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Four-Year GuidePolitical ScienceBA271A2025-26Appalachian 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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16Gen Ed Quantitative 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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Free Elective3
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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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Gen Ed Placeholder 33See General Education Requirements section below.
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Statistics Course Choice3XIf STT 2820 (4 hours) taken for Quantitative Literacy, take a free elective here. See list of options in POS.
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Minor Course 13Minor is required with this degree.
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Semester 3
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Semester Hrs:Gen Ed Placeholder 43See General Education Requirements section below.
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14Gen Ed Science Inquiry4
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Gen Ed Wellness Literacy1
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Beginning Foreign Language Course 13*See POS for information on Foreign Language options
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PS Area Option Course 13X***See PS Area Options Information below. Include at least one [WID] course in your degree plan.
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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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Beginning Foreign Language Course 23*See POS for information on Foreign Language options
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Political Science Elective 13X**See Political Science Electives Information below. Include at least one [WID] course in your degree plan.
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Minor Course 23
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Semester 5
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Semester Hrs:Gen Ed Placeholder 53See General Education Requirements section below.
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16Intermediate Foreign Language Course 13
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CJ/PS 31154X
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Political Science Elective 23X**See Political Science Electives Information below.
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Minor Course 33
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Semester 6
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Semester Hrs:Gen Ed Placeholder 63
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15Intermediate Foreign Language Course 23
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Political Science Elective 33X**See Political Science Electives Information below.
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PS Area Option Course 23X***See PS Area Options Information below. Include at least one [WID] course in your degree plan.
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Minor Course 43
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Semester 7
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Semester Hrs:Political Science Elective 43X**See Political Science Electives Information below.
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15PS Area Option Course 33X***See PS Area Options Information below. Include at least one [WID] course in your degree plan.
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Minor Course 53
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Minor Course 63If needed for 18 hour minor. Otherwise, free elective.
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[FAD] or Free Elective3See [FAD] Foundations of American Democracy in the notes below.
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Semester 8
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Semester Hrs:PS 48001X[CAP]
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13Political Science Elective 53X**See Political Science Electives Information below.
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PS Area Option Course 43X***See PS Area Options Information below. Include at least one [WID] course in your degree plan.
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Minor Course 73If needed for 21 hour minor. Otherwise, free elective.
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Free Elective3Take enough electives to reach the minimum 120 hour required 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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**Political Science Electives Information15 hours total. May choose any Political Science (PS) course but should consider taking a Political Science [WID], Writing in the Discipline, course as part of these electives or as part of the Area options courses.
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***PS Area Options Information12 hours total. Students will choose one course each form four of the areas listed on the POS.
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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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