graduate Coordinator is required. Programs may have higher requirements, and seat availability in certain graduate programs may be limited.    

Courses completed with a grade of 'C' or higher will earn dual credit for both undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Graduate programs may have higher grade requirements in place for certain courses which may require the student to retake the course for a higher grade letter.