Apr 11, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Political Science Major, BA


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Undergraduate Degrees, Majors, Concentrations, Minors, and Certificates

The political science discipline is broad and diverse ranging from the study of campaigns and elections to analysis of political philosophy. Political science gives attention to the theory and practice of government at all levels from local to international, as well as to the complex relationships between social values and the formulation of public policy. As a blend of the theoretical and the practical, political science has much to offer as an undergraduate major and as an elective field for the non-major. It provides a broad liberal arts background for professional careers in law, government service, foreign service, business, journalism, and public-school teaching. It offers a good foundation for those wishing to pursue post-graduate study, especially in the fields of law, political science, and public administration. For those interested in specializing in fields outside of law and government, political science courses can contribute significantly to an awareness of public issues and an appreciation of the complexity of modern society.

Continuing, returning, and transfer students may declare an interest in political science at any time. The department will then assign the student an academic advisor.

Campus: Knoxville, Distance Education


Distance Education


For specific Admissions Requirements for Distance Learning students, visit https://volsonline.utk.edu/programs-degrees/bachelor-programs/ 

College Requirements


Arts and Sciences  

Prerequisites


Major Requirements


The major consists of 31 hours in courses numbered 200 or above. At least 19 hours of credit in courses numbered 300 or above must be completed.

Complete 18 hours:


  • Upper-division (300-400 level) political science credits (Note: POLS 480 - Capstone  does not count toward this requirement.)

Complete:


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Undergraduate Degrees, Majors, Concentrations, Minors, and Certificates