Frequently Asked Questions

The Political Science major requires 36 credit hours in Political Science.

Required Courses

· POLS 002 – Introduction to Research in Political Science

· POLS 003- Introduction to Comparative Politics

· POLS 007- Introduction to Black Politics

· POLS 010 – National Government of the United States

· POLS 128- Introduction to International Relations

· One Political Theory course:

o POLS 004 – Introduction to Political Theory

o POLS 135 – Special Topics in Political Theory

o POLS 189 – Black Political Theory

o POLS 191 – Modern Political Theory

Students complete another six (6) credit hours in Political Science to satisfy the remaining Political Science credits in consultation with their academic advisor.

Students must also complete all University General Education requirements, College of Arts and

Sciences requirements, a minor, experiential learning requirements, and a minimum of 120 total credit hours for graduation. The additional General Education requirements can be found via this link.

To meet degree requirements, students are advised by professional staff and Political Science (POLS) faculty. 

Yes. 

All Political Science majors must complete one of the following four options: 

• Honors/ Senior Thesis Research Project 
• Comprehensive Examination 
  • Yes, in order to graduate, you must take the POLS comprehensive exam. The Undergraduate Comprehensive Exam is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters. The test date is set by COAS. 
• Experiential Learning (i.e internship, summer research program or study abroad/890 course)\ 
• Capstone Project 

Yes, all Political Science students are required to declare and complete a minor program. 

If you have an internship applicable to Political Science, you may be eligible to take the Internship I or Internship II course as a POLS elective. Interested students must get their internships approved by the Internship Coordinator, Norman Sandridge, to be able to register for the course. You can only receive credit for an internship in the same semester that you are registered for the course. You will need to submit proof of your internship, such as with an offer letter or message from your supervisor, to be granted access to the course.

No, POLS majors do not choose a concentration; rather, the Department offers courses in the major subfields of Political Science: American Politics, Black Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, and Public Policy. Students can choose to take courses that focus in one area or take a variety of POLS classes from each of the fields. 

Generally, yes; the admissions office will process your transfer courses and apply them to equivalent courses here at Howard University although some courses may transfer in as an equivalent class in other departments.

 All study abroad must be approved PRIOR to the study abroad opportunity by the director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Norman Sandrdige (nsandridge@howard.edu)

To declare POLS as your major, you will need to meet with your academic advisor and fill out the appropriate change of major form found on the Registrar’s form page here Forms | Howard University. For students transferring from within COAS, you will need to fill out the Change of Major/Minor form. Students transferring from schools/colleges outside of COAS must use the Intra-University change of major form.

We do not classify our undergraduate classes by their fields of study. Generally, we try to make the general field(s) that courses fall within known with the course titles. For instance, Black Political Theory falls within both the Political Theory and Black Politics fields. 

It is possible to double major as a POLS student once you reach Sophomore standing, however your second major must be within COAS. Additionally, students who double major must complete the major AND general education requirements of that new major. Note that this will increase the necessary credits for graduation over the normal 120 credits. Students who double major do not have to declare a minor but may still do so. We highly recommend that students have at least a 3.5 GPA to pursue a double major. Please consult with your academic advisor if you are interested in double majoring. 

Yes, all Political Science majors must earn a grade of “C” or higher for it to be applied to their major degree requirements.

Students pursuing a Political Science minor must complete:

College of Arts & Sciences Students

· 15 POLS credit hours

School of Communications Students

· 18 POLS credit hours

Required course:

· POLS 010 – National Government of the United States

The remaining courses may be selected from Political Science offerings after satisfying any applicable prerequisites.

A maximum of:

· 3 internship credits

· 3 independent study credits

may count toward the minor.

Students are encouraged to pick a minor--or a second major--in their sophomore year. Every Political Science (POLS) major must choose a minor, and that minor can be in COAS, SOC, SOEd or SOB. Read up on the different COAS minors and the classes they offer here: https://coas.howard.edu/degrees-programs/majors-minors

POLS majors that choose a minor in SOC, SOEd or SOB must go to that schools’ respective website, find the information they need about declaring a minor outside of COAS, and contact the advisor in that Department for information about the minor.

Once a student chooses their minor(s) or a second major, they need to make it official by filling in the appropriate paperwork online. When a student makes a decision about their minor(s) or second major, they need to follow the instructions below to make their decision official:

• To change your major and/or minor, go to the Registrar's website and fill in the form online: https://www2.howard.edu/academics/registrar/forms
• Scroll down to the "Change of Major, Minor or Concentration" click on the link.
• Fill out the form.
• Write in your new major/minor. List the name of the person in your new Department (e.g., the Chair of the Department or Undergraduate Director for your new major/minor). If you are choosing POLS as a major or minor, write in the name and email of the POLS DUS
• Once you submit this change of major/minor form, the form will be routed to the designated signee, who will sign and submit it, and then once it is processed, your Degree Works will be updated with your new major/minor.

