McCausland College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Political Science
Bulletin Year: 2026-2027

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Semester One (15-17 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
!	ENGL 101	Critical Reading and Composition (CC-CMW)	3	C
		Carolina Core ARP Requirement (CC-ARP)	3-4
		Foreign language3 or other Carolina Core Requirement4 (CC-GFL)	3-4
	POLI 101	Introduction to Global Politics (CC-GSS)	3
	UNIV 101	The Student in the University or Carolina Core Requirement4 (PR/CC)	3

Semester Two (15-16 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
!	ENGL 102	Rhetoric and Composition (CC-CMW/CC-INF)	3	C
		Carolina Core ARP Requirement (CC-ARP)	3-4
		Foreign language3 or other Carolina Core Requirement4 (CC-GFL)	3
	POLI 201	American National Government (CC-VSR)	3
		History5 (CR)	3

Semester Three (15 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
	POLI 105	Introduction to Politics (MR)	3	C
		Political Science Major Course6 (MR)	3	C
		Cognate or Minor Course7 (PR)	3	C
		Foreign language3 or Carolina Core Requirement4 (CR/CC)	3
		Humanities or Fine Arts (CR)	3

Semester Four (15-16 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
		Political Science Major Course6 (MR)	3	C
		Cognate or Minor Course7 (PR)	3	C
		Humanities or Fine Arts (CR)	3
	POLI 303	Modern Political Theory (CR)	3
		Carolina Core Requirement4 (CC)	3-4

Semester Five (15-16 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
		Political Science Major Course6 (MR)	3	C
		Political Science Major Course6 (MR)	3	C
		Cognate or Minor Course7 (PR)	3	C
		Humanities or Fine Arts (CR)	3
		Carolina Core Requirement4 (CC)	3-4

Semester Six (15 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
		Political Science Major Course6 (MR)	3	C
		Cognate or Minor Course7 (PR)	3	C
		Carolina Core Requirement4 (CC)	3
		Carolina Core Requirement4 or Elective8 (CC/PR)	3
		Elective8 (PR)	3

Semester Seven (15 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
		Political Science Major Course6 (MR/CC-INT)	3	C
		Minor Course7 or Elective8 (PR)	3	C (minor)
		Elective8 (PR)	3
		Elective8 (PR)	3
		Elective8 (PR)	3

Semester Eight (13 Credit Hours)

Critical	Course Code	Subject and Title	Credit Hours	Min. Grade1	Major GPA2	Prerequisites
		Political Science Major Course6 (MR)	3	C
		Minor Course7 or Elective8 (PR)	3	C (minor)
		Elective8 (PR)	3
		Elective8 (PR)	3
		Elective8 (PR)	1

Graduation Requirements Summary

Minimum Total Hours	Minimum Major Requirements Hours	College and Program Requirements Hours	Carolina Core Hours	Minimum Institutional GPA
120	24	52-61	35-44	2.000

1. Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA.
2. Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.
3. Students in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.
4. The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.
5. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course, both of which must be chosen from the approved Carolina Core GHS courses. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement.
6. Select seven courses from POLI 300 or above. Note: One of the following courses must be taken as part of the major requirements in order to fulfill the Carolina Core Integrative course requirement: POLI 315, POLI 316, POLI 361, POLI 368, POLI 370, POLI 374, POLI 451, POLI 462, or POLI 504.
7. The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of, but related to the major. In place of a cognate, a student may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of courses concentrated in one area that follow a structured sequence. A second major eliminates the minor/cognate requirement.
8. No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.

Program Notes

• Courses identified as “critical” must be completed in the student’s first 60 semester hours of work in order for these courses to be credited toward graduation.
• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
• Political Science majors may choose to complete an intensive major. In addition to the requirements for the Political Science major, Intensive majors must earn a minimum grade of B in all major courses, as well as complete the following: 1) an additional 6 hours of major coursework (approved by the major advisor); 2) POLI 499 – Senior Thesis; 3) Demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language through the intermediate level.
• The Departmental Undergraduate Research Track is available to students majoring in political science who wish to participate in significant research activities of the major field in collaboration with, or under the supervision of, a faculty mentor. In addition to the requirements for the Political Science major, “B.A. with Distinction” majors must complete the following: 1) prerequisites of 3.60 major GPA and 3.30 cumulative GPA; 2) POLI 301 – The Political Science Discipline, POLI 498 – Research Experience, and POLI 499 – Senior Thesis; 3) Public presentation of the Senior Thesis (at an annual meeting of the South Carolina Political Science Association, a regular or special session of the Political Science Research Workshop, sessions scheduled for the Political Science Awards Day activities, USC Discovery Day, or submission to a professional journal); 4) a written sponsorship agreement from the faculty mentor to be placed on file in the department or college office.
• Utilizing elective hours, many Political Science majors pursue an additional major and/or multiple minors to create a unique degree program that reflects their intellectual interests and future academic and/or professional goals.
• The last 30 credit hours toward your degree must be earned in residence at the University of South Carolina-Columbia.

Code Definitions

University Requirements: Bachelor’s degree-seeking students must meet Carolina Core (general education) requirements.

Code	Definition
CC	Carolina Core
CC-AIU	Carolina Core – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding
CC-ARP	Carolina Core – Analytical Reasoning and Problem-Solving
CC-CMS	Carolina Core – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component
CC-CMW	Carolina Core – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written Component
CC-GFL	Carolina Core – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language
CC-GHS	Carolina Core – Historical Thinking
CC-GSS	Carolina Core – Social Sciences
CC-INF	Carolina Core – Information Literacy
CC-INT	Carolina Core – Integrative Course
CC-SCI	Carolina Core – Scientific Literacy
CC-VSR	Carolina Core – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility
CR	College Requirement
MR	Major Requirement
PR	Program Requirement