As a political science major, you can pursue a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. Lower-division courses at the 100 and 200 levels are introductory, while upper-division courses at the 300 level build off those skills. 400-level courses generally offer smaller, more advanced, and specialized opportunities to refine those skills. In addition to division level requirements, each student majoring in Political Science is required to complete a class in the Political Theory subfield. The link below explains this in more detail and includes a list of Political Theory classes offered by the Department of Political Science: Political Theory Courses.
Why study political science? What’s required to earn a degree? It's all summarized in our major map.
Course Type & Division Level | Credits |
|---|---|
Political Science courses, 100-level | 8 credits |
Political Science courses, 200-level | 8 credits |
Political Science courses, 300-level or above | 24 credits |
Political Science courses, 400-level | 8 credits |
Political Theory* | -- |
Total Credits | 48 credits |
Additional Requirements:
- Political Theory: *All PS majors are expected to take a class in the political theory subfield. All political theory classes offered by the UO Department of Political Science are listed here: Political Theory Courses.
- Letter Grades Required: Grades of C– or better in courses taken to satisfy major requirements. Exceptions are courses offered P/N only—PS 401, 403, 404, 405, and 411, as well as LERC 406.
- Restricted Credits: A total of 16 credits may be counted toward the major from the following: PS 401, 403, 404, 405, 411; CAS 417; OINT 488; LERC 406. All but CAS 417 are only open to students with special permission to enroll.
- Oregon Residency: A total of 20 upper-division credits must be taken in residency at the University of Oregon.
In addition to the major requirements, undergraduates must also satisfy university requirements for a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree, including areas of inquiry and cultural literacy requirements, as described on the Registrar’s Office website. Many political science courses simultaneously satisfy university and major requirements.
Consult the following resources for more information regarding political science major requirements:
- Political Science Major Requirements
- Political Science Major Progress Worksheet
- Political Theory
- BA 4-Year Plan
- BS 4-Year Plan
Political Science Career Paths
Students may choose career paths to guide them through courses and toward career objectives. Political Science majors may be awarded up to two (2) career path certificates of completion upon graduation.
Undergraduate Exception Requests
Students are free to request an exception to the department's major or minor requirements, though they should be aware that the department considers such requests carefully and tends only to grant them in cases of extenuating circumstance. Seniors should not wait until graduation to make an exception request.
Situations that qualify as extenuating have included but are not limited to: emergencies of a medical or familial nature, documented misadvising, or department failure to communicate. Misunderstanding the requirements of the PS major or minor is not an acceptable excuse.
Undergraduate Exception Request
Second Bachelor’s Degree
Students who would like to earn a second bachelor’s degree or a second or double major in political science must complete 48 credits in political science, as outlined in the major requirements above. Students who are considering a second bachelor’s degree and have prior political science credits should consult with an academic advisor, as some prior political science credits may not be applicable to a second bachelor’s degree.