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Political Science (A.A.)

Associate Degree
College of Western Idaho
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Instruction Method
Online
Time to Degree
2 years
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About the Program

Political Science deals with the theory and practice of politics and the analysis of political behavior. Students who select this field of study will work in the four major areas of political science (American government, international relations, comparative politics, and political philosophy) and will obtain the comprehensive foundation of knowledge that is necessary for successful transfer to a four-year university program.

Completion of the program is designed to result in an Associate of Arts degree and meets the general-education requirements of all Idaho public universities. Course selection should be coordinated to meet requirements for your intended transfer institution, if known. Political Scientists often pursue careers in the following fields: law, government, business, international and national organizations, diplomacy, and education.

Program Requirements

  • Gem 1 Written Communication complete the following 2 requirements
    6 credits
    Complete ENGL-101.
    ENGL101 - Writing and Rhetoric I
    3 credits
    ENGL101P - Writing and Rhetoric I
    3 credits
    Complete ENGL-102.
    ENGL102 - Writing and Rhetoric II
    3 credits
  • GEM 2 Oral Communication take 2 credits, take at least 1 course
    2 credits
    Complete one GEM 2 course.
    COMM100 - Communication Matters
    2 credits
    COMM101 - Fund of Oral Communication
    3 credits
    COMM112 - Argumentation and Debate
    3 credits
  • GEM 3 Mathematical Ways of Knowing take 3 credits, take at least 1 course
    3 credits
    Complete 3 credits of GEM 3. (Both MATH-118 and MATH-118L must be completed to count as GEM 3.)
    FINA109 - Pers. Finance & Business Math
    3 credits
    MATH118 - Technical Math
    2 credits
    MATH118L - Technical Math Lab
    1 credit
    MATH123 - Math in Modern Society
    3 credits
    MATH123P - Math in Modern Society
    3 credits
    MATH130 - Finite Mathematics
    4 credits
    MATH143 - College Algebra
    3 credits
    MATH143P - College Algebra
    3 credits
    MATH147 - College Algebra & Trigonometry
    5 credits
    MATH153 - Statistical Reasoning
    3 credits
    MATH153P - Statistical Reasoning
    3 credits
    MATH160 - Survey of Calculus
    4 credits
    MATH170 - Calculus I
    5 credits
    MATH257 - Math for Elem Teachers II
    4 credits
  • GEM 4 Scientific Ways of Knowing complete the following 2 requirements
    7 credits
    Complete two GEM 4 courses from different disciplines. One course MUST include a lab component.
    AGRI109 - Principles of Animal Science
    3 credits
    ANTH103 - Intro to Archaeology
    3 credits
    ANTH104 - Biological Anthropology
    3 credits
    BIOL100 - Concepts of Biology
    3 credits
    BIOL111 - Biology I
    3 credits
    BIOL127 - Human Structure and Function
    3 credits
    BIOL227 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I
    3 credits
    BIOL227P - Human Anatomy & Physiology I
    3 credits
    CHEM100 - Concepts of Chemistry
    3 credits
    CHEM101 - Intro to Chemistry
    3 credits
    CHEM102 - Essntls of Organic & Biochem
    4 credits
    CHEM111 - General Chemistry I
    3 credits
    ENVI100 - Environmental Science
    3 credits
    EXHS270 - Motor Learning
    3 credits
    FERM120 - Introduction to Fermented Food
    3 credits
    GEOG100 - Physical Geography
    3 credits
    GEOG270 - Global Climate Change
    3 credits
    GEOL101 - Physical Geology
    3 credits
    GEOL102 - Historical Geology
    3 credits
    GEOL104 - Natural Disasters and Env Geology
    3 credits
    GEOL105 - Earth's Natural Resources
    3 credits
    GEOS270 - Global Climate Change
    3 credits
    HLTH220 - Fundamentals of Nutrition
    3 credits
    MMBS111 - Introductory Microbiology
    3 credits
    PHYS100 - Survey of Physics
    3 credits
    PHYS101 - Survey of Astronomy
    3 credits
    PHYS111 - General Physics I
    3 credits
    PHYS112 - General Physics II
    3 credits
    PHYS211 - Phys Scientists & Engineers I
    4 credits
    SCIE101 - Foundations of Science
    3 credits
    Take 1 course from the following 21
    AGRI109L - Princ of Animal Science Lab
    1 credit
    BIOL100L - Concepts of Biology Lab
    1 credit
    BIOL111L - Biology I Lab
    1 credit
    BIOL127L - Human Structure & Function Lab
    1 credit
    BIOL227L - Human Anat and Phys I Lab
    1 credit
    CHEM100L - Concepts of Chemistry Lab
    1 credit
    CHEM101L - Intro to Chemistry Lab
    1 credit
    CHEM102L - Esstl of Organic & Biochem Lab
    1 credit
    CHEM111L - General Chemistry I Lab
    1 credit
    ENVI100L - Environmental Science Lab
    1 credit
    EXHS270L - Motor Learning Lab
    1 credit
    GEOG100L - Physical Geography Lab
    1 credit
    GEOL101L - Physical Geology Lab
    1 credit
    GEOL102L - Historical Geology Lab
    1 credit
    GEOL104L - Nat Disasters & Env Geol Lab
    1 credit
    MMBS111L - Introductory Microbiology Lab
    1 credit
    PHYS100L - Survey of Physics Lab
    1 credit
    PHYS101L - Survey of Astronomy Lab
    1 credit
    PHYS111L - General Physics I Lab
    1 credit
    PHYS112L - General Physics II Lab
    1 credit
    PHYS211L - Phys Scientsts & Enginrs I Lab
    1 credit
  • GEM 5 Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing take 6 credits, take at least 2 courses, in 2 different fields
    6 credits
    Complete two GEM 5 courses from different disciplines.
