Political Science Major

General Policies

• Please note that only three credits in each of the following may be applied to the major (regardless of concentration) or the minor:  POLI 498 Internship in Political Science, POLI 499 Directed Study in Political Science, or Practicum in Political Science.

 

• Internship, directed study, and special topics in political science credits may be applied to concentration requirements only if they are related to the student's concentration.  This determination is made by the department chair.

 

• No grade lower than a C- in a political science course may be used to fulfill the requirements for the political science major or minor.  Students receiving a D or F in a political science course may continue as political science majors and minors but must either retake and successfully complete the course (with a grade of C- or better) or must successfully complete another course that fulfills the same required area for the major and minor.

 

Political Science Major

No Concentration

 

Required Courses:  Students must complete the following courses:

 

POLI 172    Introduction to American Government

POLI 250    Research Methods in Political Science

POLI 475    Seminar in Political Science

 

Distribution I:  Students must complete at least four of the following courses:

 

POLI 201    Foundations of Citizenship and Community Leadership

POLI 260    International Relations

POLI 274    Western Political Thought

POLI 275    Comparative Government

POLI 277    American Government: State and Local Government

POLI 279    Introduction to Public Administration

POLI 285    Law and the Judicial Process

 

Distribution II:  Students must complete at least 15 credits at the POLI 300 or POLI 400 level.

 

Political Science Major

American Politics Concentration

 

The American Politics Concentration offers students a broad understanding of American politics.  The concentration is designed to provide a strong undergraduate social science education in preparation for entry into advanced degree programs and professional careers in public service, private institutions, and political organizations in the United States.

 

Required Courses:  Students must complete the following courses:

 

POLI 172    Introduction to American Government

POLI 250    Research Methods in Political Science

POLI 274    Western Political Thought

POLI 277    American Government: State and Local Government

POLI 475    Seminar in Political Science

 

Distribution I:  Students must complete at least two of the following courses:

 

POLI 201    Foundations of Citizenship and Community Leadership

POLI 260    International Relations

POLI 275    Comparative Government

POLI 279    Introduction to Public Administration

POLI 285    Law and the Judicial Process

 

Distribution II:  Students must complete at least one of the following courses:

 

POLI 341    Constitutional Law and Politics: The Powers of Government

POLI 372    Legislative Process and Procedure

POLI 391    The American Presidency

 

Distribution III:  Students must complete at least one of the following courses:

 

POLI 375    American Political Parties and Interest Groups

POLI 379    Voters, Elections, and Campaigns

POLI 380    Public Opinion and Mass Political Behavior

 

Distribution IV:  Students must complete at lease nine credits from the following courses.  Note that courses taken to satisfy distribution II and III cannot count toward completion of distribution IV.

 

POLI 301    Model Senate Practicum

POLI 302    Moot Court and Mock Trial Practicum

POLI 341    Constitutional Law and Politics: The Powers of Government

POLI 342    Constitutional Law and Politics: The First Amendment

POLI 343    Constitutional Law and Politics: Rights of the Accused

POLI 372    Legislative Process and Procedure

POLI 368    American Political Thought

POLI 375    American Political Parties and Interest Groups

POLI 376    Urban Politics

POLI 379    Voters, Elections and Campaigns

POLI 380    Public Opinion and Mass Political Behavior

POLI 389    Racial Politics in the United States

POLI 391    The American Presidency

POLI 400    Special Topics in Political Science

POLI 476    Women and Politics

POLI 479    Public Policy

POLI 485    Honors Thesis in Political Science

POLI 498    Internship in Political Science

POLI 499    Directed Study in Political Science

 

Political Science Major

International Affairs Concentration

 

The International Affairs Concentration is designed for those students who wish to pursue a graduate degree and/or a career in this field.  An appropriate sequence of courses enables students to acquire a cross-cultural perspective and obtain a broader comprehension of the relations among nations in our complex and dynamic world.  The growing interdependence of the global community has increased the importance of this field of special study.  In addition, as the number of nation-states has multiplied and governmental and non-governmental international organizations continue to expand, so have opportunities for national, foreign and international service.

