Political Science

Our Bachelor of Arts, Government and Politics concentration is the most popular "track" in our department. This allows the greatest flexibility and is probably the one best suited to students planning to continue graduate studies in political science (unless they plan to emphasize international relations or public administration) and law school. The government and politics concentration prepares students for careers in a number of areas, including advocacy, journalism, politics, business, public opinion & survey research, government service, and military service. Students need to complete following credits:

Major core courses (18 credits)
Take all following six courses:

PSC 100 American Government
PSC 200 Political Analysis (a writing emphasis course) (W)
PSC 230 Intro to Political Thought (a writing emphasis course) (W)
PSC 213 International Relations
PSC 202 Elements of Public Administration
PSC 240 Comparative Politics
Note: the core courses should be taken during the first and second year

A. Institutions of American Government (6 credits)
Select two courses:

PSC 324 U.S. Political Parties
PSC338 U.S. Political Thought
PSC 350 Constitutional Law I
PSC 352 Constitutional Law II
PSC 355 Congressional Politics
PSC 359 Presidential Politics)
PSC 371 State and Local Government 

B. Behavioral Area (6 credits)
Select two courses:

PSC 301 Women and Politics (a diversity course) (J)
PSC 322 Public Opinion, Media, and Politics 
PSC 323 Racial/Ethnic Politics (a diversity course) (J)
PSC 325 Campaigns and Elections
PSC 329 Courts, Law, and Policy
PSC 339 Contemporary Political Thought
PSC 353 Latinx Politics

C. Public Policy (6 credits)
Select two courses:

PSC 304 Urban Politics (an interdisciplinary course) (I)
PSC 320 US Foreign Policy (a writing emphasis course) (W)
PSC 351 Energy and the Political Process
PSC 354 Environmental Politics and Policy
PSC 356 US Public Policy (a speaking emphasis course) (SE)
PSC 357 Advanced Political Analysis
PSC 358 Applied Public Policy Analysis
PSC 370 PA Government and Politics

D. Internship (3 credits)
Select one of the following:

PSC 412 Internship in Political Science or
One additional 300 – level course

E. Capstone Requirement (3 credits)
Select one of the two courses:

PSC401 Senior Seminar
PSC402 Political Analysis (if not counted in ‘C’ category / chair or instructor’s permission required) 

Note: Minors related to this track include: Geography, History, Criminal Justice, Business, Marketing, Communications, Journalism, etc.

Our Bachelor of Arts degree with International Relations concentration prepares students for a profession in the globalized 21st century. Within this track students develop the knowledge-based, language, and professional skills necessary to participate effectively in this increasingly interdependent world. Students need to complete following credits: 

Major core courses (18 credits)
Take all following six courses:

PSC 100 American Government
PSC 200 Political Analysis (a writing emphasis course) (W)
PSC 230 Intro to Political Thought (a writing emphasis course) (W)
PSC 213 International Relations
PSC 202 Elements of Public Administration
PSC 240 Comparative Politics
Note: the core courses should be taken during the first and second year

A. Upper Level Requirements (6 credits)

          PSC 201 Politics of Diversity (a diversity and ethics course) (J, E) 
          PSC 202 Elements of Public Administration
          PSC 250 The Politics of the Judicial Process
          PSC 255 State and Local Government

B. Comparative Group (6 credits)
Select two courses:

PSC 319 Middle Eastern Politics
PSC 340 Latin American Culture and Politics (J, Spanish Culture Cluster)
PSC 342 European Politics (Spanish, French, German and Italian Culture Cluster)
PSC 343 Culture and Politics of Asia (a writing emphasis course) (W)
PSC 346 Russian Government and Politics (Russian Culture Cluster)
PSC 348 African Politics and Society (a diversity course) (J)

C. International Group (6 credits)
Select two courses:

          PSC 310 The United States and Latin America
          PSC 311 Russian Foreign Policy
          PSC 318 International Political Economy
          PSC 315 The European Union
          PSC 330 Politics of the Holocaust and Genocide
          PSC 353 Latinx Politics

D. One additional course (3 credits)
Select one of the following:

From B Comparative Group
From C International Group
PSC 399 Special Topics (dept. chair's permission required)
Study abroad credit bearing experience (advisor's permission required)
International Affairs oriented internship (advisor's permission required)

E. Capstone Requirement (3 credits)
Select one of the two courses:

PSC401 Senior Seminar
PSC402 Political Analysis (if not counted in ‘C’ category / chair or instructor’s permission required)

Note: Courses with "international focus"- with approval by advisor; can overlap with related courses for Culture Clusters, or related Minor, for example in Languages & Cultures, Peace & Conflict Studies, Ethnic Studies, Latin American Studies, Women's and Gender Studies, Business, Marketing, Finance, Geography, History.

Note: Students are encouraged to take part in the annual EU simulation: Mid-Atlantic European Union Simulation

The Bachelor of Arts, Certificate in Social Studies Education, prepares students to teach social studies at the secondary education level. The highly specialized program includes course work in all major fields of social studies as well as time spent in the field student teaching. The tests and procedures necessary for obtaining state certification are part of the program so that upon successful completion students are certified by the state of Pennsylvania to teach social studies at the secondary education level.

Students in this major have an academic advisor from the Political Science Department as well as a professional advisor from the School of Education. Students in this major should plan carefully their academic programs with both of their advisors in order to complete the courses necessary to student teach in their senior year. It is important to note that an overall GPA of 2.8 is needed to apply for student teaching in the state of Pennsylvania.