Political Science, B.A.

Political science is the systematic study of politics and government and is widely recognized as one of the core disciplines within the liberal arts curriculum. Student learning outcomes include the development of written and oral communication skills, critical thinking ability, knowledge of fundamental concepts across all subfields of political science, and research skills that can be applied to situations in the classroom and community. The political science major provides a substantive and analytic preparation that can lead to a variety of professions, giving the students access to a vast array of future careers. For instance, this discipline often serves those with an interest in entering politics and government. Political science majors become civic leaders, town managers, city planners, budget specialists, foreign service officers, CIA analysts, FBI agents, policy researchers, and hold a variety of management positions in local, state, national, and international organizations.

Beyond government, a political science degree leads naturally to graduate training, including law school. Similarly, teaching has been a traditional career for many political science students, who have combined their interest for domestic and international issues with a call to service in the community. Many journalists and broadcasters were political science majors. Business has also recognized the analytic and management skills obtained through training in political science. Other rapidly developing fields such as polling, communications, campaign management, consulting, private and public interest group activity, and data analysis also value a political science degree when making hiring decisions. A political science degree, therefore, opens many doors in different professional directions.

The Political Science faculty strongly urges its majors to take courses in economics, history, sociology, and business. Political science majors are especially encouraged to take advantage of the variety of internship opportunities as part of their undergraduate program to help them establish a professional presence in the working community. All political science students are encouraged to undertake at least one year of university-level foreign language study. Additional language study is recommended for those majors with an interest in comparative or international politics and for those considering graduate school.

All students are reminded that, in addition to their meeting departmental requirements for a major leading to a baccalaureate degree, they must also meet the requirements of the school or college involved, as well as the Core curriculum requirements.

Political science courses are normally offered on the following schedule:

• Every semester: POS 101 , POS 104 , POS 203 , POS 205 , POS 290 , and internships.
• Yearly: POS 102 , POS 280 , POS 334 , POS 380 , and POS 445 .
• Approximately once every two years: POS 120 , POS 209 , POS 245 , POS 256 , POS 261 , POS 262 , POS 310 , POS 312 , POS 315 , POS 333 , POS 335 , POS 349 , POS 352 , POS 354 , POS 355 , POS 360 , POS 361 , POS 374 , POS 390 , POS 392 , POS 393 , POS 394 , POS 405 , POS 410 , POS 463 , and POS 464 .

Graduating with Distinction in Political Science

For a B.A. degree in political science with distinction, a student must achieve a 3.7 GPA or higher in courses taken in the major.