Stark State's associate of arts degree concentration in political science builds a strong foundation in government, politics, and public administration while preparing you to transfer to a four-year university. Through hands-on learning and flexible electives, you’ll develop critical thinking skills and gain the knowledge needed for further study or entry-level roles in state and local government.
Major code: 1315 Health and Public Services Division Human Services and Justice Studies Department
The catalog in force is assigned to students based on the academic year they first applied to the college, and changes only when students change their major or request the change in writing. Refer to Policy No. 3357:15-13-28.
2026-27 Catalog
Effective Summer 2026
Some courses listed within the program may require a prerequisite or co-requisite.
Pre/Co-requisites will be listed within each course hyperlink below.
Refer to Policy No. 3357:15-13-04 and 3357:15-13-05
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman Experience | ||
| SSC101 | Student Success Seminar | 1 |
| Computer Applications | ||
| ITD122 | Computer Applications for Professionals | 3 |
| English Composition & Oral Communications | ||
| Select 6 credits minimum of the following: | 6 | |
| College Composition (required) | ||
| Technical Report Writing | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Effective Speaking | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Small Group Communication | ||
| Mathematics, Statistics and Logic | ||
| Select 3 credits minimum of the following: | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Statistics | ||
| College Algebra | ||
| Arts & Humanities | ||
| Select 6 credits minimum across two disciplines of the following: | 6 | |
| British Literature: Medieval to 1785 | ||
| British Literature: 1785 to Present | ||
| American Literature: Colonial to 1865 | ||
| American Literature: 1865 to Present | ||
| United States History I to 1877 | ||
| United States History II from 1877 | ||
| World Civilization to 17th Century | ||
| World Civilization from 17th Century | ||
| Ethics | ||
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits minimum across two disciplines of the following: | 6 | |
| General Psychology | ||
| Industrial/Organizational Psychology | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Sociology | ||
| Society and Technology | ||
| Dynamics of the Family | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| Diversity in American Society | ||
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits minimum (1 lab course required) of the following: | 6 | |
| Anatomy and Physiology I (lab) | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology II (lab) | ||
| Environmental Science (lab) | ||
| Human Biology (lab) | ||
| Climate Studies (lab) | ||
| Meteorology (lab) | ||
| Ocean Studies (lab) | ||
| General Biology I (lab) | ||
| General Biology II (lab) | ||
| Exploring Science and Technology (lab) | ||
| Introduction to Chemistry | ||
| Introduction to Forensic Science (lab) | ||
| General Organic and Biological Chemistry | ||
| Biochemistry I | ||
| General Chemistry I (lab) | ||
| General Chemistry II (lab) | ||
| Forensic Chemistry (lab) | ||
| Principles of Physics (lab) | ||
| College Physics I with Algebra (lab) | ||
| College Physics II with Algebra (lab) | ||
| Astronomy (lab) | ||
| Core Concentration - Political Science | ||
| PSC121 | United States Government and Politics | 3 |
| PSC130 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| PSC140 | Comparative Government and Politics | 3 |
| PSC221 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| PSC230 | Introduction to Political Thought | 3 |
| Select one of the following electives: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Law and Legal System | ||
| Government & Legal Ethics | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| Human Services and Justice Studies Practicum and Seminar | ||
| Additional Electives to Complete Degree | ||
| Students may select additional courses from above and/or choose from the list below. | ||
| American Sign Language I | ||
| American Sign Language II | ||
| American Sign Language III | ||
| Microeconomics | ||
| Macroeconomics | ||
| CJS121 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJS124 | POLICING | 3 |
| CJS129 | Corrections | 3 |
| CJS221 | Criminology | 3 |
| Criminal Law in the United States | ||
| Criminal Procedure | ||
| Persuasion | ||
| Writing for Media | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Business Communication | ||
| Elementary Spanish I | ||
| Elementary Spanish II | ||
| Study Away: Experiential Learning | ||
| Total Hours | 61 | |
Full-Time Student Advising Notes
Academic Advising
Students should make appointments to meet with their advisors before registering for classes each semester. The student should determine his or her course preferences for the semester prior to this meeting.
Course Sequence
The semester-by-semester listing below provides the normal scheduling option for full-time associate degree students who plan to finish the degree in two years.
