American Government/Law Concentration, Political Science, B.A.

Political Science

Chairperson

Ben Lieberman

Professors                                                                                    

Eric Budd                                                                                       

Joshua Spero

Paul Weizer

Objectives for the Program in Political Science

Courses in Political Science are intended for any student with a general interest in politics and government. They are also designed to provide a proper background for students interested in pursuing graduate study or a career in law, public administration, or government and political science.

Requirements for the Major in Political Science

The bachelor of science and bachelor of arts in Political Science require 39 hours of course work. All bachelor of science and bachelor of arts candidates will pick an area of concentration after consulting with their faculty advisor. Bachelor of Art students are required to have foreign language proficiency at the intermediate level.

Student Learning Outcomes

POLITICAL SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE

Objective: Demonstrates evidence of comprehension of Political Science knowledge

Graduates should have the ability to demonstrate comprehension of the political beliefs and values that have shaped Western or non-Western politics, demonstrating mastery of course materials (2000+ level) for the:

• Ability to make coherent arguments about political beliefs and values that have shaped Western or non-Western politics;
• Ability to write cogently on the political beliefs and values that have shaped Western or non-Western politics;
• Ability to debate different points of view on the political beliefs and values that have shaped Western or non-Western politics.

In demonstrating comprehension of Political Science Knowledge, graduates demonstrate their knowledge of:

• The political structure, operations, processes, and ideologies of American government, comparative foreign governments, or international political institutions (elections, parties, interest groups, or public opinion, etc.);
• A comprehension of constitutional principles, including the separation of powers, federalism, civil liberties, civil rights, due process, or comparative foreign governmental separation of powers of similar or differing constitutional or non-constitutional governing systems;
• The substance and controversies of domestic American public policy (education, health care, criminal justice, etc.) or comparative governmental systems of public policy and international political institutions (homeland security, international trade and commerce, military and defense, environment, globalized ethics, standards, and cultures, etc.).

POLITICAL SCIENCE REASONING AND ARGUMENTATION

Objective: Demonstrates evidence of comprehension about Political Science reasoning and argumentation

Graduates should have the ability to make arguments coherently, write cogently, and debate different points of view effectively on some of the major political/political science issues of the times, demonstrating mastery of course materials (2000+ level).

POLITICAL SCIENCE METHODOLOGY

Objective: Demonstrates evidence of comprehension in Political Science methodology

Graduates should have the ability and knowledge to utilize Political Science methodology to research and interpret political data, including statistical data, demonstrating mastery of course materials (2000+ level), for the:

• Ability to employ methods of data collection for survey research, documented analysis, and observation;
• Ability to understand methodological measurement concepts and limits, demonstrating an understanding of the scientific process as applied to the study of government and politics;
• Ability to interpret and calculate basic statistics for correctly choosing, calculating, and interpreting statistical data at the introductory level.

POLITICAL SCIENCE THEORY

Objective: Demonstrates evidence of comprehension of Political Science theories Graduates should apply by explaining how a specific American domestic or International Political Science theories get put into practice within or across a political system or political systems at local, regional, national, or international levels of governments or international institutions, demonstrating mastery of course materials (2000+ level), for the:

• Ability to grasp the theoretical Political Science literature and theoretical debates of the discipline (elections, political parties, public sector roles, private sector influences, international organizational or institutional approaches/impact);
• The application of theoretical principles to the daily functioning of American government at the local, regional, state-wide, national or federal level; comparative foreign governments at the country-wide level; or international political organizational and institutional levels.

American Government/Law

Select four courses from the list below:

• POLS 1500 - State and Urban Government 3 cr.
• POLS 2002 - Elections and Campaigns 3 cr.
• POLS 2180 - The American Presidency 3 cr.
• POLS 2270 - Introduction to the Legal Process 3 cr.
• POLS 2550 - Sex, Race and the Constitution 3 cr.
• POLS 2600 - The First Amendment 3 cr.
• POLS 2700 - Criminal Procedure: Rights of the Accused 3 cr.
• POLS 3000 - Public Policy Analysis: Case Studies in American Politics 3 cr.
• POLS 3400 - The Conduct of American Foreign Policy 3 cr.
• POLS 3500 - Constitutional Law 3 cr.
• POLS 4350 - Moot Court 3 cr.
• POLS 4360 - Understanding Government Decision Making 3 cr.

Capstone

• POLS 4000 - Capstone Seminar in Political Science 3 cr.