Academic
Catalog August 2007 - August 2008 Undergraduate
and Graduate
To earn this degree, complete at least 120 units of coursework, which we describe in the sections that follow:
at least 35 units of liberal studies requirements. Be aware that you may not use courses with a POS prefix to satisfy these liberal studies requirements.
at least 39 units of major requirements
at least 16 units of language requirements
at least 18 units of minor requirements
elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units
Be aware that some courses required for your degree may have prerequisites that you must also take. Check the courses in the appropriate subject. (You may be able to count these prerequisites toward your liberal studies or general elective credit.)
Please note that you must complete NAU’s diversity requirements by taking two 3-unit courses, one in ethnic diversity and one in global awareness. These courses may be used to meet other requirements within your academic plan if you choose them carefully. Click here for a list of the available diversity courses.
Also be aware that NAU requires that at least 30 units of the courses you take for your degree must be upper-division courses (those numbered 300 and above).
Also note that you may elect to complete a merged or dual major instead of a minor; see your advisor for more information.
Finally, please note that you may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement; however, you must still meet the total of at least 120 units to graduate. Contact your advisor for details.
Complete the following 39 units for this major:
a 15-unit political science core:
POS 110, 120, 201, and 224 or 250
and one of POS 351, 352 and 353
POS 303 or an equivalent statistics course, such as PSY 230 or STA 270, with your advisor’s approval (3 units)
POS 301W, which meets NAU’s junior writing requirement (3 units)
Please note that you may request permission from your advisor to use a different junior writing course (one with a W at the end of the course number) to meet NAU’s junior writing requirement. To do so, you must provide good cause, obtain your advisor’s written permission in advance, and take another upper-division POS course to substitute for POS 301W.
POS 421C, which meets NAU’s senior capstone requirement (3 units)
15 units from the remaining POS courses, excluding POS 220
In selecting these courses, you should consult with your advisor to select coursework appropriate for your career aspirations and academic interests.
If you take an area studies or topics course that’s repeatable, you may take it more than once with different content and apply it to your major requirement more than once. If a course is an option in the core but you take some other course to satisfy that core requirement, you may still take the optional course and apply it to this 15-unit requirement.
If you take individualized study coursework (up to 6 units in POS 408, 486, and 497), you must obtain prior written approval from your faculty advisor. You may only use individualized study coursework with a course prefix other than POS in exceptional circumstances, with your advisor’s prior approval; any such coursework counts toward the 6-unit maximum for individualized study coursework. If you take more than 6 units of individualized study coursework, they will count in general elective credit.
Please be aware that we won’t count a grade of D for major credit. Although we don’t require that you retake a required course in which you earn a D, you must complete 39 units in the major with a grade of C or better in order to graduate.
You must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English that is equivalent to four terms of university coursework in the same language. You may satisfy this requirement by taking language courses or by testing out of all or part of it by taking CLEP exams arranged by NAU’s Counseling and Testing Center. Click here for more information.
You must complete a minor of at least 18 units from those described in this catalog, or you may complete a merged or dual major instead. In consultation with your advisor, you should select a minor that’s appropriate for your career aspirations and educational needs. Your minor advisor will advise you about this part of your academic plan.
Additional coursework is required, if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you. (Please note that you may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren’t used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.)
Click here for more information about Political Science undergraduate courses and our Political Science Faculty.