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Four-Year GuidePolitical Science, International & Comparative PoliticsBS272D2025-26Appalachian State University
College of Arts & Sciences
Department of Government & Justice Studies
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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.
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Semester HoursCourse NameCredit HrMin GradeIn Major GPAImportant Notes
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Semester 1
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Semester Hrs:UCO 12003
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16Quantitative Literacy4STT 2820 meets this requirement and the STT course requirement in semester 2.
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Gen Ed Placeholder 13See General Education Requirements section below.
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PS 11003X
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PS 21203X
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Semester 2
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Semester Hrs:RC 10003
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15Gen Ed Placeholder 23See General Education Requirements section below.
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Statistics Course Choice3XIf STT 2820 taken for Quantitative Literacy, take a free elective here. See list of options in POS
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PS 22403X
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Minor Course 13
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Semester 3
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Semester Hrs:Gen Ed Science Inquiry 4
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14Gen Ed Placeholder 33See General Education Requirements section below.
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Gen Ed Wellness Literacy1
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Concentration Course 13X*Please see Intn'l & Comparative Politics Concentration Information below.
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Minor Course 23
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Semester 4
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Semester Hrs:RC 20013
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16Gen Ed Science Inquiry4
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Concentration Course 23X*Please see Intn'l & Comparative Politics Concentration Information below.
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Free Elective Course3
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Minor Course 33
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Semester 5
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Semester Hrs:Gen Ed Placeholder 43See General Education Requirements section below.
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Gen Ed Wellness Literacy1
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16Concentration Course 33X*Please see Intn'l & Comparative Politics Concentration Information below.
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Political Science Elective 13XChoose in consultation with an advisor. 6 hr total.
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Theory Course3X
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Minor Course 43
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Semester 6
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Semester Hrs:Gen Ed Placeholder 53See General Education Requirements section below.
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16PS/CJ 31154
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Political Science Elective 23Choose in consultation with an advisor. 6 hr total.
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Free Elective 3
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Minor Course 53
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Semester 7
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Semester Hrs:Gen Ed Placeholder 6See General Education Requirements section below.
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12International Relations Crs 13XChoose from list on POS
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Comparative Politics Course 13XChoose from list on POS
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Minor Course 63If needed for 18 hr minor. Otherwise take free elective.
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Writing in the Discipline 3[WID] choices listed on POS.
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Semester 8
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Semester Hrs:PS 48001X[CAP]
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15International Relations Crs 23XChoose from list on POS
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Comparative Politics Course 23XChoose from list on POS
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Minor Course 73If needed for 21 hr minor. Otherwise take free elective.
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[FAD] or Free Elective 3See [FAD] Foundations of American Democracy in the notes below.
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Free Elective2Take enough free elective hours to reach the minimum of 120 hours needed to earn a degree.
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Total Hours120Program of Study (POS)
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General Requirements Summary
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Minimum Total HoursGen Ed. HoursMajor GPAOverall GPAWriting
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120412.002.00RC 1000 and RC 2001
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General Education Requirements - 41 Semester Hours Total
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Program CategoriesHoursImportant Notes – Be sure to check for Gen Ed courses required in your major
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First Year Seminar3Can be taken first or second semester of freshman year.
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Wellness Literacy2
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Quantitative Literacy4
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First Year Writing3Can be taken first or second semester of freshman year
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Sophomore Writing3
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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)].
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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.
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Total:41
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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.
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Foundations of American Democracy
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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.
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Additional Notes:
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Major GPA InformationMajor GPA calculation will include all courses taken in the major discipline, plus any other courses under Major Requirements.
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Concentration Requirements9 - 18 hours of concentration courses (minimum is 9). Students need to take classes drawn from one or more disciplines outside Political Science (except in the case of an internship). Students select courses in consultation with the assigned departmental advisor for this specific concentration. Courses not listed on the POS may be included in the concentration with the consent of the advisor and department chair. Concentration often includes an internship or a study abroad experience. Students may choose additional courses from the concentration area as Free Electives if they wish.
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Minor RequirementA minor is required with this degree.
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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.
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Residency Requirements:
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30 hours overall must be from App State
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18 hours in the major must be from App State
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9 hours in the minor must be from App State
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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.
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