    ARTS101 - Prehistoric to Medieval Art
    3 credits
    ARTS102 - Renaissnce to Modrn Art in Wst
    3 credits
    ARTS105 - Intro to 2-D Art Foundations
    3 credits
    ARTS106 - Intro to 3-D Art Foundations
    3 credits
    ENGL175 - Literature and Ideas
    3 credits
    ENGL215 - Survey of World Mythology
    3 credits
    ENGL230 - Multicultural American Lit
    3 credits
    ENGL257 - Survey of Western World Lit I
    3 credits
    ENGL258 - Survey of Western World Lit II
    3 credits
    ENGL267 - Survey of British Literature I
    3 credits
    ENGL268 - Survey of British Lit II
    3 credits
    ENGL277 - Survey of American Lit I
    3 credits
    ENGL278 - Survey of American Lit II
    3 credits
    FILM110 - Introduction to Film Studies
    3 credits
    FREN101 - Elementary French I
    4 credits
    FREN102 - Elementary French II
    4 credits
    FREN201 - Intermediate French I
    4 credits
    HIST103 - Western Civilization I
    3 credits
    HIST104 - Western Civilization II
    3 credits
    HUMA101 - Prehistory to Renaissance
    3 credits
    HUMA102 - Humanities: Baroque to Modern
    3 credits
    JAPN101 - Elementary Japanese I
    4 credits
    JAPN102 - Elementary Japanese II
    4 credits
    MUSI100 - Introduction to Music
    3 credits
    MUSI108 - Survey of Jazz & Pop Music
    3 credits
    PHIL101 - Introduction to Philosophy
    3 credits
    PHIL103 - Intro to Ethics
    3 credits
    SIGL101 - American Sign Language I
    4 credits
    SIGL102 - American Sign Language II
    4 credits
    SIGL201 - American Sign Language III
    4 credits
    SIGL202 - American Sign Language IV
    4 credits
    SPAN101 - Elementary Spanish I
    4 credits
    SPAN102 - Elementary Spanish II
    4 credits
    SPAN111 - Spanish for Healthcare
    4 credits
    SPAN201 - Intermediate Spanish I
    4 credits
    SPAN202 - Intermediate Spanish II
    4 credits
    THEA101 - Theatre Appreciation
    3 credits
  • GEM 6 Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing complete the following 2 requirements
    6 credits
    Complete the GEM 6 course listed below.
    POLS101 - American National Government
    3 credits
    Complete one GEM 6 course from a different discipline.
