Political Science (International Relations Concentration), BA

This program is available in the following Florida campuses:

Flagship Residential Campus

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science explores government policy, processes, political campaigning, political theory, legal studies, and international relations. The degree has a strong liberal arts and research focus designed to prepare students for graduate level training in a variety of disciplines along with entry-level work in a host of disparate fields. This is a broad-spectrum program that introduces students to the general study of the field of political science.  The concentration in International Affairs is offered at the Flagship Campus only and is suited for students who wish to pursue more focused studies in foreign policy, international organizations, war and diplomacy. Students will examine how governments interact with one another on the world stage, including how nations interact and cooperate in times of peace and times of war, how leaders and countries strategize and make decisions, and how economics interact with politics in order to shape policy outcomes. This program is designed for students with an interest in public policy, international organizations, and foreign affairs, as well as those seeking an academic foundation for work in political campaigns, think tanks, or the legal profession.

Program Objectives

The following objectives are designed to meet Keiser University’s mission and its goals:

• Explain the functions of government in American society and the global community;
• Explain the differences between various government and economic systems;
• Apply a framework for understanding the political, economic, social, historical, and philosophical underpinnings of various political theories;
• Analyze the role of US foreign policy in the world today;
• Analyze the ways in which countries interact in times of war and times of peace;
• Understand the stressors that population, natural resources, and environmental issues have on political frameworks;
• Analyze the role of mass media in the political system;
• Analyze regional tensions and regional powers in order to explain their significance to global relations;
• Analyze how politics and economics interact in order to shape policy outcomes;
• Develop an understanding of APA format and writing in the field of political science.

Prerequisites for Major Courses

Completion of all lower level courses with a C or better.

The following lower division courses, if not taken as part of an associate’s program, must be successfully completed before beginning upper division major courses (Course equivalency is established by the dean of academic affairs from official transcripts received from regionally accredited institutions):

• Environmental Science
• Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics
• Macroeconomics
• English Composition II
• International Relations
• College Algebra OR College Mathematics OR Applications of Mathematics
• Political Science
• Intro to Political Theory
• Statistics

Program Outline

To receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a Concentration in International Relations, students must complete 120 credit hours as described below. The length of this program is approximately 40 months (this will vary if a student transfers in credits).