Political Science (B.A.)

Program Requirements

General Education 23 Requirements
33 credit hours33
Political Science Major Requirements (39 credit hours)
Students will select one of the following concentrations:39
General Political Science Concentration
Required Core Courses (18 Credits)
INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
POLITICAL ANALYSIS
POLITICAL STATISTICS
RESEARCH SKILLS
SENIOR SEMINAR
INTERNSHIP
Political Science Distribution - Select one course from four of the five distribution areas (12 Credits)
American Government and Politics
THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE
WOMEN IN AMERICAN POLITICS
AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT AND BUDGET
POLITICAL BEHAVIOR AND PUBLIC OPINION
International Relations
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
POLITICS OF GLOBALIZATION
POLITICS AND HISTORY OF MODERN TERRORISM I
POLITICS AND HISTORY OF MODERN TERRORISM II
UN AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS
Comparative Government and Politics
EUROPEAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS
POLITICS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
GOVERNMENT, POLITICS, AND POLICIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
COMPARATIVE DEMOCRACY
POLITICS AND HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST
Political Theory
HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT I
HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT II
AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
RACE, SEX, AND POLITICS OF MYTH AND STORY
CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THOUGHT
Public Law
JUDICAL PROCESS AND POLITICS
SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH THE LAW
INTRODUCTION TO LAW
U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES
CIVIL PROCEDURE
COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
DISCRIMINATION AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
MOCK TRIAL (1-3)
General Electives in Political Science - Courses NOT used to fulfill Political Distribution Requirements may also be used as Political Science electives (9 credit hours)
URBAN GOVERNMENT
GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUESTIONING POLITICS
PRACTICAL POLITICS
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY
COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
THE ITALIAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: POLITICS, SOCIETY, & IDENTITY
URBAN PUBLIC POLICY
SPECIAL PROJECT
WASHINGTON SEMESTER (1-16)
INDEPENDENT STUDY (3-12)
Required Core Courses (30 Credits)
INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC
INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
ETHICS FOR BUSINESS
POLITICAL ANALYSIS
POLITICAL STATISTICS
JUDICAL PROCESS AND POLITICS
INTRODUCTION TO LAW
U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES
RESEARCH SKILLS
SENIOR SEMINAR
INTERNSHIP
Political Science Distribution - Select one course from each of the following distribution areas (9 Credit Hours)
American Government and Politics
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
CIVIL PROCEDURE
CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
DISCRIMINATION AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
MOCK TRIAL (1-3)
International Relations/Comparative Gov't & Pol
INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
COMPARATIVE DEMOCRACY
Political Theory & Philosophy
JUSTICE: LIBERTY VS. EQUALITY
PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
RIGHTS AND RESPECT
HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT I
AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THOUGHT
All College Electives
48-51 credit hours48-51
Total Credit Hours120

Students will:

  1. be able to critically evaluate existing literature in a given topic area of political science and how the major historical schools of thought explain that topic.
  2. demonstrate the rudimentary skills to generate and test a scientific hypothesis in a given area of political science.
  3. apply appropriate statistical techniques for a given research design.
  4. demonstrate the ability to apply valid conclusions based on topic area, review of literature, theory, hypothesis, statistical analysis, and study outcomes.
  5. demonstrate effective research report writing.
  6. demonstrate global awareness and engagement skills.