Department of Political Science, International Development and International Affairs

Edward Sayre, Chair
118 College Drive, Box 5108
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4735

M.Bekafigo, D. Butler, S. Collins, T. Gibson, T. Green, K. Greene, T. Lansford, J. Michael Lavender, A. McBride, S. Naghshpour, W. Newman, R. Pauly, N. Phan, B. Press,
E. Sayre, M. Steedman, J.J. St. Marie, J. Weinberg

Political Science Program

Joseph Weinberg, Director
601.266.4797

The Department of Political Science offers a major and minor in political science and advising in pre-law. Additionally, we offer majors in Economics, Paralegal Studies, and American Studies; we also offer minors in Legal Studies, Human Rights, and Campaigns and Elections plus graduate degrees in Political Science and International Development. The graduate degrees are described in the Graduate Bulletin.

The Political Science program is designed to prepare students for graduate school and law school as well as careers in government, international service or employment in the private sector.

Graduation with a BA in political science requires 124 hours, including the College of Arts and Letters general education curriculum, completion through the 202 level (up to 12 hours) in a single foreign language, 36 hours in major courses, and at least 18 hours in a minor field. In addition to PS 101 - American Government , PS 201 - Great Issues of Politics and PS 491 - Proseminar in Political Science , the BA degree requires completion of at least one course from each of the four areas of political science (American political, political theory, global politics, and public law/administration) plus five more courses in at least two of the four areas. Each student is required to take at least two writing-intensive courses in the major or minor field. A 2.0 cumalative GPA in major courses is required for graduation.

Graduation with a BS in political science requires 124 hours, including the College of Arts and Letters general education curriculum, completion through the 102 level (up to 6 hours) in a single foreign language, 39 hours in major courses, and at least 18 hours in a minor field. In addition to PS 101 - American Government , PS 201 - Great Issues of Politics , PS 211 - Political Research , PS 212 - Political Analysis and PS 491 - Proseminar in Political Science , the political major must take at least one course from each of the four areas of political science (American political, political theory, global politics, and public law/administration). Each BS major must also complete four more courses in at least two of the four areas of political science. Each student is also required to take at least two writing-intensive courses in the major or minor field. A 2.0 cumalative GPA in major courses is required for graduation.

The Four Areas of Political Science

Theory: PS 321 , PS 420 , PS 421 , PS 426

American Politics: PS 301 , PS 303 , PS 304 , PS 305 , PS 401 , PS 402 , PS 403 , PS 404 , PS 405 , PS 406 , PS 407 , PS 408 , PS 409 , PS 410

Global Politics : PS 330 , PS 331 , PS 350 , PS 431 , PS 432 , PS 450 , PS 452 , PS 453 , PS 454 , PS 456 , PS 457 , PS 459

Public Law and Administration: PS 370 , PS 375 , PS 380 , PS 470 , PS 472 , PS 473 , PS 474 , PS 480 , PS 481 , PS 484 , PS 485 , PS 488 , PS 489

Economics Program

Edward Sayre, Director
601.266.4310

The Bachelor of Arts in Economics is an interdisciplinary degree offered through the College of Arts and Letters. The degree is designed to prepare graduates for employment in either the private or public sector or for the pursuit of higher degrees in a number of academic disciplines, most notably economics, economic development, community and regional planning, geography, law and justice studies, political economy, political science, and public administration. Because of its interdisciplinary curriculum, the Bachelor of Arts in Economics allows somewhat more latitude in course selection than most Southern Miss degrees.

Requirements for a Major in Economics

Graduation with a major in economics requires 120 hours, including the general education requirements of the university, completion through the 202 level in a single foreign language and 33 hours in the major. In completing the remaining degree requirements, majors may elect to follow one of two set degree tracks, the one quantitative and the other qualitative, or to formulate and pursue a flexible degree track commensurate with individual career objectives.

