Political Science, BA

100 Eggers Hall
315-443-2416

Faculty

Kristi J. Andersen, Michael Barkun, Hossein Bashiriyeh, Kenneth Baynes, James P. Bennett, G. Matthew Bonham, Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Keith J. Bybee, Horace Campbell, Matthew R. Cleary, Elizabeth F. Cohen, Francine D’Amico, Bruce W. Dayton, Renée de Nevers, David Kwame Dixon, Gavan Duffy, Colin Elman, Miriam Fendius Elman, Margarita Estévez-Abe, Christopher G. Faricy, Shana Gadarian, Dimitar D. Gueorguiev, Jonathan K. Hanson, Margaret Hermann, Seth Jolly, Thomas M. Keck, Ralph Ketcham, Audie Klotz, W. Henry Lambright, Robert D. McClure, Daniel McDowell, Glyn Morgan, Quinn Mulroy, Spencer Piston, Sarah B. Pralle, Grant D. Reeher, Mark Rupert, Anoop Sadanandan, S.N. Sangmpam, Hans Peter Schmitz, Yüksel Sezgin, Abbey Steele, Jeffrey M. Stonecash, Brian D. Taylor, Laurence Thomas, Margaret Susan Thompson, Stuart J. Thorson

Political science is the study of politics, government, and their relationship with other aspects of society. Courses in political science enable students to use political theory and empirical analysis to make sense of their world, to interpret political phenomena in the United States and in other areas of the world, and to understand world politics. Skills in research, analysis, and critical thinking that political science students acquire help to prepare them for careers in politics and government, journalism and communication, and business, as well as post-graduate study.

Note:

Students are required to fulfill the requirements for the B.A. or minor in political science as stipulated in the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare their political science major or minor. Graduation with a B.A. or a minor in political science requires a 2.0 average in the upper-division coursework applied toward the major or minor.

Major Requirements

To declare a political science major, students must complete one PSC course with a grade no lower than a C-. The B.A. in political science requires 30 credits, including PSC 121 , one additional course at the 100 level, and PSC 202 . Of the remaining 21 credits, 18 are taken in courses numbered 300 or above. An additional 3 credits may be taken at the 100 level as part of the remaining 21 credits, but no more than a total of 9 credits may be taken at the 100 level. PSC courses with a grade of D may not be applied toward the major requirements. The upper-division courses regularly offered by the department are included in the list below. PSC majors must take at least one course from the approved list of courses with international content (approved courses are designated with an asterisk [*], see list below). Political science majors must take at least 9 credits of coursework included in one cluster of related upper-division courses. (Clusters are listed below.) Experience credit courses may not be used to satisfy major requirements. Political science majors seeking a degree with honors must satisfy the requirements of the Honors Program in addition to the requirements for the major in political science.

Political Science Courses and Clusters

The courses regularly offered by the department for application toward a major are listed below. Special topics courses (PSC 300 , PSC 411 ) and courses which may be taken multiple times (PSC 350 ) may be included in a cluster with the approval of the undergraduate advisor. Courses taken abroad may also count with the approval of the undergraduate advisor. Finally, students may petition to construct their own cluster; this petition will be considered by the department’s Undergraduate Studies Committee.

Law and Politics

Public Policy

Political Economy

American Politics

Comparative Politics

Democracy and Political Mobilization

Global Governance and Foreign Policy

Political Theory

International War and Peace

Distinction in Political Science

Minimum Department GPA 3.5

Minimum Cumulative GPA 3.5

Additional Information

Award of Distinction in Political Science requires successful completion of 6 credits of distinction thesis preparatory coursework (PSC 495 and PSC 496 ) and successful defense of written thesis.