Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science, B.A.


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Program Learning Outcomes and Educational Effectiveness Evaluation Plans for B.A. in Political Science.

Students pursuing the B.A. in Political Science are required to:

  • Maintain at least a 2.000 grade point average in the major.
  • Earn a grade of “C” or higher in major courses.
  • Complete all courses in the major for a letter grade.
  • Complete 21 credits from upper-division courses in the major.
  • Complete one of our capstone courses (POSC 410  or POSC 420 ), or another 400 level course with prior approval from department chair.

research design/methodology (3 credits)


political theory (3 credits)


upper-division requirements (12 credits)


One 300-level or above course in four of the five designated subfields: American politics, international relations, comparative politics, political theory and public administration and public policy.

electives (12 credits)


No 100-level courses, a maximum of three credits may be taken at the 200-level. Each student must take one of our capstone courses (POSC 410  or POSC 420 ),

capstone (3 credits)


one of the following (or another 400 level course with prior approval from department chair)

total credits 42


American politics


Those studying American government and politics are interested in isolating problems and suggesting solutions regarding American political institutions and processes. Course topics include the presidency, courts, congress, the media, interest groups, political behavior, campaigns and elections, local and state government and policy making.

international relations


The demise of the cold war, the rise of ethnic and national conflict and the quest for a new global order demand an increased knowledge of the world beyond the borders of the United States. International relations is the study of political, economic and military interactions across national boundaries. International relations includes the analysis of the foreign policies of individual countries, international law, governmental and non-governmental international organizations, arms control, international economic relations and conflict resolution.

comparative politics


Whereas international relations examines relations between nations and issues that transcend national boundaries-such as the global distribution of food, energy and wealth-comparative politics looks at patterns of domestic politics and political development within and across various countries.

political theory


Questions of political theory underlie the entire discipline of political science. Political theorists pose questions concerning the nature of democracy, justice, freedom and equality and ask to what degree we achieve these aspirations. In preparation for careers in politics, education, law and other areas in which critical and rigorous thinking are valued, the student of political theory masters critical and analytical methods while exploring crucial issues at the heart of politics.

public administration and public policy


Public administration focuses on the management of the organizations and the (usually non-elected) people who implement public policy in the public and non-public sectors. Public policy is the action taken by government to address a particular public issue. Local, state, federal and international governmental and non-governmental organizations all craft and implement public policy to protect and benefit their populations.

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