The quantitative or Mathematics Degree Track is designed to prepare one for the successful pursuit of higher degrees in economics and related academic disciplines requiring a strong background in mathematics and statistics.

The qualitative or Social Science Degree Track provides a broadly based liberal arts education in “political economy,” an area of study that cuts across the normally separate domains of economics and politics, and examines the relationship of the two within the difficult calculus of public law. The Social Science Degree Track is recommended for students planning to seek employment upon graduation or to pursue higher degrees in academic disciplines requiring a lesser preparation in mathematics and statistics (economic development, community and regional planning, geography, law and justice studies, political science and public administration).

Pre-Law Advisement

601.266.4310

Students interested in attending law school should consult the pre-law adviser initially. By the beginning of their second year, students should officially declare a major and minor and then see their major adviser for academic advisement. During the third year, the student should meet with the pre-law adviser for information on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and admissions information.

In addition to their major and minor courses, students interested in law school can supplement their program of study with the following courses as electives: ACC 200 ; ENG 332 or ENG 333 ; PHI 253 ; PLS 383 ; PS 301 , PS 380 , PS 407 , PS 480 , PS 481 , PS 484 ; or BA 200 . Students desiring to strengthen their writing skills should include additional composition courses as well.

In making admissions decisions, law schools give greatest consideration to a student’s grade point average, LSAT score and writing sample, and academic letters of recommendation. Students are encouraged to major in a subject area in which they are interested and in which they can maintain a high grade point average.

Human Rights Minor

J. Michael Lavender, J.D., Adviser
118 College Drive, Box 5108
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4310
E-mail: kate.greene@usm.edu

In the minor, students receive interdisciplinary instruction in domestic and international issues relating to human rights and civil liberties through classroom courses. Students can gain valuable practical experience in the human rights/civil liberties through a supervised internship.

Paralegal Studies Program

J. Michael Lavender, Director
601.266.4310

Paralegal Track

The Paralegal track is approved by the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Paralegals. Students majoring in paralegal studies, an interdisciplinary major offered through the Department of Political Science, complete 36 hours of course work. The Bachelor of Arts in paralegal studies prepares students for employment in private law firms, businesses and government offices. Although paralegals, as nonlawyers, are legally restricted from practicing law, they assist attorneys in delivering legal services more efficiently and may perform a variety of tasks, including legal research and drafting, litigation assistantship, interviewing and investigation, and file organization and maintenance.

All students majoring in paralegal studies must maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 after 30 hours of course work at Southern Miss, and any students transferring to the Paralegal Studies program must attain a GPA of 2.25 prior to transferring.

Pre-Law Track

Many of our students are interested in law school, and our department acknowledges the challenges of preparing for the rigors of law school. To this end, both the Paralegal Studies and Political Science programs offer a “pre-law” track of coursework for those students pursuing a career in Law. The pre-law track in paralegal studies teaches student methods of legal research, writing, and thinking that will make them more confident and prepared for law school and beyond. The political science pre-law track provides courses focused on the Constitutional framework of the American legal system and the politics surrounding the application of Constitutional rights and liberties.

Please Note: The University of Southern Mississippi does not offer a minor in paralegal studies at this time.

American Studies Program

Marek Steedman, Director
601.266.4310

The American Studies program offers an interdisciplinary major or minor for students interested in a broad liberal arts education. Through courses from many fields, the student acquires an understanding of the development of American heritage. By course selection and during the American studies seminar, students may pursue their special interests. The major requires 30 semester hours. A 2.0 cumulative GPA in major courses is required for graduation.

Though no minor is required with the American studies major, students are encouraged to have a second major or minor in complementary, career-oriented fields, such as pre-law, pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, journalism, public relations, library science, accounting, marketing, political science, management, radio-television-film, military science or education. The requirements listed below are in addition to the Arts and Letters core curriculum. Students in this program will be advised by the director of the American Studies program.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science

Non-degree