Political Science
General
Program Title
Political Science
Degree Designation
BA
Award Type
Baccalaureate
Program Level
Undergraduate
Instruction Mode
On Campus
Program Description
This program enhances civic understanding, provides pre-professional training, and serves as a basis for entering a professional position. Students complete courses in all general areas of the discipline and are given the opportunity to specialize by selecting electives in areas of American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. The department also offers survey research training and a pre-law program. A social studies program with a political science emphasis provides a background for teaching at the secondary school level.
Requirements
Free Form Requisites
Program Requirements (37 credits)
course, course, course, course and course.
One course in American government (300 or 400 level).
One course in comparative government (300 or 400 level).
One course in international relations (300 or 400 level).
One course in political theory (300 or 400 level).
Electives: 12 Credits with the approval of the department.
Notes
Any POL course not used to meet the requirements may be used as an elective, with the following exceptions:
A maximum of 6 credits from course and up to 3 credits of independent study as a survey director may be earned.
A maximum of 3 credits may be used from non-departmental offerings, including the following courses: course, course, course, course, course, course, course and other courses by petition and with the approval of the department.
At least 24 credits must be taken at the 300 level or above.
See program website for additional information.
Learning Outcomes
Outcome
All faculty in the department of political science department are expected to serve students through high quality academic advising.
Outcome
Students will acquire a critical perspective on the foundations, institutions, and practices of politics in the United States at the local, state, and national level.
Outcome
Students will demonstrate their understanding of the complex interrelationships between political, economic, social, cultural, and historical forces in order to make local-global connections
Outcome
The department will strive to meet the requirements and expectations of our disciplines major professional organizations such as: the American Political Science Association (APSA) and the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).
Outcome
Students will develop a broad understanding of the scholarship, analytical methods, and theories of politics in one or more of the disciplines four sub-fields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations and Political Theory
Outcome
The department will work toward enhancing community relationships with teaching and research.
Outcome
The political science department encourages service activities within the university and community. These activities include volunteer service related to the faculty member?s academic expertise, consulting work, serving on university committees, and various forms of community service.
Outcome
Faculty in the political science department shall evaluate their students? course work through rigorous, but fair, evaluation standards.
Outcome
Students will acquire a foundation in the core principles of political science as the study of a human behavior found at both the micro and macro level of societies.
Outcome
Students will be taught to evaluate political behavior from a perspective of critical thought through core courses in political theory and survey work exploring the influence of major political ideologies.
Outcome
The department accepts applied research in the community as a valid expression of scholarly research. Given the fact that many fields in the department relate to other counties or the international system, our understanding of community is global
Outcome
Students will gain research and writing experience by completing the department’s capstone, upper level writing requirement. This experience will be completed under the supervision of a faculty member and shall be connected to a 400 level elective of the student’s choice.
Outcome
The department accepts that its primary goal is excellent undergraduate and graduate instruction across the sub-fields of Political Science.
Outcome
The department encourages students to seek study abroad and other international experiences. The department also welcomes international students and encourages their participation in the departments student activities.
Outcome
Through electives, students will have the opportunity to learn about important, emerging political issues.
Outcome
Students will: a) Be able to construct and evaluate analytical arguments and write clear logical prose with a central thesis. b) Develop and hone a mastery of writing skills of a political genre by communicating their perspectives, empirical findings, interpretations and the conclusions of their research on political issues, policies, institutions, and behavior.
Outcome
The department is committed to building and maintaining a safe, secure, and respectful campus environment.
Outcome
Students will apply the concepts and theories in the subfields of political science by: a) Being able to identify and gather information from credible primary and secondary sources. b) Analyzing political issues and phenomena using political science concepts, theories, and methods. c) Critically evaluating political claims based on careful scrutiny of the underlying argument and evidence d) Effectively using argument and evidence to communicate and support original analysis of political phenomenon.
Outcome
The department is committed to developing an excellent MPA program that can obtain national accreditation.
Outcome
Students will be able to identify the structure and operation of the U.S. and other political systems.
Outcome
The department is committed to fostering an intellectually challenging environment for our students and a collaborative department culture for faculty.
Outcome
Students will be able to recognize assumptions and to devise basic research designs, test questions, arguments, and hypotheses with qualitative and/or quantitative methods
Outcome
The department supports faculty research across the discipline of political science including the study of politics at the local, national, and international level.
Degree Maps
Major Code
1119
Program Code
1803