Yes, Political Science (POLS) majors can double major. If you choose to double major, you do NOT need to choose a minor (your second major counts towards your required minor). When you double major in COAS, only the first major is listed on your diploma.

To learn more about the Honors Program at Howard, please visit this site.  At Howard University, there are different types of Honors designations, including:

1. COAS Dean’s Honor Roll: This is determined by the College and is based on GPA and taking a minimum of 14 credits each semester.
2. HU Honors Distinction (at Graduation): HU Honors Distinction will appear on a student’s transcript, diploma, and will be noted in the commencement program:

• Cum Laude: 3.20-3.49
• Magna Cum Laude: 3.50-3.79
• Summa Cum Laude: 3.80-4.00

3. COAS Honors Program: Students must be invited to apply to become a COAS Honors Program student.
   • The COAS Honors Program sends out email invitations to incoming Freshmen and rising Sophomores who meet the Honors Program requirements. Invitations are sent out during the summer.

If a student receives an invitation, they are asked to fill out an application. Applications from POLS majors are reviewed and only a small percentage (under 10%) of applicants are accepted into the COAS Honors Program as POLS majors.

No, students cannot apply to the BA (POLS)/JD program after they have started at HU. The highly competitive program only invites incoming freshmen, who have been accepted to attend HU, have paid their deposit to start in the Fall, and meet the BA/JD requirements, are invited to apply to the BA/JD Program.

The pre-law program at Howard is a set of courses that students are encouraged to take in preparation for attending law school. The pre-law program is not a minor, a major, or a concentration – it does not show up on your transcript or Degree Works. The pre-law program is not an official credential. Instead, the pre-law courses are an interdisciplinary program and courses are taught by multiple departments, such as Political Science, English, Philosophy, and History. Below is a list of most, but not all, of the pre-law courses offered at Howard University. Pre-law courses are the type of courses that will help you develop your analytical and critical reading skills, writing ability, and oral expression.

Below is a list of courses; most of these classes are upper division and demanding courses, so you should take them in your junior and senior years. You likely won't take every course listed below so your goal should be to take many of the classes that fit your schedule and your major or minor.

• CLAS 112: Law & Politics in the Ancient World
• SOCI 001: Public Health and Society
• SOCI 003: Social Problem
• SOCI 071: Juvenile Delinquency
• SOCI 072: Juvenile Justice System
• SOCI-100 Social Theory and Society
• SOCI 170: Principles of Criminal Justice
• SOCI 172: Social Change and the Criminal Justice System
• SOCI 173: Deviance and the Community
• SOCI 174: Police Law & Society
• SOCI 175: Sociology of Law
• SOCI 176: Victimology
• SOCI 295: Restorative Justice
• ECON 174: Labor Law & Social Legislation

Please note, most of the pre-law courses have a prerequisite course. A prerequisite is a course that students must take prior to registering for an advanced or upper division course; many upper division courses have a prerequisite. Prerequisite requirements must be met before a student can enroll in an upper division course. It is your responsibility to take the prerequisite course prior to registering for an upper division pre-law course.

Many POLS students study abroad for a semester. Please contact the Ralph Bunche Center to help you decide the best program for you and your interests.  Then follow up with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Norman Sandridge. 

Howard University uses BisonHub through Workday to register for classes.

• Undergrad LINK
• Graduate and Professional LINK
• Troubleshoot Registration Quick Reference Guide LINK

FAQ

How can I register for a specific course section using "Find Course Sections"?

1. Enter Find Course Sections in Search on the BisonHub Home page.
2. Enter required details including the specific semester and academic level.
3. Click the name of the course.
4. Click the white Register button to open the registration page.
5. Select the specific course section check box and click the orange Register button to complete registration.

What should I do if the registration options are not displaying? If you encounter issues with registration options not displaying, check for any holds on your student account, ensure the enrollment window is open, and verify your eligibility for the course. If the issue persists, contact your Academic Advisor for further assistance.

What does the 'Troubleshoot' button mean? The 'Troubleshoot' button appears when there might be issues preventing you from registering for a course. Clicking on it provides detailed information about course eligibility criteria, credit limits, holds on your account, and the enrollment window status. For further assistance, refer to the Troubleshoot Registration Quick Reference Guide (link above in Training Materials section) or contact your Academic Advisor.

The transfer credit process at HU is a two-step process. When a student applies for admittance to HU as a new student or a transfer student, took courses at an accredited university or dual enrollment program, and wants to transfer those credits to HU, a preliminary evaluation of those courses is done by the Office of the Registrar. During this review, the Registrar's Office determines which courses you have taken AND are eligible to be transferred to HU.

Please note, only general education courses are evaluated as part of the preliminary evaluation of your transcript, and only courses with a grade of “C” or above are eligible for transfer credit. This review process matches similarly named courses (e.g., Intro to American History, from 1860 is matched to a course at Howard called, American History from 1860). If, after the first review, transfer courses are not accepted, it is usually due to the names or content of the transfer courts not lining up exactly with HU courses. Therefore, students must submit a Transfer Credit Form with the assistance of a faculty advisor. The courses you want to transfer were not accepted because the names did not match or did not come near to any classes offered at HU; it was not because of the rushed nature of your application.

