Political Science, BA

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Bachelor's DegreeAcademicCIP: 45.1001

Political science is concerned with understanding the ways in which government can influence society.

Credits

120 credits

Format

In-Person

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Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 25-2031.00

Skills

Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingCoordinationInstructingSocial PerceptivenessActive LearningLearning StrategiesScienceManagement of Personnel ResourcesSystems Evaluation

Knowledge

English LanguageAdministration and ManagementLaw and GovernmentEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal ServiceMathematicsPersonnel and Human ResourcesComputers and ElectronicsHistory and ArcheologyEngineering and TechnologyPublic Safety and SecurityPsychologySociology and AnthropologyAdministrativeBuilding and ConstructionEconomics and AccountingMechanicalBiology

Abilities

Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionWritten ExpressionDeductive ReasoningProblem SensitivityInductive ReasoningSpeech ClaritySpeech RecognitionNear VisionInformation OrderingMathematical Reasoning

Tasks

Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to perse
Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English,
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as classical polit
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, an
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleanin
Provide assistance with the preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.
Write grant proposals.
Teach political science.
Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions.
Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, his
Identify environmental contamination sources.
Coordinate on-site activities for environmental cleanup or remediation projects to ensure compliance
Identify and apply for project funding.
Coordinate or direct development, energy assessment, engineering, or construction activities to ensu
Manage wind project costs to stay within budget limits.
Lead or support negotiations involving tax agreements or abatements, power purchase agreements, land
Supervise employees or subcontractors to ensure quality of work or adherence to safety regulations o
Train or coordinate the training of employees in operations, safety, environmental issues, or techni
Track and maintain records for wind operations, such as site performance, downtime events, parts usa
Coordinate or conduct internal investigations of problems such as employee theft and violations of c
Administer systems and programs to reduce loss, maintain inventory control, or increase safety.
Review loss prevention exception reports and cash discrepancies to ensure adherence to guidelines.
Report violations of compliance or regulatory standards to duly authorized enforcement agencies as a
Identify compliance issues that require follow-up or investigation.
Discuss emerging compliance issues to ensure that management and employees are informed about compli
Develop regulatory strategies and implementation plans for the preparation and submission of new pro
Review all regulatory agency submission materials to ensure timeliness, accuracy, comprehensiveness,
Direct the preparation and submission of regulatory agency applications, reports, or correspondence.
Develop and review regulatory strategies, development plans, and implementation plans for the preparation and submission of new products.
Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize i
Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate ac
Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs.

Technology

Data base user interface and query softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareDocument management softwareComputer based training softwareElectronic mail softwareCalendar and scheduling softwareOffice suite softwareCompliance softwareDevelopment environment softwareData base management system softwareInformation retrieval or search softwareGeographic information systemComputer aided design CAD softwareEnterprise application integration softwareAccounting softwareWord processing softwareData mining softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareDesktop publishing softwareObject or component oriented development softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareOperating system softwareSpreadsheet softwareFacilities management softwareProject management softwareInternet browser softwareContent workflow software

Tools

Bunsen burnersComputer data input scannersComputer laser printersDesktop computersDigital video camerasDissection scalpelsDocument camerasGlass beakersInteractive whiteboardsLaboratory heating platesLaptop computersLiquid crystal display LCD projectorsMultimedia projection equipmentOptical compound microscopesPencil compassesCarousel slide projectorsCompact digital camerasCompact disk CD playersComputer projectorsConference telephonesDigital calculatorsDigital video disk DVD playersHandheld microphonesInteractive whiteboard controllersMulti-line telephone systemsPersonal computersPhotocopying equipmentTablet computersTranscription equipmentConference phones

Work Values

RelationshipsAchievementWorking ConditionsIndependenceSupportRecognition

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: proficient (Level 3)(based on Bachelor's Degree)

