Political Science (BA)
The mission of the Political Science Program is to provide students with the theoretical and philosophical foundation of the principles of politics and to develop student skills in analyzing and interpreting the political scene and understanding political problems. The Program aims to prepare students to think independently, communicate effectively, understand and analyze complex political structures and how they work in the modern world.
The objective of this Program is to prepare students to work in careers related to public service and/or private enterprises, to continue studies in this discipline and in law, consulting, lobbying, communication media, advertisement agencies, and others. In Addition, the Program offers two minors: International Relations and Governmental Management.
The Metropolitan and San German campuses are authorized to offer this Program.
Competencies Profile of Graduates
The program is designed to develop the competencies that will allow students to:
Knowledge
- Know the theoretical and social bases for the best understanding the political world.
- Know the principles, the foundations and the processes in the development of political activity.
- Know the main theories on international relations, political economy, and comparative politics and how these affect our social reality.
- Know the theoretical principles of political research.
- Know the use of new technology as a research tool and for the search of information in political science.
Skills
- Apply their knowledge in different professional areas, such as law, education, media, public service and private enterprise.
- Perform critical analyses of the political theories that help to understand the present political world.
- Use the methods and processes of quantitative and qualitative research and their applications.
- Critique and apply different methodological approaches in the political analysis process.
- Use and integrate the new technology of the computer programs in political research and analysis.
Attitudes
- Have a clear vision of the role of the social scientist in contemporary society.
- Appreciate the political development of the human being and his society throughout the centuries.
- Develop and evaluate lines of reasoning.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science
| General Education Requirements |
48 credits |
| Major Requirements |
57 credits |
| Prescribed Distributive Requirements |
9 credits |
| Elective Courses |
6 credits |
| Total |
120 credits |
General Education Requirements - 48 credits
Forty-eight (48) credits are required as explained in the section “General Education Requirements for Bachelors’ Degrees.”
Major Requirements - 57 credits
| POLS 1011 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 2040 | Government of the United States | 3 |
| POLS 2088 | Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico | 3 |
| POLS 2100 | Political Analysis and Research Techniques | 3 |
| POLS 3000 | WRITING FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE | 3 |
| POLS 3080 | Political Economy | 3 |
| POLS 3100 | Comparative Government and Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3150 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| POLS 3401 | Classic Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 3402 | Modern Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 3501 | Political Systems of Latin America | 3 |
| POLS 3610 | Relations Between the United States and Puerto Rico | 3 |
| POLS 3820 | Public Administration | 3 |
| POLS 3910 | Electoral Processes | 3 |
| POLS 4300 | Public Policy | 3 |
| POLS 4700 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE | 3 |
| POLS 4900 | Seminar on Political Research | 3 |
| Six additional credits from the course of POLS at the 3000 or 4000 level | 6 |
Prescribed Distributive Requirements - 9 credits
Nine (9) credits from the following two groups of courses:
Empirical Applications
Government, Regulations and Laws