Political Science (BA)

Description

The Bachelor of Science with a major in political science is organized around the various subfields of political science but also allows substantial concentration in an area of interest to the student. It culminates in an integrating seminar. The major is flexible consisting of 33 credit hours with at least a 2.0 GPA.

Students interested in pursuing a legal career will find the political science major emphasizes the development of skills, such as critical thinking and writing, necessary for entering and completing law school. Students may also consider completing the Legal Studies Certificate or the Business Certificate to supplement their interest in law.

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    Degree Requirements

    To obtain this undergraduate degree, the student must fulfill the requirements of the University Core Curriculum, the requirements for the program major and have completed a minimum of 126 credit hours.

    Requirements for the Major (33 credits)

    Required Courses

    • POL 1000 Introduction to Political Science (3 credits)
    • POL 2100 American Politics (3 credits)
    • POL 2510 International Relations (3 credits) OR POL 2600 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 credits) 
    • POL 3800 Elements of Political Thought (or other approved theory course) (3 credits)
    • POL 4990 Senior Seminar (3 credits) OR LST 4990 Capstone Seminar (3 credits)
    • STA 2250 Statistics (3 credits)
    • POL Political Science Electives (15 credits)

    The 15 elective credits required to complete the major may be organized into areas of concentration or may be selected from all areas. The suggested areas of concentration are:

    Concentrations

    Judicial Studies and Law

    • POL 2010 Introduction to Law and the Judiciary (3 credits)
    • POL 2020 Criminal Law and Procedure (3 credits)
    • POL 2030 Topics in Legal Issues (3 credits)
    • POL 2040 Tort Law (3 credits)
    • POL 2800 Legal Research (3 credits)
    • POL 3420 American Constitution and Public Law (3 credits)
    • POL 3460 Civil Liberties and Equality (3 credits)
    • POL 3510 International Law (3 credits)
    • POL 3100 Women and Politics (3 credits)

    American Studies and Theory

    • POL 2100 American Politics (3 credits)
    • POL 3100 Women and Politics (3 credits)
    • POL 3390 Issues in Public Policy (3 credits)
    • POL 3400 American Political Thought (3 credits)
    • POL 3420 American Constitution and Public Law (3 credits)
    • POL 3460 Civil Liberties and Equality (3 credits)
    • POL 3860 Politics and the Media (3 credits)

    International and Comparative Politics

    • POL 4630 Third World Politics (3 credits)
    • POL 4670 Politics in Africa (3 credits)

    Public Administration

    • POL 3200 Public Administration (3 credits)
    • POL 3390 Issues in Public Policy (3 credits)
    • POL 3420 American Constitution and Public Law (3 credits)

    Other electives, workshops, internships and independent studies are listed in the Courses section of this catalog.

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    Political Science Minor

    The Political Science Minor will require 18 credits (six courses). One of these six courses—POL 1000—is required. A minimum of three of the remaining five courses must be at the upper-division (i.e., 3000 or 4000) level. Of the five elective courses, one must be chosen from each of the subfields plus one additional elective which can be any POL course.

    The 18-credit minor in political science provides students with a flexible program that will allow a broad understanding of the various aspects of the discipline. The program will provide the basic foundation in the introductory class followed by a sampling of the subfields. The minimum of three upper-division courses will provide the student with a more in-depth understanding of at least two subfields in which the student has the greatest interests.

    Required Course

    • POL 1000 Introduction to Political Science (3 credits)

    SUB-FIELDS

    American Politics

    • POL 2100 American Politics (3 credits)
    • POL 3100 Women and Politics (3 credits)
    • POL 3390 Issues in Public Policy (3 credits)
    • POL 3460 Civil Liberties and Equality (3 credits)
    • POL 3860 Politics and the Media (3 credits)

    Comparative and International Relations

    • POL 2510 International Relations (3 credits)
    • POL 2600 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 credits)

    Political Theory

    • POL 3800 Elements of Political Thought (3 credits)
    • POL 3400 American Political Thought (3 credits)

    Judicial Politics

    • POL 2010 Introduction to Law and the Judiciary (3 credits)
    • POL 2020 Criminal Law and Procedure (3 credits)
    • POL 2030 Topics in Legal Issues (3 credits)
    • POL 2040 Tort Law (3 credits)
    • POL 2800 Legal Research (3 credits)
    • POL 3420 American Constitution and Public Law (3 credits)
    • POL 3460 Civil Liberties and Equality (3 credits)

Program Contact Information

Department Chair: Stephen Manning, Ph.D.
 Briggs Building, Room 234
McNichols Campus

Email: mannings@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-993-1087
Fax: 313-993-1166