Comprehensive curriculum units — independently design, implement, and refine across a full academic year for multiple course sections, aligning to state standards.
Non-routine behavioral and social-emotional challenges — assess and address autonomously using evidence-based strategies and school support systems in complex secondary settings.
Instructional approaches — select and seamlessly integrate across lectures, project-based learning, and inquiry activities to meet the full spectrum of student needs without oversight.
Analytical and data management software — apply to disaggregate assessment results, identify achievement trends, and drive individualized instructional adjustments.
Student performance evaluations — conduct holistically, synthesizing academic, behavioral, and health observations to generate actionable intervention and enrichment plans.
Video conferencing and cloud-based collaboration tools — leverage proficiently to deliver rigorous instruction in hybrid or remote secondary environments.
Inductive and deductive reasoning tasks — design for students that scaffold complex disciplinary thinking in mathematics, social studies, English, or science contexts.
Cross-disciplinary learning connections — facilitate for students by integrating psychology, sociology, and history knowledge into engaging content-area instruction.
Advanced learning strategies — model and teach explicitly so that students develop metacognitive habits and sustained academic motivation throughout secondary school.
Systems analysis of classroom and school data — perform to identify instructional gaps and recommend curriculum adjustments to department leadership.

Course Pathway

65 courses in this program

165 courses

Program Requirements

Courses required to complete this program

PSC 101Foundations of American Government

3 cr

PSC 120Urban Politics

3 cr

PSC 170Contemporary Political Issues

1 cr

PSC 221American State and Local Government

3 cr

PSC 225Contemporary Issues in Science Policy

3 cr

PSC 267Political Science City as Classroom

3 cr

PSC 270Law and Film

3 cr

PSC 271Contemporary Political Issues

3 cr

PSC 310American Public Policy

3 cr

PSC 316Human Rights

3 cr

PSC 317Religion and Politics

3 cr

PSC 319Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

3 cr

PSC 320Political Participation

3 cr

PSC 321Public Opinion in American Politics

3 cr

PSC 322Gender, Politics, & Policy

3 cr

PSC 323Public Administration and Policy

3 cr

PSC 324American Foreign Policy

3 cr

PSC 330The American Judicial Process

3 cr

PSC 331The U.S. Congress

3 cr

PSC 332The American Presidency

3 cr

PSC 333Political Parties and Interest Groups

3 cr

PSC 335Memory Politics: Monuments, Museums and Human Rights

3 cr

PSC 341Classical Political Thought

3 cr

PSC 342Modern Political Theory

3 cr

PSC 350African Politics

3 cr

PSC 351European Political Systems

3 cr

PSC 352Latin/South American Political Systems

3 cr

PSC 353Asian Political Systems

3 cr

PSC 355Politics of Development

3 cr

PSC 358Health and Humanitarian Crisis

3 cr

PSC 359Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity

3 cr

PSC 360International Security

3 cr

PSC 361North/South International Relations

3 cr

PSC 362Diplomacy

3 cr

PSC 363Nationalism in World Politics

3 cr

PSC 364Gender in World Politics

3 cr

PSC 367Politics of the Middle East and Northern Africa

3 cr

PSC 368Women and War

3 cr

PSC 370Politics and the Media

3 cr

PSC 372Social Justice and Pop Culture

3 cr

PSC 379Supreme Court Politics

3 cr

PSC 380The Politics of Constitutional Law

3 cr

PSC 381The Bill of Rights

3 cr

PSC 382Political Networks

3 cr

PSC 383International Conflict & Conflict Management

3 cr

PSC 384Diamonds, Drugs, and Guns: The Illicit Global Economy

3 cr

PSC 386Economics of Public Policy

3 cr

PSC 395Special Topics in Political Science

3 cr

PSC 418Politics and Race in America

3 cr

PSC 422Gender, Politics, & Policy

3 cr

PSC 431American Constitutional Law

3 cr

PSC 432Law and Society

3 cr

PSC 440American Political Thought

3 cr

PSC 443Digital Democracy

3 cr

PSC 444Human Rights and Technology

3 cr

PSC 456Revolution and Political Violence

3 cr

PSC 458Human Trafficking

3 cr

PSC 459Politics of Transitional Justice

3 cr

PSC 461International Political Economy

3 cr

PSC 465International Law

3 cr

PSC 466The United Nations

3 cr

PSC 495Directed Research in Political Science

1 cr

PSC 497Honors Research in Political Science

3 cr

PSC 498Capstone Public Affairs Internship

3 cr

PSC 499Capstone in Political Science and International Studies

3 cr

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.

Some details on this page are auto-populated from public workforce data sources: O*NET (opens in new tab), BLS (opens in new tab), College Scorecard (opens in new tab), DOL Training Provider Results (opens in new tab), NSX (opens in new tab). Provided in partnership with LER.me Career Intelligence.