    ANTH102 - Cultural Anthropology
    3 credits
    CRIJ101 - Intro to Criminal Justice
    3 credits
    CRIJ103 - Intro to Law & Justice
    3 credits
    ECON201 - Principles of Macroeconomics
    3 credits
    ECON202 - Principles of Microeconomics
    3 credits
    ENGL115 - Rhetoric and Popular Culture
    3 credits
    EXHS155 - Health & Wellness
    3 credits
    GEOG102 - Cultural Geography
    3 credits
    GEOG200 - World Regional Geography
    3 credits
    HIST101 - World History I
    3 credits
    HIST102 - World History II
    3 credits
    HIST111 - United States History I
    3 credits
    HIST112 - United States History II
    3 credits
    PHIL111 - World Religions
    3 credits
    PSYC101 - Introduction to Psychology
    3 credits
    PSYC140 - Human Relations for Success
    3 credits
    PSYC250 - Fund Social Science Research
    4 credits
    SCIE102 - Ethics in Science
    3 credits
    SOC101 - Introduction to Sociology
    3 credits
    SOC102 - Social Problems
    3 credits
    SOC120 - Global Issues
    3 credits
    SOC220 - Sociology of Deviance
    3 credits
  • Ethical Reasoning take 3 credits, take at least 1 course
    3 credits
    Complete three credits of Ethical Reasoning courses (designated by the ** symbol) from: AGRI-120, ENVI-100, EXHS-155, HLTH-280, PHIL-101, PHIL-103, PSYC-250, SCIE-102, or SOC-220. Ethical Reasoning courses will also fulfill GEM 1-6 or Global Perspectives requirements.
    AGRI120 - Global Food Perspectives
    3 credits
    ENVI100 - Environmental Science
    3 credits
    EXHS155 - Health & Wellness
    3 credits
    HLTH280 - Global Health
    3 credits
    PHIL101 - Introduction to Philosophy
    3 credits
    PHIL103 - Intro to Ethics
    3 credits
    PSYC250 - Fund Social Science Research
    4 credits
    SCIE102 - Ethics in Science
    3 credits
    SOC220 - Sociology of Deviance
    3 credits
  • Global Perspectives take 3 credits, take at least 1 course
    3 credits
    Complete three credits from Global Perspectives: AGRI-120**, ANTH-102, ARTS-104, BUSA-256, COMM-160, COMM-259, CRIJ-280, EDUC-200, ENGL-115, ENVI-100**, FILM-121, FREN-102, GEOG-102, GEOG-200, HIST-102, HLTH-280**, JAPN-102, MMBS-106, MUSI-109, PHIL-111, PHLT-110, POLS-221, PSYC-211, PSYC-221, PSYC-231, SIGL-102, SOC-120 or SPAN-102.
    AGRI120 - Global Food Perspectives
    3 credits
    ANTH102 - Cultural Anthropology
    3 credits
    ARTS104 - African, Oceanic & Pre-Clm Art
    3 credits
    BUSA256 - International Business
    3 credits
    COMM160 - Communication and Culture
    3 credits
    COMM259 - Communicating Thru Web Design
    3 credits
    CRIJ280 - Victimology
    3 credits
    EDUC200 - Education Around the World
    3 credits
    ENGL115 - Rhetoric and Popular Culture
    3 credits
    ENVI100 - Environmental Science
    3 credits
    FILM121 - Movies Around the World
    3 credits
    FREN102 - Elementary French II
    4 credits
    GEOG102 - Cultural Geography
    3 credits
    GEOG200 - World Regional Geography
    3 credits
    GEOS105 - Earth's Natural Resources
    3 credits
    HIST102 - World History II
    3 credits
    HLTH280 - Global Health
    3 credits
    JAPN102 - Elementary Japanese II
    4 credits
    MMBS106 - Make Sense of Micro-Biotic-Me
    3 credits
    MUSI109 - Survey of World Music
    3 credits
    PHIL111 - World Religions
    3 credits
    PHLT110 - Lfstyle Diseases & Global Brdn
    3 credits
    POLS221 - Intro to Internat'l Relations
    3 credits
    PSYC211 - Psych Aspects of Dying & Death
    3 credits
    PSYC221 - Gender
    3 credits
    PSYC231 - Human Sexuality
    3 credits
    SIGL102 - American Sign Language II
    4 credits
    SOC120 - Global Issues
    3 credits
    SPAN102 - Elementary Spanish II
    4 credits
  • Connecting With Ideas complete 1 of the following requirements
    3 credits
    Students will need an additional GEM or Global Perspectives course if CWI-101 is not completed for credit, see catalog for options.
    CWI101 - Connecting With Ideas
    3 credits
    Students will need an additional GEM or Global Perspectives course if CWI-101 is not completed for credit, see catalog for options.
