UNC Wilmington

Transfer Guide

UNC Wilmington
Political Science, BA

Transfer Guide for Associate in Arts

2024-2025

Delivery Method: On-Campus

Program Admission Notes:

Transfer Admission Requirements

Students who have graduated from high school or obtained a GED or adult high school diploma and enrolled in another postsecondary institution are considered transfer students. UNCW uses a holistic approach to review transfer student applications and will consider several aspects of an application in making an admission decision.

To be competitive for transfer admission, applicants must:

  • Meet UNC system high school minimum course requirements (or be exempt by being 21 years of age or older or having completed 24 hours of transferable undergraduate credits)
  • Have completed or be enrolled in 24 hours of transferable undergraduate credit hours

Transfer applicants are also recommended to have:

  • A minimum 2.4 college GPA or higher
  • Have completed or enrolled in college-level English and/or math

Note: Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to a specific academic program. Some academic programs may require an additional application and have requirements that exceed those listed above.

Contact:

The Office of Admissions
admissions@uncw.edu

Revised: May, 2024

College Level Foreign Language Requirements:

University Studies requires a student to obtain proficiency through the 201-level (equivalent to foreign language 211 at NCCCs) in a language previously studied or the 102-level (equivalent to foreign language 112 at NCCCs) in a second foreign language not previously studied. Students will demonstrate proficiency by completing a course at the 201 level or higher in a language previously studied or at the 102-level in a second foreign language. If you graduated high school 7 or more years before you enrolled at UNCW, an exception applies to you. Then you only need to complete a language course at the 102 level (or higher).

Major-Specific Course Recommendations:

Students are encouraged to build the Community College course recommendations below into the associate degree to best prepare for the intended major.

Recommended CC Course Credit
Hours		 University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled		 University Requirement Fulfilled
ENG 111: Writing and Inquiry 3 ENG 101: College Writing and Reading I English Composition Required Course, General Education
ENG 112: Writing/Research in the Disc 3 ENG 201: College Writing and Reading II English Composition Required Course, General Education
MAT 143: Quantitative Literacy
OR
MAT 152: Statistical Methods 		3 University Equivalencies UGETC Math Required Course, General Education
POL 120: American Government 3 PLS 101: American National Government UGETC Social/Behavioral Sciences Suggested Course, General Education
POL 210: Comparative Government 3 PLS 230: Intro Comparative Govt & Poli Additional General Education Courses Suggested Course
POL 220: International Relations 3 PLS 220: Intro To Internat'l Relations Additional General Education Courses Suggested Course, General Education
POL 250: Intro to Political Theory 3 PLS 212: Intro To Political Theory Elective/Pre-Major Courses Suggested Course

Remaining Associate Degree Requirements:

In addition to major-specific course recommendations above, students should work with a community college advisor to select additional community college courses to fulfill the remaining associate degree requirements identified below.

Recommended CC Course Credit
Hours		 University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled		 University Requirement Fulfilled
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 9 University Equivalencies UGETC Humanities/Fine Arts General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 6 University Equivalencies UGETC Social/Behavioral Sciences General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 4 University Equivalencies UGETC Natural Sciences General Education
Foreign Lang. 111: Elementary Level I 3 University Equivalencies Additional General Education Courses General Education
Foreign Lang. 112: Elementary Level II 3 University Equivalencies Additional General Education Courses General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 1 University Equivalencies Additional General Education Courses General Education
PED 110: Fit and Well for Life 2 WPA 101: Wellness and Physical Activity Elective/Pre-Major Courses General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 9 University Equivalencies Elective/Pre-Major Courses Elective
ACA 122: College Transfer Success 1 UNI 001: University College Elective Academic Transition General Transfer Credit

Additional Information From UNC Wilmington:

The University of North Carolina Wilmington strongly recommends students complete their Associates’ degree prior to transferring to UNCW.

Political science students can gain a versatile set of skills that can be applied in a wide range of exciting careers in federal, state, and local governments, law, business, international organizations, nonprofit associations and organizations, campaign management and polling, journalism, precollegiate education, electoral politics, research, and educating at the university and college level.

Wondering what to do with a major in Political Science? Visit the American Political Science Association (APSA) website for some suggestions. 

A minimum GPA of “C” (2.00) is required among all elective political science courses, and a grade of “C-” or above is required for the core courses, if taken at UNCW (PLS 101, PLS 201, PLS 220, PLS 230, and PLS 401). If taken at a transfer institution, must earn a "C" or higher for the course to transfer to UNCW. 

Students planning to do graduate work are encouraged to study a modern foreign language and to acquire a basic knowledge of computer science, statistics, calculus, and macroeconomics.

 

Remaining Bachelor’s Degree Requirements at University:

University Course Credit
Hours		 University Course Notes
PLS 201: Political Science Methods 3
Political Theory Courses 3

Students must also complete at least one course in Political Theory. Choose one of the following:

  • PLS 212 - Introduction to Political Theory (POL 250 at NCCCs)
  • PLS 310 - Legal Philosophy and Jurisprudence
  • PLS 312 - Scope and Methods of Political Science
  • PLS 313 - Early Political Thought
  • PLS 314 - Modern Political Thought
  • PLS 315 - Contemporary Political Ideologies
  • PLS 317 - Political Thought of Asia
  • PLS 415 - American Political Thought
Public Administration & Public Policy Courses 3

Students must also complete at least one course in Public Administration & Public Policy. Choose one of the following:

  • PLS 217 - Ethics and Leadership in Public Life
  • PLS 304 - Introduction to Public Policy Analysis
  • PLS 308 - Public Administration
  • PLS 327 - Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy
  • PLS 329 - Ocean and Coastal Law and Policy
  • PLS 354 - Urban Planning and Policy
  • PLS 359 - American Policy Development: Politics, Institutions and Theories
  • PLS 360 - Introduction to Nonprofit Management
  • PLS 361 - Nonprofit Resource Development
  • PLS 362 - Leading and Managing Volunteers
  • PLS 370 - Global Environmental Governance
  • PLS 434 - Nonprofit Leadership Experience
Directed Upper Level Electives 15

Students must complete 15 hours of electives at the 300-400 level.

  • In doing so, students must complete one course from each of the following three subfields: American Political Behavior & Institutions, International Relations, and Comparative Politics.
  • Any other PLS courses (300-400) will contribute to the 39 total hours required for the major.
  • If a course appears in more than one category (e.g., PLS 421), students can only use the course to fulfill one category of the directed upper level electives.

Select one course from each of the following categories

  • American Political Behavior & Institutions
  • International Relations
  • Comparative Politics
PLS 401: Senior Seminar 3