A Combined Degree program enables undergraduate students to enroll in graduate courses in their senior year, which can be counted towards the completion of both their Bachelor's and Master's degree requirements. The ability to take these "swing courses" allows students to earn both their Bachelor's and Master's degrees in a shortened period of time, typically within five years. Undergraduate students interested in this option can find more information regarding program requirements on the University's Combined Programs website.
Program Requirements
Students in this combined degree program must complete the requirements for:
Political Science Major (B.A.)
Graduate Swing Courses
A combined degree program allows students to complete 6-12 graduate credits ("graduate swing courses") while enrolled as an undergraduate. These courses count for both their bachelor and master’s degrees. Graduate swing courses will count toward undergraduate free electives, unless noted otherwise.
The Graduate Swing Courses for this program:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| LAWS 500 | United States Legal System | 3 |
| LAWS 503 | Research Methods and Analysis | 3 |
| LAWS 513 | Ethical and Professional Issues in the Legal Environment | 3 |
| Elective | ||
| Complete one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Statutory and Regulatory Analysis | ||
| Private Civil Responsibility: Contracts and Torts | ||
| Jurisprudence | ||
| Administrative Law | ||
| Entertainment Law | ||
| Trademark Law | ||
| Cyberlaw | ||
| Intellectual Property: Copyright, Licensing, and Advertising | ||
| Negotiation Theory and Practice | ||
| Mediation Theory and Practice | ||
| Arbitration and Other Alternative Adjudicative Processes | ||
| Conflict Management and Peer Mediation in Schools | ||
| Dispute Resolution in the Workplace | ||
| Law Office Financial Management | ||
| Advanced Conflict Management | ||
| Bullying Prevention | ||
| Legal Information Management | ||
| Human Rights Law | ||
| International Law and Transnational Legal Issues | ||
| Legal Aspects of Human Resource Management | ||
| Private Sector Compliance With Public Regulations | ||
| Field Experience in Law and Governance | ||
| Cooperative Education in Law and Governance | ||
| Independent Study in Law and Governance | ||
| Environmental Law and Policy | ||
| Special Topics in Law and Governance | ||
| The Third World in the International System | ||
| International Relations | ||
| The International Political Economy | ||
| Globalization and Security | ||
| U.S.Immigration: Law and Politics | ||
| Politics of Terrorism | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree(s)
This recommended five-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within five years. This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.
Fifth year courses are taken at the graduate level, after matriculation into the graduate portion of this combined degree program.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GNED 199 | 1 | WRIT 106 | 3 |
| WRIT 105 | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (H) Mathematics | 3 |
| CMST 101 | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (K1) Social Science – American and European History | 3 |
| World Language 1 | 3 | World Language 2 | 3 |
| POLS 100 | 3 | POLS 201 | 3 |
| POLS 101 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (F1) Humanities – Great Works and Their Influences | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (D) Fine and Performing Arts | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (G) Computer Science | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (L) Interdisciplinary Studies | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (I) Natural Science Laboratory | 4 |
| World Cultures | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (K2) Social Science – Global Cultural Perspectives | 3 |
| POLS 202 | 3 | POLS Elective (200 level) | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (J) Physical Education | 1 | POLS Elective (300-400 level) | 3 |
| POLS 300 | 3 | POLS Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective/Minor Course | 3 | Free Elective/Minor Course | 3 |
| Free Elective/Minor Course | 3 | Free Elective/Minor Course | 3 |
| Free Elective/Minor Course | 3 | Free Elective/Minor Course | 3 |
| Free Elective/Minor Course | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| POLS Elective (300-400 level) | 3 | POLS Elective (300-400 level) | 3 |
| POLS Elective (300-400 level) | 3 | Free Elective/Minor Course | 3 |
| Free Elective/Minor Course | 3 | LAWS 513 | 3 |
| LAWS 500 | 3 | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| LAWS 503 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||