    AGRI109 - Principles of Animal Science
    3 credits
    AGRI109L - Princ of Animal Science Lab
    1 credit
    AGRI120 - Global Food Perspectives
    3 credits
    ANTH102 - Cultural Anthropology
    3 credits
    ANTH103 - Intro to Archaeology
    3 credits
    ANTH104 - Biological Anthropology
    3 credits
    ARTS101 - Prehistoric to Medieval Art
    3 credits
    ARTS102 - Renaissnce to Modrn Art in Wst
    3 credits
    ARTS104 - African, Oceanic & Pre-Clm Art
    3 credits
    ARTS105 - Intro to 2-D Art Foundations
    3 credits
    ARTS106 - Intro to 3-D Art Foundations
    3 credits
    BIOL100 - Concepts of Biology
    3 credits
    BIOL100L - Concepts of Biology Lab
    1 credit
    BIOL111 - Biology I
    3 credits
    BIOL111L - Biology I Lab
    1 credit
    BIOL127 - Human Structure and Function
    3 credits
    BIOL127L - Human Structure & Function Lab
    1 credit
    BIOL227 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I
    3 credits
    BIOL227L - Human Anat and Phys I Lab
    1 credit
    BUSA256 - International Business
    3 credits
    CHEM100 - Concepts of Chemistry
    3 credits
    CHEM100L - Concepts of Chemistry Lab
    1 credit
    CHEM101 - Intro to Chemistry
    3 credits
    CHEM101L - Intro to Chemistry Lab
    1 credit
    CHEM102 - Essntls of Organic & Biochem
    4 credits
    CHEM102L - Esstl of Organic & Biochem Lab
    1 credit
    CHEM111 - General Chemistry I
    3 credits
    CHEM111L - General Chemistry I Lab
    1 credit
    COMM100 - Communication Matters
    2 credits
    COMM101 - Fund of Oral Communication
    3 credits
    COMM112 - Argumentation and Debate
    3 credits
    COMM160 - Communication and Culture
    3 credits
    COMM259 - Communicating Thru Web Design
    3 credits
    CRIJ101 - Intro to Criminal Justice
    3 credits
    CRIJ103 - Intro to Law & Justice
    3 credits
    CRIJ280 - Victimology
    3 credits
    CWI101 - Connecting With Ideas
    3 credits
    ECON201 - Principles of Macroeconomics
    3 credits
    ECON202 - Principles of Microeconomics
    3 credits
    EDUC120 - Foundations of Education
    3 credits
    EDUC200 - Education Around the World
    3 credits
    ENGL101 - Writing and Rhetoric I
    3 credits
    ENGL101P - Writing and Rhetoric I
    3 credits
    ENGL102 - Writing and Rhetoric II
    3 credits
    ENGL115 - Rhetoric and Popular Culture
    3 credits
    ENGL175 - Literature and Ideas
    3 credits
    ENGL215 - Survey of World Mythology
    3 credits
    ENGL230 - Multicultural American Lit
    3 credits
    ENGL257 - Survey of Western World Lit I
    3 credits
    ENGL258 - Survey of Western World Lit II
    3 credits
    ENGL267 - Survey of British Literature I
    3 credits
    ENGL268 - Survey of British Lit II
    3 credits
    ENGL277 - Survey of American Lit I
    3 credits
    ENGL278 - Survey of American Lit II
    3 credits
    ENVI100 - Environmental Science
    3 credits
    ENVI100L - Environmental Science Lab
    1 credit
    EXHS155 - Health & Wellness
    3 credits
    EXHS270 - Motor Learning
    3 credits
    EXHS270L - Motor Learning Lab
    1 credit
    FERM120 - Introduction to Fermented Food
    3 credits
    FINA109 - Pers. Finance & Business Math
    3 credits
    FILM110 - Introduction to Film Studies
    3 credits
    FILM121 - Movies Around the World
    3 credits
    FREN101 - Elementary French I
    4 credits
    FREN102 - Elementary French II
    4 credits
    FREN201 - Intermediate French I
    4 credits
    GEOG100 - Physical Geography
    3 credits
    GEOG100L - Physical Geography Lab
    1 credit
    GEOG102 - Cultural Geography
    3 credits
    GEOG200 - World Regional Geography
    3 credits
    GEOG270 - Global Climate Change
    3 credits
    GEOL101 - Physical Geology
    3 credits
    GEOL101L - Physical Geology Lab
    1 credit
    GEOL102 - Historical Geology
    3 credits
    GEOL102L - Historical Geology Lab
    1 credit
    GEOS104 - Natural Disasters & Envir Geol
    3 credits
    GEOS104L - Nat Disasters & Envir Geol Lab
    1 credit
    GEOS105 - Earth's Natural Resources
    3 credits
    GEOS270 - Global Climate Change
    3 credits
    HIST101 - World History I
