B.S. American Political Studies (extended major)

To earn this degree, complete at least 120 units of coursework, which we describe in the sections that follow:  

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).  

 

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.  

Major Requirements  

Complete 54 units of coursework from political science and related fields, as described in the sections that follow. Please be aware that at least 36 of these 54 units must be in upper-division courses (those numbered 300 and above).  

 

If you take individualized 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 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 coursework. If you take more than 6 units of individualized coursework, they will count in general elective credit.  

 

Finally 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 54 units in the major with a grade of C or better in order to graduate.  

Required Core  

Take the following 18 units:  

Political Science Component  

Take the following 18 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.  

Please note that you can’t count in the political science component any course you’re required to take for your cross-disciplinary emphasis area (see the following section). Also note that some courses aren’t offered every term.  

 

In addition, please be aware that you can repeat topics courses, which vary in content, for up to 6 units of credit in the political science component. Obtain your advisor’s approval for the particular topics course content.  

Cross-Disciplinary Emphasis   

You take 18 units in your chosen emphasis area. These include a 3-unit required course and 15 units from the courses listed for your emphasis area. You must choose these courses from at least three disciplines, with no more than 9 units in any one discipline.  

 

You may also take cross-disciplinary special topics courses that are consistent with your emphasis but aren’t designated on the emphasis list, with your advisor’s approval. Some courses are options within the core and within certain emphasis areas; you can take such courses for either core or emphasis credit, but cannot apply them to both.  

 

Note that some courses require a prerequisite. You should include prerequisite courses in your plan and take them as part of your liberal studies coursework when possible. Some courses are not offered every term, and in some cases seats available to

non-majors may be limited.  

Administration Emphasis.

You take:  

American Legal System Emphasis.

You take:  

Cultural Diversity Emphasis.

You take:  

Economy and Politics Emphasis.

You take:  

Environment Emphasis.

You take:  

Gender Emphasis.

You take:  

Native American Emphasis.

You take:  

General Electives  

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.