Political
Science (PO)
Professor: L. M. Schwab; Associate Professors: L. L.
Bowen, A. Sobisch, P. A. Mason; Assistant Professors: D. R. Hahn,
D. N. Birch (Chair), E. A. Stiles, M. A. Peden; Visiting Instructor:
M. DeBaz
The Department of Political Science seeks to facilitate the acquisition
of knowledge about politics and to hone intellectual skills that encourage
analysis and evaluation of that knowledge. Political science is a social
science discipline in the tradition of the liberal arts and sciences.
Its subject matter embraces political institutions of government, political
behavior, and political theory. The goals of the Political Science Department
are: (1) to promote student learning about politics and political science;
(2) to improve basic intellectual skills– analytical reasoning,
critical thinking, written communication, and problem solving; (3) to
promote awareness, interest, concern, and involvement in community affairs
at all levels; and (4) to provide a foundation for post-graduate studies
(public affairs, political science, public policy, public administration,
law, and other related fields) and careers–particularly in public
service (e.g., public policy analysis, public administration, and electoral
politics), education, political journalism, law, and the private sector
(domestic and international).
The major includes five core courses, seven elective courses beyond the
100 level (with no more than three at the 200 level and at least one at
the 400 level exclusive of PO 400 and 403), and a capstone course (PO
400). The five core courses are: United States Politics (PO 101), Comparative
Politics (PO 102), International Relations (PO 103), Political Thought
(PO 104), and Political Science Research Methods (PO 300). PO 300 should
be taken by the end of the junior year. The seven elective courses may
be concentrated in one area or distributed across several areas. The capstone
course (PO 400) should be taken during the second semester of the senior
year. As part of this course, political science majors take the Major
Field Achievement Test.
The department recommends that students take an introductory course (100
level) in an area (e.g., United States Politics) before taking upper-division
courses in that area.
Political science students pursue careers in a variety of fields. These
include government, politics, law, education, business, and journalism.
Students intent on acquiring a secondary teaching licensure for social
studies or history and government should seek the advice of the Political
Science Department and be admitted as special students to an appropriate
core and set of specialized courses.
The Department of Political Science sponsors the Mu Upsilon chapter of
Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honorary society. Membership
is open to students whose academic records reflect outstanding achievement
and demonstrated interest in the study of political science. The department
also sponsors the Political Science Association, which provides students
with the opportunity to participate in activities such as model UN programs.
Major and Minor Requirements
Major in Political Science:
37 credit hours. The political science core: PO 101, 102, 103, 104,
300; 21 hours of elective courses (200, 300, and 400 level) concentrated
in one area or distributed across several areas; no more than nine
hours can be at the 200 level; one of the elective courses must
be a 400-level (3 hours but exclusive of PO 403) course; and PO
400. AR 291 (Justice and Democracy in a Global Context) also counts
toward the major in Political Science.
Minor in United States Politics:
18 hours. PO 101 and 15 hours elected from among PO 204, 207, 213,
241, 295, 301, 302, 303, 305, 309, 310, 312, 314, 315, 316, 317,
318, 319, 343, 344, 361, 363, 395, 417, 440 with no more than 6
hours at the 200 level.
Minor in Foreign Affairs:
18 hours. PO 102 and 103 and 12 hours elected from among AR 291,
PO 220, 241, 254, 296, 297, 311, 320, 334, 335, 337, 344, 351, 355,
356, 357, 396, 397, 420, 428, 445, 458, with no more than 6 hours
at the 200 level.
Minor in General Political
Science: 18 hours. Two courses at the 100 level and four
additional courses (that can include AR 291), with no more than
6 hours at the 200 level.
NOTE: With the permission
of the department chair, PO 398 can be used to fulfill minor requirements
in either U.S. Politics or Foreign Affairs depending on the specific
emphasis of a particular PO 398 offering. All special topics courses
count toward the minor in General Political Science. |
Minors and Interdisciplinary Concentrations
Majors of departments other than political science are encouraged to pursue
a minor in either American politics, foreign affairs, or general political
science.
The department participates in the following interdisciplinary concentrations:
Africana Studies, Public Administration and Policy Studies, International
Studies, Perspectives on Sex and Gender, Environmental Studies, Latin
American Studies, Modern European Studies, and Political Communication.
Students interested in one of these programs should consult the department
chair. See the section on interdisciplinary concentrations in this Bulletin.
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