ABCDEF
1
Four-Year GuidePolitical Science, Legal Studies ConcentrationBS272N2025-26Appalachian State University
College of Arts & Sciences
Department of Government & Justice Studies
2
3
This four year guide is a recommended semester-by semester plan of study for this major. All four year guides are meant to be an example of how a degree can be completed in four years. Individual plans will be developed for each student in consultation with their academic advisor. Prior credit, course availability, and student needs must be considered in developing the individual plan.
4
5
6
Semester HoursCourse NameCredit HrMin GradeIn Major GPAImportant Notes
7
Semester 1
8
Semester Hrs:UCO 12003
9
16Gen Ed Quantitative Literacy4STT 2820 meets this requirement and the STT course requirement in semester 2.
10
Gen Ed Placeholder 13See General Education Requirements section below.
11
PS 11003X
12
Free Elective3CJ 1100 suggested; required prerequisite for most CJ courses.
13
Semester 2
14
Semester Hrs:RC 10003
15
15Gen Ed Placeholder 23See General Education Requirements section below.
16
Gen Ed Placeholder 33See General Education Requirements section below.
17
Statistics Course Choice3XIf STT 2820 taken for Quantitative Literacy, take a free elective here. See list of options in POS.
18
Legal Studies Course 13X*Please see Concentration Course Information below.
19
Semester 3
20
Semester Hrs:RC 20013
21
16Gen Ed Science Inquiry4
22
Gen Ed Placeholder 43
23
Cross-Cultural / Intn'l course 13X*Please see Concentration Course Information below. Take at least one [WID] course.
24
Minor Course 13Minor is required with this degree.
25
Semester 4
26
Semester Hrs:Gen Ed Science Inquiry4
27
14Gen Ed Placeholder 53
28
Gen Ed Wellness Literacy1
29
Institutions & Gov course 13X*Please see Concentration Course Information below. Take at least one [WID] course.
30
Minor Course 23
31
Semester 5
32
Semester Hrs:Gen Ed Wellness Literacy1
33
16Gen Ed Placeholder 63
34
Legal Studies course 23X*Please see Concentration Course Information below. Take at least one [WID] course.
35
Power & Politics course 13X*Please see Concentration Course Information below. Take at least one [WID] course.
36
Theory Course3XChoose from list on the POS.
37
Minor Course 33
38
Semester 6
39
Semester Hrs:CJ/PS 31154
40
13Cross-Cultural / Intn'l course 23X*Please see Concentration Course Information below. Take at least one [WID] course.
41
Power & Politics course 23X*Please see Concentration Course Information below. Take at least one [WID] course.
42
Minor Course 43
43
Semester 7
44
Semester Hrs:International & Comparative Course3XChoose from list on the POS
45
15Legal Studies Course 33X*Please see Concentration Course Information below. Take at least one [WID] course.
46
Institutions & Gov Course 23X*Please see Concentration Course Information below. Take at least one [WID] course.
47
Minor Course 53
48
[FAD] or Free Elective 3See [FAD] Foundations of American Democracy in the notes below.
49
Semester 8
50
Semester Hrs:PS 48001X[CAP]
51
15Minor Course 63If needed for 18 hr minor. Otherwise Free Elective.
52
Minor Course 73If needed for 21 hr minor. Otherwise Free Elective
53
Free Electives8**Take enough free elective hours to meet the minimum 120 required to earn a degree.**
54
55
Total Hours120Program of Study (POS)
56
57
General Requirements Summary
58
Minimum Total HoursGen Ed. HoursMajor GPAOverall GPAWriting
59
120412.002.00RC 1000 and RC 2001
60
61
General Education Requirements - 41 Semester Hours Total
62
Program CategoriesHoursImportant Notes – Be sure to check for Gen Ed courses required in your major
63
First Year Seminar3Can be taken first or second semester of freshman year.
64
Wellness Literacy2
65
Quantitative Literacy4
66
First Year Writing3Can be taken first or second semester of freshman year
67
Sophomore Writing3
68
Humanity and Its Systems (HUM), Intercultural Literacy (ICL) and Sustainability & Climate Literacy (SCL)18Choose at least one course from each of the three categories. As part of those course choices, be sure to also choose at least one course for each of the 4 required designations [(FA), (LS), (HS), (SS)].
69
Science Inquiry8It is possible to take up to 10 hours of Science Inquiry courses, depending upon your choice of science. 8 hours is the minimum requirement. If you take a 10 hour science sequence, you will have 2 fewer Free Elective hours needed to reach 120 total hours.
70
Total:41
71
72
You must also meet the Fine Arts, Literary Studies, Historical Studies, and the Social Science Designation requirements. Those should be met within the courses students choose for the SCL, HUM or ICL course requirements. The FAD (Foundations of American Democracy) course can be taken as part of General Education coursework, Major coursework or Minor coursework.
73
74
Foundations of American Democracy
75
The [FAD] requirement may be fulfilled with General Education Courses, Major Courses or Minor Courses. Which one is best for a student will depend upon their chosen major/minor. A list of courses that will fulfill this requirement can be found here: LINK to Foundations of American Democracy Information. The General Education Checksheet shows these courses with an American Flag icon.
76
77
78
79
80
Additional Notes:
81
Major GPA Information Major GPA calculation will include all courses taken in the major discipline, plus any other courses under Major Requirements.
82
Concentration Course InformationThe Legal Studies concentration requires a minimum of 27 hours from 4 distinct areas: Legal Studies (9 hr - 3 classes), Cross cultural competency & international relations (6 hr - 2 classes), Institutions & Government (6 hr - 2 classes), Power & Politics (6 hr - 2 classes). Please find the list of courses allowed in each area on the POS. Remember a course can only count one time in the major, so if a course is used in one section of the major it cannot be also used in another. Sharing with the minor, however, is allowed.
83
WID Course InformationCourses with the [WID] designation are PS 3280, PS 3320, PS 3370, PS 3550, PS 3555, PS 3565, PS 3570, PS 3600, PS 4230, PS 4723, & PS 4748.
84
85
Residency Requirements:
86
30 hours overall must be from App State
87
18 hours in the major must be from App State
88
9 hours in the minor must be from App State
89
90
Please consult with your advisor to ensure you will complete the appropriate number of free electives as needed to reach the 120 total hours required for your degree.
91
92