 

Required Courses:  Students must complete the following courses:

 

POLI 172    Introduction to American Government

POLI 250    Research Methods in Political Science

POLI 260    International Relations

POLI 275    Comparative Government

POLI 384    United States Foreign Policy

POLI 473    Global Governance

POLI 475    Seminar in Political Science

 

Distribution I:  Students must complete at least two of the following courses:

 

POLI 201    Foundations of Citizenship and Community Leadership

POLI 274    Western Political Thought

POLI 277    American Government: State and Local Government

POLI 279    Introduction to Public Administration

POLI 285    Law and the Judicial Process

 

Distribution II:  Students must complete at least two of the following courses:

 

POLI 330    Asian Politics

POLI 370    Canadian Foreign Policy

POLI 377    Canadian-American Political Relations

POLI 381    US-Latin American Relations

POLI 382    Latin American Government and Politics

POLI 385    Government and Politics of the Middle East

POLI 386    Canadian Politics

POLI 387    Government and Politics of Africa

POLI 388    Government and Politics of Eastern Europe

 

Distribution III:  Students must complete at least one of the following courses:

 

POLI 361    International Political Economy

POLI 365    International Politics of the Environment

POLI 392    Democratic Theory and Democratization

POLI 400    Special Topics in Political Science

POLI 455    Totalitarian Political Systems: Dictators and the Reign of Terror

POLI 488    Politics and Development in the Third World

POLI 498    Internship in Political Science

POLI 499    Directed Study in Political Science

 

Political Science Major

Legal Studies Concentration

 

The Legal Studies Concentration is designed for students who are considering law-related careers in the private or public sectors.  Having taken several law-related courses as undergraduates, graduates may thereafter pursue further study in law school or an institution training them for paralegal work.

 

In today's society the legal profession and the number of sub-fields that have developed has grown dramatically.  Moreover, knowledge of the law and its application to everyday life is now essential.  Students choosing the legal studies concentration will therefore not only gain a solid foundation in the various areas of the law, but will also gain a valuable preparation for the challenges that await in the professional world after graduation.

 

Required Courses:  Students must complete the following courses:

 

POLI 172    Introduction to American Government

POLI 250    Research Methods in Political Science

POLI 274    Western Political Thought

POLI 285    Law and the Judicial Process

POLI 341    Constitutional Law and Politics: The Powers of Government

POLI 372    Legislative Process and Procedure

POLI 475    Seminar in Political Science

 

Distribution I:  Students must complete at least two of the following courses:

 

POLI 201    Foundations of Citizenship and Community Leadership

POLI 260    International Relations

POLI 277    American Government: State and Local Government

POLI 275    Comparative Government

POLI 279    Introduction to Public Administration

 

Distribution II:  Students must complete at lease one of the following courses:

 

POLI 342    Constitutional Law and Politics: The First Amendment

POLI 343    Constitutional Law and Politics: Liberty and Equality

POLI 344    Constitutional Law and Politics: Rights of the Accused

POLI 495    Administrative Law and Regulation

 

Distribution III:  Students must complete at lease six credits from the following courses:

 

PHIL 235    Human Rights and Human Liberties

PHIL 322    Philosophy of Law

POLI 302    Moot Court and Mock Trial Practicum

POLI 368    American Political Thought

POLI/ECON 340   Law and Economics

POLI 400    Special Topics in Political Science

POLI 485    Honors Thesis in Political Science

POLI 498    Internship in Political Science

POLI 499    Directed Study in Political Science

 

Political Science Major

Public Administration Concentration

 

The Public Administration Concentration is designed for those students who wish to pursue a Master of Public Administration degree and/or a career in this field.  The concentration prepares students for a career focus in the public and nonprofit sectors at the federal, state, and local levels.

 

Required Courses:  Students must complete the following courses:

 

POLI 172    Introduction to American Government

POLI 250    Research Methods in Political Science

POLI 277    American Government: State and Local Government

POLI 279    Introduction to Public Administration

POLI 390    Public Finance

POLI 475    Seminar in Political Science

 

Distribution I:  Students must complete at least two of the following courses:

 

POLI 201    Foundations of Citizenship and Community Leadership

POLI 260    International Relations

POLI 274    Western Political Thought

POLI 275    Comparative Government

POLI 285    Law and the Judicial Process

 

Distribution II:  Students must complete at lease 12 credits from the following courses.  Note that courses taken to satisfy distribution I cannot count toward completion of distribution II.

 

POLI 201    Foundations of Citizenship and Community Leadership

POLI 341    Constitutional Law and Politics: The Powers of Government

POLI 376    Urban Politics

POLI 400    Special Topics in Political Science

POLI 485    Honors Thesis in Political Science

POLI 495    Administrative Law and Regulation

POLI 479    Public Policy

POLI 498    Internship in Political Science

POLI 499    Directed Study in Political Science

 

Double Major with Elementary Education, or Early Childhood Education,

 or Special Education

 

Students may choose a double major in Political Science and Elementary Education, or Early Childhood Education, or Special Education for certification purposes.  Appropriate advising materials with suggested course sequences are available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Modified: September 16, 2009