Four-Year Degree & Development Plans
Below we’ve provided a four-year degree plan for our program to illustrate how students could complete a degree from our department in four years. This degree plan suggests which classes students should generally plan to complete each semester they are at Butler.
We know that each student will chart their own path at Butler with the help of their advisors. The four-year degree plan should not be seen as prescriptive. Instead, it should be seen as a directional guide helping students stay on track during their time at Butler.
| 1st YEAR FALL | 1st YEAR SPRING |
| One of the following lower-level courses in the 3 required areas of USA politics in theory and practice, Politics beyond the USA, Political Theory: PO 102, PO 131 (SW 242-PO), PO 141 (SW 244-PO), PO 151 (SW 243-PO) | One of the following lower-level courses in the 3 required areas of USA politics in theory and practice, Politics beyond the USA, Political Theory: PO 102, PO 131 (SW 242-PO), PO 141 (SW 244-PO), PO 151 (SW 243-PO) |
| First Year Seminar | First Year Seminar |
| Core (AR/TI/PCA) | Core (AR/TI/PCA) |
| Language | Language |
| Core or other Major/Minor | Other Major/Minor or Enrichment |
| 2nd YEAR FALL | 2nd YEAR SPRING |
| PO major requirement: PO 201 Research and Analysis AND/OR One of the following lower-level courses in the 3 required areas of USA politics in theory and practice, Politics beyond the USA, Political Theory: PO 210 (TI 257-PO), PO 220, PO 230, PO 245 | PO major requirement: PO 201 Research and Analysis (if not complete in Fall of end Year) AND One of the following lower-level courses in the 3 required areas of USA politics in theory and practice, Politics beyond the USA, Political Theory: PO 210 (TI 257-PO), PO 220, PO 230, PO 245 |
| Core (GHS) | Core (GHS*) |
| Core (NW) | Core (WB) or other Major/Minor |
| Language | Language |
| Other Major/Minor requirement or Enrichment | Other Major/Minor or Enrichment |
| 3rd YEAR FALL | 3rd YEAR SPRING |
| Upper-level PO course in one of the following areas (at least 3 different areas are required): 1. Politics in the USA 2. Politics beyond the USA 3. Theorizing politics 4. Making connections, practicing politics | Upper-level PO course in one of the following areas (at least 3 different areas are required): 1. Politics in the USA 2. Politics beyond the USA 3. Theorizing politics 4. Making connections, practicing politics |
| Upper-level PO course in one of the areas listed above (at least 3 different areas are required) | Upper-level PO course in one of the areas listed above (at least 3 different areas are required) |
| Core (ICR or SL) | Core (AR/TI/PCA) |
| Core or Other Major/Minor | Core or Other Major/Minor |
| Other Major/Minor requirement Note: Internships are not mandatory in the PO major, but students usually undertake an internship (for 3–6 credits) in their junior year. | Other Major/Minor |
| 4th YEAR FALL | 4th YEAR SPRING |
| One upper-level PO course in any required areas of: 1. Politics in the USA 2. Politics beyond the USA 3. Theorizing politics 4. Making connections, practicing politics | PO 490: Senior Seminar (PO capstone requirement) |
| One upper-level PO course in any of the 4 required areas of: 1. Politics in the USA 2. Politics beyond the USA 3. Theorizing politics 4. Making connections, practicing politics | One upper-level PO course in any of the 4 required areas of: 1. Politics in the USA 2. Politics beyond the USA 3. Theorizing politics 4. Making connections, practicing politics |
| Other Major Senior Capstone requirement or Other Major/Minor | Other Major/Minor |
| Other Major/Minor | Other Major/Minor |
| Other Major/Minor | Other Major/Minor |
*If a student chooses to study abroad, they should talk to their advisor about elective options.