Political Science Major & Minor Requirements

The information found on this website with respect to major/minor/program requirements is primarily directed at providing prospective students a general roadmap of the curriculum.  Current Butler students are expected to review their degree audit report at my.butler.edu and speak with their advisor regularly for detailed information regarding their specific degree requirements and their progress toward degree completion.

Requirements (36 credits)

• PO 201 Research and Analysis (required 3 hours)

• Three other introductory courses distributed across at least two of three different areas: USA politics in theory and practice (e.g. PO 131/SW 242-PO, PO 220, & PO 230), politics beyond the USA (e.g. PO 141, PO 151, SW 240-PO), and political theory (e.g. PO 102, PO 210, TI 255-PO). (9 hours)

• 7 upper-division courses (above 299), with at least three credit hours earned in three (of four) different areas: politics in the USA, politics beyond the USA, theorizing politics, and making connections, practicing politics. (21 credit hours)

• PO 490W Topics Capstone (required 3 hours)

Students must earn at least a C- grade for a course to be counted towards their Political Science major or minor.

Introductory Courses Hours
PO 102 Introduction to Peace Studies 3
PO 131 Introduction to United States Politics 3
PO 141 Introduction to International Politics 3
PO 151 Introduction to Comparative Politics 3
PO 201 Research and Analysis (Required) 3
PO 210 Basic Political Thought 3
PO 220 Community Mediation 3
PO 230 Activism 3
SW 240-PO Gender and Generations: War and Peace 3
SW 242-PO Introduction to U.S. Politics 3
SW 245-PO Politics from the Margins 3
TI 255-PO The Politics of Alice Walker 3
Advanced Courses Hours
PO 310 Foundations of Chinese Politics 3
PO 320 International Relations 3
PO 322 International Conflict and Peace Building 3
PO 324 The United States in the Asia Pacific 3
PO 326 Chinese Foreign Policy 3
PO 328 Politics of China’s Development 3
PO 332 State & Local Government & Politics 3
PO 335 Racial and Ethnic Politics 3
PO 337 Politics of the Urban Experience 3
PO 344 The Presidential Election through Humor 3
PO 350 African Politics 3
PO 351 Politics of Gender and Sexuality in Africa 3
PO 352 Comparative Political Economy 3
PO 354 Environmental Justice 3
PO 355 United States Foreign Policy 3
PO 356 Israel/Palestine Conflict 3
PO 357 Politics of Youth and Conflict 3
PO 358 Foreign Policy Making in Washington 3
PO 360 Political Regimes in Latin America 3
PO 362 Popular Participation in Latin America 3
PO 364 United States-Latin American Relations 3
PO 370 Government & Politics of Europe 3
PO 371 United States Parties and Politics 3
PO 372 The Role of Protest in U.S. Politics 3
PO 373 Public Policy 3
PO 377 Constitutional Law 3
PO 379 The Presidency and the Congress 3
PO 380 Topic in Political Science 3
PO  381 Ancient & Medieval Political Thought 3
PO 382 Modern Political Thought 3
PO 383 United States Political Thought 3
PO 384 Politics Through Film 3
PO 385 The Enduring Quest for Community 3
PO 386 Black Political Thought 3
PO 387 Agriculture and Food Justice as a Social Movement 3
PO 400, 401, 402 Independent Study 1, 2, 3
PO 403, 404, 405, 406 Internship 2, 3, 6, 9
PO 407, 408, 409 Student Apprenticeship in Political Science 1, 2, 3
PO 490 Seminar in Political Science 3
PO 499 Honors Thesis 3

Requirements (18 credits)

• PO 201 Research and Analysis (required 3 hours)

• 9 hours upper-division level (above 299)

Students must earn at least a C- grade for a course to be counted towards their Political Science major or minor.

