The following is a sample schedule for this major – your actual schedule may vary.
Meet with your advisor and review the class schedule before confirming your schedule.
Missouri State is committed to helping you graduate in four years.
BA Four-Year Degree Plan
The following degree plan, last reviewed 01-10-2019, is based on the 2018-19 catalog and Missouri State general education requirements.
First semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| GEP 101 First-Year Foundations | 2 |
| ENG 110 Writing I | 3 |
| PLS 101 American Democracy and Citizenship | 3 |
| HST 103 World History to Circa 1600 C.E. or HST 104 World History since 1600 C.E. |
3 |
| Humanities - General Education | 3 |
| Quantitative Literacy - General Education | 3 |
| Total hours | 17 |
Second semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| COM 115 Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| HST 121 Survey of the History of the United States to 1877 or HST 122 Survey of the History of the United States since 1877 |
3 |
| Cultural Competence - General Education | 3 |
| Life Sciences - General Education | 4 |
| Total hours | 13 |
Third semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| ENG 210 Writing II: Writing Across the Disciplines | 3 |
| PHI 105 Critical Thinking or PHI 115 Ethics and Contemporary Issues |
3 |
| PLS 205 Comparative Politics | 3 |
| PLS 232 International Relations | 3 |
| BA Requirement - Foreign Language | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Fourth semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| Physical Sciences - General Education | 3 |
| Humanities - General Education | 3 |
| PLS 255 Public Administration | 3 |
| Public Issues - General Education | 3 |
| BA Requirement - Foreign Language | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Fifth semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| HST 103 World History to Circa 1600 C.E. or HST 104 World History since 1600 C.E. |
3 |
| US American Government or Public Law | 3 |
| PLS elective | 3 |
| Course for minor | 3 |
| BA Requirement - Foreign Language | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Sixth semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| US American Government or Public Law | 3 |
| PLS elective or PLS Internship | 3 |
| PLS 330 Introduction to Political Theory | 3 |
| Course for minor | 3 |
| BA Requirement - Foreign Language | 3 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Seventh semester (fall)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| BA Requirement - Fine Arts | 3 |
| Course for minor | 3 |
| Course for minor | 3 |
| PLS elective or PLS Internship | 6 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Eighth semester (spring)
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| PLS elective or PLS Internship | 6 |
| BA Requirement - Fine Arts | 3 |
| Course for minor | 3 |
| Course for minor | 3 |
| University exit survey | 0 |
| Total hours | 15 |
Tips for success
- Depending on areas of interest and career goals, political science majors are required to complete 15 hours of elective from at least 3 of 6 subfields: American govt. and politics, international politics, comparative governments and politics, public administration, political theory, or public law.
- PLS capstone requirement can be fulfilled with PLS 493/internship or PLS 497/education abroad related only.