Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog | 2021-2022 
    
Undergraduate Catalog | 2021-2022 Previous Edition

Political Science, Comprehensive Social Studies Teacher Licensure, B.A.


The Department of Political Science and Public Administration, in collaboration with the College of Education, offers a concentration to a North Carolina Teaching License in Social Studies. The coursework for this program includes 30 credit hours of coursework in political science (which is close to the 32 credit hours in education supervised by the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K-12 Education), and up to 21 credit hours of content in other social science disciplines. Students interested in teacher licensure should declare their intent with the Department of Political Science and Public Administration as soon as possible to prevent unnecessary delays.

Admission Requirements


Freshmen and Transfers

  • Minimum GPA: 2.0
  • Declaration of Major: Teaching license orientation/advising session required upon declaration of major
  • Transferable Credit Hours: 24

Degree Requirements


General Education Courses (37-41 credit hours)


For details on required courses, refer to the General Education Program .

Foreign Language Requirement (0-8 credit hours)


For details, refer to the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Foreign Language Requirement  . 

Restricted Elective Courses (9-10 credit hours)


Select at least one course from each list. 

Methods Course (3-4 credit hours)


Select one of the following. POLS 2220  should be taken unless there is a double major, as indicated.  POLS 2220  and one of the Senior Courses listed below fulfill the writing intensive courses (W) required for graduation. If an equivalent social science methods course is taken that is not a writing intensive course, then another writing intensive course will need to be taken.

Non-Western Political Science Course (3 credit hours)


Select a minimum of one of the following:

Senior Course (3 credit hours)


Select one of the following:

Unrestricted Political Science Elective Courses (8-9 credit hours)


Select any POLS courses to achieve a total of 30 credit hours in POLS courses.  No more than 9 credit hours from POLS 3400 , POLS 3800 , POLS 4110 , and POLS 4163  may be used to fulfill major requirements.

Social Studies Courses (18 credit hours)


Minor in Secondary Education (32 credit hours)


Students must have a Minor in Secondary Education  to obtain teaching licensure. See the College of Education  section of this Catalog for details on the requirements for the minor.

Licensure applications are the responsibility of the student and the Office of Teacher Education Advising and Licensure (TEAL) in the College of Education.

Degree Total = 120 Credit Hours


Grade Requirements


Students must obtain a cumulative GPA of 2.7 for admission to the College of Education. To complete the program, students must earn a grade of C or above in all Political Science, Social Studies background, and Education courses; earn a GPA of 2.75 or better in Political Science and Social Studies background courses; and earn a GPA of 2.75 or above in all Education courses.

Honors Program


For details about the Political Science Honors Program, visit the program page