Political Science

Course listings for Political Science

Faculty
Professors Edward L. Angus and Byron Dare;
Associate Professors Kenyon D. Bunch and Jan E. Sallinger-McBride;
Assistant Professor Sean E. Cridland.

The study of political science is concerned with the relationship between the governed and the government, the nature of the political process, and the role of the citizen in a democratic society.

The political science major provides excellent training for the person who (1) plans a career in law, journalism, or government; (2) hopes to work abroad; (3) plans to enter graduate school and later teach or serve as an administrator at the college level; or (4) expects to enter politics, either as a candidate or as an administrative aide to a public official.

Political science course offerings are available also to the student who is majoring in another area but who wants to learn something about politics and government.

Students majoring in political science may be certified to teach in the broad area of social studies at the secondary level. To obtain requirements for teacher certification, please contact the Department of Teacher Education.

A minor in political science is available for students majoring in other disciplines. Requirements for a minor in political science area listed at the end of this section.

General Education Credits
Comp 150 or Comp 125/126 ..........4-8
Library 150 ..........1
PE/Wellness (ES 100 plus 1 skills, 1 fitness) ..........3
Thematic Studies I (1 course in each of 4 knowledge areas;
     1 must be a science with attached lab) ..........12-16
Thematic Studies II (1 course in each of 4 knowledge areas;
     prerequisites: Comp 150, Lib 150, all 4 Thematic Studies I      courses) ..........12-16
*Tier II writing requirement is part of the Major

Total ..........32-44

Specific Departmental Requirements:
**=May also be counted toward TS I requirements; credits marked ** are counted in the General Education total credits.
**PS 101S Introduction to Political Science **
**PS 110S U.S. National Government ..........4
*PS 250W Introduction to Political Analysis ..........4
*PS 251W Advanced Research Methods ..........4
PS 386 Ancient Political Thought ..........4
PS 387 Modern Political Thought ..........4

Option A:
PS 495 Pro-Seminar in Political Science ..........2
and
PS 496 Senior Seminar ..........2
OR
Option B:
PS 480W Contemporary Political Thought ..........4
and
PS 495 Pro-Seminar in Political Science ..........2
OR
Option C:
PS 499 Independent Study (exceptional circumstances) ..........2
and
PS 495 Pro-Seminar in Political Science ..........2

Subtotal ..........24-26

Other Departmental Requirements:
20 additional hours, with at least one upper-division course from each of the following subfields I-III, and not more than 8 credits in internships:

**=May also be counted toward TS I requirements

I. U.S. Politics
**PS 120S State and Local Government ..........4
PS 310 American Political Behavior ..........4
PS 330 Public Administration ..........4
PS 337 U.S. Foreign Policy ..........4
PS 421 The American Presidency.......... 4
PS 422 Legislative Process ..........4

II. Public Law
PS 140 Introduction to Law and Legal Systems ..........4
PS 241 Introduction to Criminal Justice Systems ..........4
PS 340 Constitutional Law: Bill of Rights ..........4
PS 341 Constitutional Law: Federalism and the Separation of      Powers ..........4
PS 423 Law and the Judicial Process ..........4
PS 400 Native American Law and Politics ..........4
PS 425 Prisons and Prisoners ..........4

III. Comparative Politics and International Relations
**PS 280S Introduction to Comparative Politics ..........4
PS 305 Environmental Politics ..........3
PS 320 International Politics ..........4
PS 322 International Political Economy ..........4
PS 325 Middle East Politics ..........4
PS 360 Revolution and the Modern World ..........3
PS 365 Women and Development ..........3
PS 370 Latin-American Politics ..........4
PS 372 African Politics and Development ..........4
PS 374 Pacific Rim Politics and Issues ..........4
PS 380 Comparative Communist Systems ..........4

IV. Theory and Methods
The Theory and Methods subfield requirement is included in Specific Departmental Requirements above (PS 250W, PS 251W, PS 386, and PS 387), but the following courses may be used to fill the 20 additional hours requirement:
PS 300 Religion and Politics ..........4
PS 385 20th-Century Socialisms ..........3
PS 460 American Political Thought ..........4
PS 480 Contemporary Political Thought ..........4

Subtotal Other Departmental Requirements ..........20
Total required in major ..........44-46

Auxiliary Requirements from Other Departments:
**=May also be counted toward TS I requirements; credits marked ** are counted in the General Education total credits.
Hist 280 Survey of U.S. History, 1600-1877 ..........3
**Hist 281R Survey of U.S. History, 1877 to present **
OR
2 courses in one modern language ..........6-8

Subtotal ..........3-8

Electives ..........22-41

TOTAL REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION ..........120

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE:

1. At least 24 credits in political science, exclusive of internship hours.
2. At least 12 of those credits must be upper-division.

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