Degree
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political ScienceLearn More
Mission
Our mission is to cultivate in our students a passion for understanding and solving political problems. Students work closely with faculty throughout their coursework, culminating in a major independent research project. Through this work students will develop the imagination, and skills in analysis and communication, that prepare them for life after college.
Major Description
Political science is the study of the problems and opportunities that arise when people live together in communities of all sizes. Political scientists study government, citizenship, relations among nation-states, and theories of politics. Political science addresses fundamental issues confronting modern society - globalization, war, inequity, poverty, the environment - and seeks to evaluate the processes, policies, and theories that have been devised to deal with them. The Political Science program provides courses in theory, methods and case studies within the four sub-fields of political theory, comparative politics, international relations and American politics, as well as many courses that cross subfields.
The political science major emphasizes the development of skills in effective writing and speaking, as well as creative problem solving -- some of the most useful skills in a wide variety of careers in the public, non-profit and private sectors. These skills are also crucial to success in graduate school. Our small classes and abundant individual attention from faculty give students ample opportunity to hone those skills. Political Science is also an excellent choice for students planning to study politics, public policy or law at the graduate level.
The department also offers Political Science majors the opportunity to select all of the EDU secondary education certification courses (listed below) as their electives in order to become middle or high school teachers (grades 7 - 12) in the area of social studies.
Pre-Law Emphasis
The pre-law emphasis allows students interested in studying law to receive special advising and to develop a liberal arts program of study appropriate as preparation for admission to law school and success in the legal profession, and careers and jobs in various areas such as government, media, business, international affairs, foreign service, non- government organizations and teaching. The study of law involves many aspects of social life and integrates many fields of study. Judges and lawyers are expected to handle different litigations, ranging from social to medical, environmental and other applications. Thus, law schools encourage students to have diverse undergraduate majors. 911爆料网红领巾 students who are majoring in any department can take advantage of the pre-law program.
Although the choice of major is open, law schools expect students to have acquired skills that enable them to think critically, reason logically, and speak and write effectively. The Pre-law Advising Committee will help students build their interdisciplinary program of study that includes not only humanities courses, but also courses in biology, environmental studies, psychology, and management.
Curricular Requirements
CREDITS |
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42-46 |
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Credits | |
Program Required Courses | |
One of the following courses: | 3 |
PSC 105 - Introduction to Political Science | |
PSC 202 - Politics as Social Science | |
One course in each of the following areas: | 12 |
Introductory level course in American Politics including: PSC 101, 106, 203, 205, 207 or 250 |
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Introductory level course in Political Theory including: PSC 100, 120, 200, 206 or 207 |
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Introductory level course in International Relations including: PSC 201 or 240 |
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Introductory level course in Comparative Politics including: PSC 100, 110, 204 or 205 |
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One advanced course (300 level or higher) in three of the following areas: | 9 |
Political Theory | |
Comparative Politics | |
American Politics | |
International Relations | |
Three Political Science Electives At least one must be at 300 or 400 level |
9 |
Senior Seminar and Essay | 6 |
PSC 490 - Senior Seminar | |
PSC 491 - Integrative Essay | |
Minimum Program Required Credits | 39 |
Open Elective Courses (as needed to reach 120 credits) | variable |
Minimum Required Total Credits | 120 |