Dec 13, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science, B.A.


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A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

 

Political Science majors at Mount St. Mary’s University are expected to graduate with a basic understanding of the field of political science. To that end, the Department of Political Science has established the following five learning goals to measure student achievement, and a means to assess student success.

All students in the Political Science major are expected to:

  1. Complete a major research project in a subfield of political science, demonstrating a competent ability to pose and analyze an important question using philosophical, legal, qualitative or quantitative methods.
  2. Elucidate a proficient familiarity with the nature, evolution, theoretical framework, and purposes of features of the international political system, including state and non-state actors, international law, and international organizations.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the similarities and differences of political systems and cultures around the world.
  4. Make informed and reasoned arguments concerning issues pertaining to constitutional democracy in contemporary America, demonstrating familiar with the history, operations and salient features of American politics.
  5. Understand the evolution of Western political thought and ideologies, including emerging ideologies, and the impact of some key figures in the realm of political thought.

Core Requirements (46 to 49 credits)


Major Requirements


39 Credits:

Electives


31 to 34 Credits

Note


DOUBLE-MAJORS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

Double majors in Political Science and International Studies must complete all of the courses required for both majors. However, neither PSCI 338  nor PSCI 349  nor any of the courses counted as electives within the International Studies major may count as electives for the Political Science major, and at least two of the four electives for the Political Science major must come from the following list of courses:PSCI 126 , PSCI 212 , PSCI 227 , PSCI 235 , PSCI 238 , PSCI 311  ,PSCI 312 , PSCI 315 , PSCI 317 , PSCI 318 , or PSCI 332  .

To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. Students must also earn a major GPA of 2.0, and a cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Sample Four Year Sequence


Freshman Year

Fall Semester

FSYM 101 The First Year Symposium (3)  

World Languages I (3)

PSCI 100 Foundations of Political Science: Democratic Processes in America (3)  

PSCI 201 International Relations (3)  

Elective (3)

15 Credits

Spring Semester

PHIL 103 Foundations of Philosophy (3)  

WCIV 102 Origins of the West (3)  

World Languages II (3)

ECON 101 Foundations of Economics: Macroeconomics (3)  (either semester)

PSCI XXX Political Science Elective (3)

15 Credits

 

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

PHIL 203 Philosophy in the Modern Age (3)  

WCIV 201 The Western Imagination: the Renaissance to the Great War (3)  

MATH 211 Mathematical Thinking (3)  (either semester)

PSCI XXX Political Science Elective (3)

PSCI 290 Investigating Politics (3)  (either semester)

15 Credits

Spring Semester

AMER 202 America in the World (3)  

THEOL 220 Foundations of Theology: Faith and Revelation (3)  

PSCI 210 Public Policy (3)  

PSCI 206 Comparative Politics (3)  

Elective (3)

15 Credits

 

Junior Year

Fall Semester

THEOL 320 Encountering Christ (3)  

ARMO 300 Modernity in Visual Art (3)  or ENMO 300 Modernity in Literature (3)  or MUMO 300 Modernity in Music (3)  or THMO 300 Modernity in Theatre (3)  

PSCI 312 Parties and Elections (3)  or PSCI 315 The Supreme Court and Constitutional Law (3)  or PSCI 317 The American Presidency (3)  or PSCI 318 Congressional Politics (3)  (either semester)

PSCI XXX Political Science Elective (3)

GNSCI 1XX Lab Science (4) (either semester)

16 Credits

Spring Semester

XXGE 3XX Global Encounters Course (3)

PHIL 300 Ethics and Human Good (3)  or THEOL 300 Ethics and the Human Good (3)  

PSCI 360 Political Analysis (3)  

PSCI XXX Political Science Elective (3)

Elective (3)

15 Credits

 

Senior Year

Fall Semester

PSCI 498 Senior Seminar (3)  

PSCI XXX Political Science Elective (3)

Elective (3)

Elective (3)

Elective (3)

15 Credits

Spring Semester

Elective (3)

Elective (3)

Elective (3)

Elective (3)

Elective (3)

15 Credits

 

 

 

 

 

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