Social Sciences: Political Science Specialization, A.S.

CIP Code: 45.0101
NOVA Code: 8824

Offered through AL, LO, NOL

Purpose: This program is designed for individuals who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree. Graduates will have the knowledge, skills, and abilities equivalent to students entering the junior level at four-year colleges and universities.

Transfer Information: This program provides transfer paths that include the general education courses and introductory major courses that students typically take during the first two years at a four-year college or university when they are majoring in a social science. Because senior institutions differ in their requirements, students are strongly urged to work with their assigned advisor or a counselor and to acquaint themselves with the requirements of the major department in the college or university to which they plan to transfer. The responsibility for proper course selection rests with the student.

Two Years

1st Semester

Total 16 credits

2nd Semester

Total 16 credits

3rd Semester

CST 110 - Introduction to Communication (3 CR.) ⁵
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective (3 CR.) ⁶
Physical or Life Science Elective w/ Lab (4 CR.)⁴
PLS Elective (3 CR.)⁷
SOC Elective (3 CR.)⁸

Total 16 credits

4th Semester

General Education Electives (3 CR.) ⁹
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective (3 CR.) ⁶
PLS Elective (3 CR.)⁷
Social/Behavioral Science Elective (3 CR.) ¹⁰

Total 12 credits

Total credits for the A.S. Degree in Social Sciences with a Specialization in Political Science: 60 credits

¹ See HIS courses listed under social/behavioral sciences under General Education Electives . HIS 101 -HIS 102 is recommended.

²Many universities require MTH 154 or higher while others require MTH 161 or MTH 162 or higher, often including a statistics course for majors in the social sciences. It is, therefore, important that students confer with a counselor to determine the appropriate mathematics courses for their intended transfer university. Credit will not be awarded for both MTH 261 and MTH 263 . Credit will not be awarded for both MTH 162 and MTH 264 .

³ Students who take PLS 135 must also take PLS 136 . Students who take PLS 241 must also choose from one of the following courses: PLS 140 , PLS 200 , PLS 242 , PLS 250 , PLS 255 , or SSC 115 .

⁴ See biology, chemistry, ENV 121 -ENV 122 , physics, geology, or natural science courses with a lab component, listed under General Education Electives . Some four-year colleges require a two-semester sequence.

⁵ Select from the following: CST 100 , CST 110 , CST 126 , or CST 229 .

⁶See humanities/fine arts courses listed under General Education Electives . Electives should be selected with advice of a counselor or academic advisor to meet requirements of the transfer institution. Students who plan to transfer into a B.A. program should take intermediate-level foreign language to fulfill these electives.

⁷PLS electives include any of the following: PLS 135 , PLS 136 , PLS 140 , PLS 211 , PLS 212 , PLS 225 , PLS 241 , PLS 242 , PLS 250 , PLS 255 , and SSC 115 .

⁸ SOC 200 , SOC 211 , or SOC 212 is recommended to meet the sociology requirement at many universities.

⁹ See any of the courses listed under General Education Electives .

¹⁰ See social/behavioral science courses listed under General Education Electives . To meet requirements at many universities, students should enroll in at least one U.S. History course and one Western civilization course. Students should consult with a counselor to determine the appropriate social science courses for their intended transfer university.