Political Science

Faculty

Jean Wahl Harris, Ph.D., Chair
Michael E. Allison, Ph.D.
Leonard W. Champney, Ph.D.
Robert A. Kocis, Ph.D.
William J. Parente, Ph.D.
Gretchen Van Dyke, Ph.D.

Overview

Political science explores how governments are structured and how they resolve societal conflicts and provide for the public good. Political science also explores the roles that people can play in their governments and the actions people take to influence public policy to serve them and their communities.

Graduates have career options in fields as varied as government, nonprofit management, international affairs, campaigns, special and public interest lobbying, journalism, law and teaching. With its mix of theoretical and empirical approaches to studying politics, the field of political science prepares women and men for fulfilling careers, lifelong learning, and active and effective citizenship.

The Bachelor of Science program in Political Science imparts to students an understanding of:

1. The scope and purpose of governments in civil society;
2. The origins, goals, and limitations of democratic governments;
3. The structure and functions of the institutions of American governments;
4. The similarities and differences in the structures and functions of the governments of other countries; and
5. The rights and responsibilities of citizens in a variety of governmental systems and as members of the global community.

The Political Science Department offers courses in the major subfields of political science: political institutions, political theory, international relations, comparative politics, public policy, and quantitative methods. In addition to the major in Political Science, the department offers a track in Public Administration and Public Affairs and a minor in Political Science.

Students in the major must take PS 130, 131, 212, 217, 240, and either 313 or 314. The remaining 21 Political Science credits required for the major are selected by the student.

Public Administration and Public Affairs Track

Political Science majors may concentrate in Public Administration and Public Affairs. This track is designed for students who may seek a career in government service at the federal, state, or local level. It develops analytic and quantitative skills, while providing substantive knowledge of a range of public-policy problems, and the management systems designed to implement policy decisions.

Students in this track complete the courses required for the Political Science major as well as PS 135: State and Local Government, PS 232: Public Administration, and PS 480: Political Science Internship. For their remaining Political Science electives, students choose four courses from the following: PS 216, 227, 230, 231, 319, 322, 325, 327, 329.

Students in this track would complete their cognate in one of two ways. For option one students complete HIST 110-111, HIST 120-121, ECO 153, ECO 154, ACC 253, ACC 254. Option two entails completing a minor, concentration, or another special program in consultation with Dr. Champney or Dr. Harris, the track advisors.

Minor in Political Science

To minor in Political Science, a student must take a minimum of 18 credits in Political Science, including PS 130-131: American National Government I-II.

Political Science Curriculum
Dept. and No.				Descriptive Title of Course	Credits
				FIRST YEAR	FALL	SPRING
MAJOR		PS 130-131		American National Government	3	3
COGNATE		HIST 110-111		U.S. History	3	3
COGNATE		ELECT		Free Elective		3
GE C/IL		C/IL 102		Computing & Information Literacy	3
GE WRTG - SPCH		WRTG 107 - COMM 100		Composition - Public Speaking	3	3
GE T/RS-PHIL		T/RS 121 - PHIL 120		Theology I - Intro. to Philosophy	3	3
GE FSEM		INTD 100		Freshman Seminar	1
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education		1
					16	16
				SECOND YEAR
MAJOR		PS 212-217		Internat’l Relations–Comparative Gov’t	3	3
MAJOR		PS 240		Research Methods	3
COGNATE		HIST 120-121		Europe: 1500 to Present	3	3
COGNATE		FREE ELECT 1		Free Elective		3
GE HUMN		HUMN ELECT		Humanities Electives	3	3
GE PHIL-T/RS		PHIL 210 - T/RS 122		Ethics - Theology II	3	3
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education	1	1
					16	16
				THIRD YEAR
MAJOR		PS 313 or 314-ELECT 2		Political Ideas–Political Science Elective	3	3
MAJOR		PS ELECT		Political Science Electives	3	3
GE NSCI		NSCI ELECT		Natural Science Electives	3	3
GE PHIL-T/RS		PHIL or T/RS ELECT		Philosophy or T/RS Elective	3
GE ELECT		FREE ELECT 2		Free Electives	6	9
					18	18
				FOURTH YEAR
MAJOR		PS ELECT		Political Science Electives	6	6
GE ELECT		FREE ELECT 1		Free Electives	9	9
					15	15
					Total: 130 Credits
1 The department also recommends a modern foreign language. The departmental advisor should be consulted. 2 Political Science majors are required to take either PS 313: Classical Political Ideas or PS 314: Modern Political Ideas. Both are recommended.