Introductory Courses Hours
PO 102 Introduction to Peace Studies 3
PO 131 Introduction to United States Politics 3
PO 141 Introduction to International Politics 3
PO 151 Introduction to Comparative Politics 3
PO 201 Research and Analysis (Required) 3
PO 210 Basic Political Thought 3
PO 220 Community Mediation 3
PO 230 Activism 3
SW 240-PO Gender and Generations: War and Peace 3
SW 242-PO Introduction to U.S. Politics 3
SW 245-PO Politics from the Margins 3
TI 255-PO The Politics of Alice Walker 3
Advanced Courses Hours
PO 310 Foundations of Chinese Politics 3
PO 320 International Relations 3
PO 322 International Conflict and Peace Building 3
PO 324 The United States in the Asia Pacific 3
PO 326 Chinese Foreign Policy 3
PO 328 Politics of China’s Development 3
PO 332 State & Local Government & Politics 3
PO 335 Racial and Ethnic Politics 3
PO 337 Politics of the Urban Experience 3
PO 340 The Earth Charter 3
PO 344 The Presidential Election Through Humor 3
PO 350 African Politics 3
PO 351 Politics of Gender and Sexuality in Africa 3
PO 352 Comparative Political Economy 3
PO 354 Environmental Justice 3
PO 355 United States Foreign Policy 3
PO 356 Israel/Palestine Conflict 3
PO 357 Politics of Youth and Conflict 3
PO 358 Foreign Policy Making in Washington* 3
PO 360 Political Regimes in Latin America 3
PO 362 Popular Participation in Latin America 3
PO 364 United States-Latin American Relations 3
PO 370 Government & Politics of Europe 3
PO 371 United States Parties and Politics 3
PO 372 The Role of Protest in U.S. Politics 3
PO 373 Public Policy 3
PO 377 Constitutional Law 3
PO 379 The Presidency and the Congress 3
PO 380 Topic in Political Science 3
PO 381 Ancient & Medieval Political Thought 3
PO 382 Modern Political Thought 3
PO 383 United States Political Thought 3
PO 384 Politics Through Film 3
PO 385 The Enduring Quest for Community 3
PO 386 Black Political Thought 3
PO 387 Agriculture and Food Justice as a Social Movement 3
PO 400, 401, 402 Independent Study      1, 2, 3
PO 403, 404, 405, 406 Internship 2, 3, 6, 9
PO 407, 408, 409 Student Apprenticeship in Political Science 1, 2, 3
PO 490 Seminar in Political Science 3
PO 499 Honors Thesis 3
* Pending Approval

Political Science (24 hours)

  • Two lower-division PO courses (100-200 level)
  • Five upper-division PO courses (300 level and above) with at least one from US and one from non-US focused courses
  • Seminar in Political Science (PO490)

History (21 hours)

  • Two lower-divison HST or TI-HST courses (100-200 level), one of which must be focused on Asia, Latin America, Middle East/Africa, or World/Transnational History
  • Three upper-division courses (300 level and above) from at least two distinct geographical areas
  • Junior Research Project (HST302)
  • Seminar in History (HST401)

Program Research Methods (3 hours)

  • One of the following: Research and Analysis (PO201) or Theory and Methods (HST301)

Total hours required: 48

Political Science (27 hours)

  • PO 201 – Research and Analysis
  • Any TWO of PO 102, PO 131, PO 141, PO 151, PO 210, PO 220 or PO 230
  • 18 hours of PO courses at the 300 level or above, including at least one semester of PO 490.

Psychology (27 hours)

  • SW250-PS (or equivalent)
  • PS 210
  • PS 211
  • PS 235
  • PS 310
  • PS 320
  • PS 350
  • PS 440

Program Elective (One Seminar – 3 hours)

  • EITHER a second semester of PO 490
  • OR PS 475, PS 476, PS 477, PS 478 or PS 479 – Seminars
Political Science Degree FAQs

As a political science graduate, there are endless local, national, and global job opportunities. Butler Political Science alums have pursued careers in electoral politics, teaching, law, government, journalism, business, and non-profit organizations and have earned graduate and professional degrees in several fields.

For occupations requiring a Political Science degree in the United States, the average salary is $52,859 annually. For those with a Master’s degree in political science, the average is even higher, reaching an average of $122,510 per year.

Although political science uses a scientific and analytical methodology to study society, governments, and more, it is part of liberal arts and not STEM. The degree focuses on the social sciences.

Course Descriptions

For the most current information on courses, including descriptions and prerequisites, review our Course Catalog.