Selection of Elective Courses
Self-selection of courses and not following the approved degree program could adversely affect graduation, transfer to a 4-year institution, and financial aid. Visit u-select at http://www.transfer.org/uselect to assist in developing a plan for transferring to another college or university.
Students should select Ohio Transfer Module approved and TAG approved courses.
Bachelor’s Degree
Bachelor’s degree requirements and course transferability are controlled by the institution to which the student plans to transfer.
| First Semester | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| SSC101 | Student Success Seminar | 1 |
| ENG124 | College Composition | 3 |
| ITD122 | Computer Applications for Professionals | 3 |
| PSC121 | United States Government and Politics | 3 |
| Arts Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Mathematics, Statistics and Logic Elective | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PSC130 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| PSC140 | Comparative Government and Politics | 3 |
| Social Behavioral Sciences Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 1-5 | |
| Arts Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 1-5 | |
| Hours | 14-22 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| PSC221 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Natural Sciences Elective | 3-5 | |
| Elective | 3-5 | |
| Hours | 12-16 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| PSC230 | Introduction to Political Thought | 3 |
| Elective | 1-5 | |
| Natural Sciences Elective | 3-5 | |
| Political Science Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 10-16 | |
| Total Hours | 52-71 | |
Arts and Humanities Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG233 | British Literature: Medieval to 1785 | 3 |
| ENG234 | British Literature: 1785 to Present | 3 |
| ENG236 | American Literature: Colonial to 1865 | 3 |
| ENG237 | American Literature: 1865 to Present | 3 |
| HIS121 | United States History I to 1877 | 3 |
| HIS122 | United States History II from 1877 | 3 |
| HIS221 | World Civilization to 17th Century | 3 |
| HIS222 | World Civilization from 17th Century | 3 |
| PHL122 | Ethics | 3 |
Natural Sciences Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO121 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO122 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIO126 | Environmental Science | 4 |
| BIO127 | Human Biology | 4 |
| BIO128 | Climate Studies | 3 |
| BIO129 | Meteorology | 3 |
| BIO130 | Ocean Studies | 3 |
| BIO141 | General Biology I | 4 |
| BIO142 | General Biology II | 4 |
| CHM100 | Exploring Science and Technology | 4 |
| CHM101 | Introduction to Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM105 | Introduction to Forensic Science | 3 |
| CHM123 | General Organic and Biological Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM243 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| CHM141 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHM142 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| CHM205 | Forensic Chemistry | 4 |
| PHY101 | Principles of Physics | 4 |
| PHY105 | Astronomy | 4 |
| PHY121 | College Physics I with Algebra | 4 |
| PHY122 | College Physics II with Algebra | 4 |
English Composition & Oral Communication Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COM121 | Effective Speaking | 3 |
| COM122 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COM123 | Small Group Communication | 3 |
| ENG124 | College Composition (required) | 3 |
| ENG221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| ENG231 | College Composition II | 3 |
Social & Behavioral Sciences Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY121 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSY124 | Industrial/Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| PSY220 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY221 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| SOC121 | Sociology | 3 |
| SOC122 | Society and Technology | 3 |
| SOC123 | Dynamics of the Family | 3 |
| SOC221 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC225 | Diversity in American Society | 3 |
Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ASL122 | American Sign Language I | 4 |
| ASL124 | American Sign Language II | 4 |
| ASL221 | American Sign Language III | 4 |
| BUS221 | Microeconomics | 3 |
| BUS222 | Macroeconomics | 3 |
| CJS121 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJS124 | POLICING | 3 |
| CJS129 | Corrections | 3 |
| CJS221 | Criminology | 3 |
| CJS222 | Criminal Law in the United States | 3 |
| CJS223 | Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| COM229 | Persuasion | 3 |
| ENG227 | Writing for Media | 3 |
| ENG229 | Grant Writing | 3 |
| ENG230 | Business Communication | 3 |
| SPN100 | Elementary Spanish I | 4 |
| SPN200 | Elementary Spanish II | 4 |
| SSC201 | Study Away: Experiential Learning | 1 |
| Elective from other lists | 3-5 | |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MTH118 | Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| MTH124 | Statistics | 3 |
| MTH125 | College Algebra | 4 |
Program Learning Outcomes
This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate knowledge of state, local, and national government; political theory; comparative government and politics, and public administration.
- Understand the importance of working effectively, ethically, and professionally in the field of politics and political science