2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Certificate in American Government

Overview

The certificate in American Government is designed to expose students to the institutions, processes, and policies of the American national political system.

Requirements

Students may earn an undergraduate certificate in American Government by fulfilling the following requirements.

Required Courses

Students must take both of these courses:

POLS 312Congress and the Presidency

3

POLS 352American Economic Policy

3

Students majoring in Political Science cannot earn this certificate.

Constitutional Law Elective

Students must take one of the following courses:

POLS 314Governmental Power and U.S. Constitutional Law

3

POLS 316Rights & Liberties and U.S. Constitutional Law

3

Foreign Policy Elective

Students must take one of the following courses:

POLS 344American Foreign Relations to 1920

3

POLS 348American Foreign Relations since 1895

3

Total Credit Hours: 12

Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate familiarity with major American political institutions and processes as well as historical and contemporary issues in American politics.

2. Students will demonstrate the ability to think critically about American politics in various institutional and policy contexts.