Nov 27, 2024

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science (B.A.)

Eric Leonard, Professor of Political Science
Davis Hall, Room 208, (540) 545-7326, eleonard@su.edu

The study of Political Science aims to understand the rationale and mechanisms in which policy is formulated and executed for a society. This understanding includes an assessment of the moral and legal authority by which policy is or ought to be set. The center of interest for this program is the study of power, government institutions, bureaucracy and the state of human relations within the political context, both domestically and internationally. Emphasis is placed on enhancing the student’s overall comprehension and critical analysis of politics and the mechanisms of government so that he/she can become an effective citizen of the community, country and world.

Course Requirements

(Requirement for all majors):

MATH 207 Introduction to Statistics Credit(s): 3
PSCI 103 Foundational Ideas of Political Society Credit(s): 3
PSCI 201 American Government Credit(s): 3
PSCI 204 Introduction to International Politics Credit(s): 3
OR
PSCI 209 Introduction to Comparative Politics Credit(s): 3
PSCI 380 Research Methods in Political Science Credit(s): 3
PSCI 405 Senior Capstone Credit(s): 3
PSCI 402 Internship in Political Science Credit(s): 3

Total Core Hours Required: 21 credits

Elective Courses

Choose at least seven from list below. Five of the seven elective courses required for the major must be at the 300 or 400 level and six of the seven must have a PSCI prefix. The student’s choice of elective courses should be made in consultation with their advisor in order to provide an educational track that will accord with their post-graduation plans.

PSCI 102 Introduction to Public Administration Credit(s): 3
PSCI 202 State and Local Government Credit(s): 3
PSCI 205 Introduction to Public Policy Credit(s): 3
PSCI 206 Introduction to Theories of Public Organization Credit(s): 3
PSCI 209 Introduction to Comparative Politics Credit(s): 3
PSCI 210 American Legal System and Practices Credit(s): 3
PSCI 295 Topics in Political Science Credit(s): 3
PSCI 301 History of Western Political Philosophy I Credit(s): 3
PSCI 302 History of Western Political Philosophy II Credit(s): 3
PSCI 303 United States Foreign Policy Credit(s): 3
PSCI 306 American Political Parties/Interest Groups Credit(s): 3
PSCI 308 The American Presidency Credit(s): 3
PSCI 311 Organizational Leadership Credit(s): 3
PSCI 312 Elections and Voting Behavior Credit(s): 3
PSCI 332 Legislative Politics Credit(s): 3
PSCI 333 Political Psychology Credit(s): 3
PSCI 360 Constitutional Law: Institutional Law and Power Credit(s): 3
PSCI 361 Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties Credit(s): 3
PSCI 401 Research Studies in Political Science Credit(s): 3
PSCI 402 Internship in Political Science Credit(s): 3
PSCI 403 Global Governance and International Organizations Credit(s): 3
PSCI 404 Global Human Rights Credit(s): 3
PSCI 406 American Political Culture Credit(s): 3
PSCI 407 Politics in Film Credit(s): 3
PSCI 408 International Criminal Justice Credit(s): 3
PSCI 495 Topics in Political Science Credit(s): 3
ES 319 Environmental Policy and Programs Credit(s): 3
PSCI 351 Politics and the Media Credit(s): 3
or
MCOM 351 Politics and the Media Credit(s): 3

Total elective hours required: 21 credits

Total hours required for the major: 42 credits

Course Map

1st Year – Fall

FYS 101 Going Global First-Year Seminar Credit(s): 3
ENG 101 Composition Credit(s): 3 (Communicative Literacy-Written)
Foreign Language Credit(s): 3 (Arts & Sciences requirement)
MCOM 150 Principles of Public Speaking Credit(s): 3 (Communicative Literacy-Oral)
PSCI 103 Foundational Ideas of Political Society Credit(s): 3 (Navigating Differences-Cultural Understanding)

Total: 15 credits

1st Year – Spring

Foreign Language Credit(s): 3 (Arts & Sciences requirement)
Creative Expression Shen Ed Credit(s): 3
PSCI 201 American Government Credit(s): 3 (Scientific Literacy–Behavioral Science)
MATH 207 Introduction to Statistics Credit(s): 3 (Quantitative Literacy)
Navigating Difference-Ethical Reasoning Shen Ed Credit(s): 3

Total: 15 credits

2nd Year – Fall

PSCI 209 Introduction to Comparative Politics Credit(s): 3 (Navigating Differences-Cultural Understanding)
Foreign Language Credit(s): 3 (Arts & Sciences requirement)
Scientific Literacy–Natural Science Shen Ed Credit(s): 3-4
Shen Ed Elective
PSCI 204 Introduction to International Politics Credit(s): 3
Elective for minor Credit(s): 3

Total: 15-16 credits

2nd Year – Spring

Foreign Language Credit(s): 3 (Arts & Sciences requirement)
PSCI Elective Credit(s): 3
PSCI Elective Credit(s): 3
Gen Ed Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective for minor Credit(s): 3

Total: 15 credits

3rd Year – Fall

PSCI 380 Research Methods in Political Science Credit(s): 3
PSCI Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective for minor Credit(s): 3
Elective for minor Credit(s): 3
Elective for minor Credit(s): 3

Total: 15 credits

3rd Year – Spring

PSCI Elective Credit(s): 3
PSCI Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective for minor Credit(s): 3
Elective for minor Credit(s): 3
Elective for minor Credit(s): 3

Total: 15 credits

4th Year – Fall

PSCI 405 Senior Capstone Credit(s): 3
PSCI Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective for minor Credit(s): 3
Elective for minor Credit(s): 3
Elective for minor Credit(s): 3

Total: 15 credits

4th Year – Spring

PSCI Elective Credit(s): 3
PSCI Elective Credit(s): 3
Elective for minor Credit(s): 3
Elective for minor Credit(s): 3
Elective for minor Credit(s): 3

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Political Science (B.A.)

Course Requirements

Total Core Hours Required: 21 credits

Elective Courses

Total elective hours required: 21 credits

Total hours required for the major: 42 credits

Course Map

1st Year – Fall

Total: 15 credits

1st Year – Spring

Total: 15 credits

2nd Year – Fall

Total: 15-16 credits

2nd Year – Spring

Total: 15 credits

3rd Year – Fall

Total: 15 credits

3rd Year – Spring

Total: 15 credits

4th Year – Fall

Total: 15 credits

4th Year – Spring

Total: 15 credits