To make sure that your Political Science (POLS) and other courses are transferred, follow the instructions below:

1. Check your HU transcript to see if your credits have been transferred in from the other universities by logging into your Bison Web account and looking at your unofficial HU transcript. Your transcript will list all of the transfer credits that HU has approved. If some transfer credits are NOT listed there, it is because the course names may not match courses offered at HU. When that happens, you have to start the transfer process.
2. Refer to this transfer form. You will submit this form online, but having a copy helps you know what information you need for the online application. On the transfer credit form, list all of the courses from the other university AND list the HU course equivalent (be sure to include DEPT ## and Title, e.g. HIST 005: Intro to Black Diaspora I).
3. If there are NON-political science classes that have not been transferred, or you don't know the HU equivalent course, contact the DUS, who can help you find the appropriate HU courses to list on the transfer form.
4. Go to this website and scroll down and click on the "transfer credit petition" link. You will need to include the attached completed transfer credit form, your transcript from the previous university, and a copy of ALL syllabi for the courses you want to get transfer credit.
5. As a POLS major, you can list the name of the director of undergraduate studies (DUS), currently Dr. Norman Sandridge and his email address (nsandridge@howard.edu) - as your academic advisor or whenever you are asked for an advisor.

Individual departments at Howard University do not review or approve International Baccalaureate or Advanced Placement transfer credits. Howard University uses a standard system that is applied to all incoming first year students to determine transfer credit. Here is a chart that is used to determine what scores are required for transfer credit. 

The Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) Staff in the Office of Undergraduate Studies can address students’ needs to get into certain classes that are full if they need that class in order to graduate. The POLS Department cannot add you to full classes.

Students are able to find course descriptions In the Howard University course catalogue here.

Yes, meet with your academic advisor to discuss the process of declaring a major, whether it is Political Science, or any other major.

Howard University will accept up to 60 Credits taken outside of Howard University. Additionally, your last 30 credits must be taken at Howard. These credits restrictions do not include Study Abroad credits taken and approved while at Howard.

At this time, we do not have Departmental scholarships for transfer students. Scholarship opportunities at Howard University can be found on the Student Financial Services website.

To request additional credit(s) to transfer over, the student will need to request that their advisor submit an advanced standing form for the course they believe is equivalent to a course offered at Howard University. The Registrar’s Office will determine whether the course can be approved and apply it to the student’s account after a thorough review has been completed. *The Registrar may request the student request an official transcript be submitted, if they do not have one on record with the information needed, to apply the credit(s) for courses to verified.

There is no set requirement for Political Science courses a student must transfer over. However, per the undergraduate transfer credit policy, students can transfer up to 60 credits at Howard University.

There are none. A course only transfers over as the equivalent to another course here at Howard University.

Transfer Students are given the list of their initial courses transferred over in their acceptance letter to Howard University. Students can request any additional courses to transfer over that are not listed in their acceptance letter by meeting with their advisor and requesting an advanced standing form to be submitted for them.

Yes. Before changing your major, you should consult with your advisor to find the right major that fits your career and academic goals. Some majors, programs, and schools/colleges have different requirements and timelines for accepting students; meeting with your advisor will help get you into the program that is the best fit as well as the proper procedures and contacts to transfer into that major.

It is highly recommended that you complete your POLS required courses (or core courses) in your first 2-3 semesters, before taking your POLS electives.  
 
Additionally, for General Ed. Courses it is highly recommended that you either take or transfer in credit for your 2 semesters of “Freshman Writing” in your first year at Howard. All other Gen. Ed requirements can be completed at your own pace before graduation.

Students must have at least 12 credit hours semester to be considered “full-time” status. Students under the 12 credit hour limit are considered “part-time” status.

For Freshman & Sophmores, we highly recommend meeting with your advisor once per semester for a 1-on-1 session, as well as attending the “pre-registration preperation” group sessions before each registration period.  
 
Juniors and Seniors may meet with their advisor as needed, although we still recommend checking in reguarly to ensure they are meeting graduation requirements.

Currently, the Academic Advising offices for OUS are located in Carnegie Hall, on Main Campus, on the second floor.

You can schedule an appointment based on your advisor’s listed availability by clicking the “Schedule an Appointment” button in the BisonAdvisor application, then selecting the appropriate office, service, and staff. Please note that their hours may be subject to change due to University obligations and events so we highly recommned checking their posted office hours, drop-in hours, and/or microsoft teams groups for updated availability.

Before coming to an appointment please review the documents listed on the University & Department page, as well as those sent out by staff and your advisor – they may include information or instructions to proactively find solutions for your concerns. Please bring your device or laptop to a meeting as well as any research or documentation needed for your specific situation so your advisor can help you more efficiently.