    3 credits
    HIST102 - World History II
    3 credits
    HIST103 - Western Civilization I
    3 credits
    HIST104 - Western Civilization II
    3 credits
    HIST111 - United States History I
    3 credits
    HIST112 - United States History II
    3 credits
    HLTH220 - Fundamentals of Nutrition
    3 credits
    HLTH280 - Global Health
    3 credits
    HUMA101 - Prehistory to Renaissance
    3 credits
    HUMA102 - Humanities: Baroque to Modern
    3 credits
    JAPN101 - Elementary Japanese I
    4 credits
    JAPN102 - Elementary Japanese II
    4 credits
    MATH118 - Technical Math
    2 credits
    MATH118L - Technical Math Lab
    1 credit
    MATH123 - Math in Modern Society
    3 credits
    MATH123P - Math in Modern Society
    3 credits
    MATH130 - Finite Mathematics
    4 credits
    MATH143 - College Algebra
    3 credits
    MATH143P - College Algebra
    3 credits
    MATH147 - College Algebra & Trigonometry
    5 credits
    MATH153 - Statistical Reasoning
    3 credits
    MATH153P - Statistical Reasoning
    3 credits
    MATH160 - Survey of Calculus
    4 credits
    MATH170 - Calculus I
    5 credits
    MATH257 - Math for Elem Teachers II
    4 credits
    MMBS106 - Make Sense of Micro-Biotic-Me
    3 credits
    MMBS111 - Introductory Microbiology
    3 credits
    MMBS111L - Introductory Microbiology Lab
    1 credit
    MUSI100 - Introduction to Music
    3 credits
    MUSI108 - Survey of Jazz & Pop Music
    3 credits
    MUSI109 - Survey of World Music
    3 credits
    PHIL101 - Introduction to Philosophy
    3 credits
    PHIL103 - Intro to Ethics
    3 credits
    PHIL111 - World Religions
    3 credits
    PHLT110 - Lfstyle Diseases & Global Brdn
    3 credits
    PHYS100 - Survey of Physics
    3 credits
    PHYS100L - Survey of Physics Lab
    1 credit
    PHYS101 - Survey of Astronomy
    3 credits
    PHYS101L - Survey of Astronomy Lab
    1 credit
    PHYS111 - General Physics I
    3 credits
    PHYS111L - General Physics I Lab
    1 credit
    PHYS112 - General Physics II
    3 credits
    PHYS112L - General Physics II Lab
    1 credit
    PHYS211 - Phys Scientists & Engineers I
    4 credits
    PHYS211L - Phys Scientsts & Enginrs I Lab
    1 credit
    POLS101 - American National Government
    3 credits
    POLS102 - Intro to Political Science
    3 credits
    POLS221 - Intro to Internat'l Relations
    3 credits
    PSYC101 - Introduction to Psychology
    3 credits
    PSYC140 - Human Relations for Success
    3 credits
    PSYC211 - Psych Aspects of Dying & Death
    3 credits
    PSYC221 - Gender
    3 credits
    PSYC231 - Human Sexuality
    3 credits
    PSYC250 - Fund Social Science Research
    4 credits
    SCIE101 - Foundations of Science
    3 credits
    SCIE102 - Ethics in Science
    3 credits
    SIGL101 - American Sign Language I
    4 credits
    SIGL102 - American Sign Language II
    4 credits
    SIGL201 - American Sign Language III
    4 credits
    SIGL202 - American Sign Language IV
    4 credits
    SOC101 - Introduction to Sociology
    3 credits
    SOC102 - Social Problems
    3 credits
    SOC120 - Global Issues
    3 credits
    SOC220 - Sociology of Deviance
    3 credits
    SPAN101 - Elementary Spanish I
    4 credits
    SPAN102 - Elementary Spanish II
    4 credits
    SPAN111 - Spanish for Healthcare
    4 credits
    SPAN201 - Intermediate Spanish I
    4 credits
    SPAN202 - Intermediate Spanish II
    4 credits
    THEA101 - Theatre Appreciation
    3 credits
  • Major Requirements complete the following 3 requirements
    9 credits
    Complete the following course:
    POLS102 - Intro to Political Science
    3 credits
    Complete POLS-210 or POLS-221.
    POLS210 - Intro to Comparative Politics
    3 credits
    POLS221 - Intro to Internat'l Relations
    3 credits
    Complete POLS-230 or POLS-240.
    POLS230 - Political Philosophy
    3 credits
    POLS240 - American Constitutional Fndtns
    3 credits
  • Major Electives
    15 credits
Grand Total Credits
60

* Please note that you must meet with an advisor each semester in order to verify degree completion time as well as online course offerings for the program requirements.