Major-Political Science
The mission of the Department of Political Science is to assist students to become thoughtful human beings and enlightened citizens. This objective is pursued primarily through careful reading and analysis of the great books of political philosophers, as well as of important political documents and statements of American and other political systems.
Political Science, broadly understood, is concerned with a general understanding of the important questions, issues, and facts of political life as well as with the specific ordering of human life in communities of the past and present. Because such matters need to be the subject of life-long study, departmental faculty attempt to give students both the analytical skills needed to build a solid basis for continuing reflection and a sense of perennial and contemporary political problems.
For reasons of convenience and pedagogy, course offerings are classified into four major areas: political philosophy, the American polity, comparative government and international relations. Inevitably, however, these areas overlap and interrelate with other disciplines in the College’s general curriculum.
Internships in local government offices, congressional offices, law offices, and social service agencies are strongly encouraged as part of the Political Science program.
The general goal of the Department of Political Science is to produce thoughtful human beings and enlightened citizens. To achieve this goal, we seek to introduce our students to the thinking of classical and modern political philosophers as well as to the structure and operation of the principal institutions of American Government. In addition, we seek to introduce our students to other governmental systems as well as the history and development of international structures and movements that bear upon today’s world.
B. A. in Political Science 120 hours
To be eligible for acceptance into the degree program, the student must have completed PO 201, and must have earned a grade of “C” or better.
In addition to the other Core Curriculum requirements, the following are specific core requirements:
- EC 201 Introductory Economics I
Major requirements (300 Level or above)
- PO 305 Comp. Government: Parliamentary Systems or PO 306 Comp. Government: Developing Systems
- PO 309 Constitutional Law
- PO 401 Classical Political Philosophy
- PO 402 Modern Political Philosophy
- PO 413 International Relations I or PO 414 International Relations II
- Five (5) upper-level Political Science electives
- In addition to upper-level course work, a comprehensive exam or a senior thesis (PO 490) is required.
Other Courses
General Elective Courses
NOTE: Although an internship (PO 452) is not required, it is strongly recommended.
It is the student’s responsibility to see that all degree requirements for graduation are fulfilled.
Minor in Political Science 15 hours
- PO 305 or PO 306 Comparative Government
- PO 309 Constitutional Law
- PO 401 or 402 Political Philosophy I, II
- PO 413 or PO 414 International Relations I, II
- One upper-level elective
It is the student’s responsibility to see that all degree requirements for graduation are fulfilled.
Political Science Faculty
Travis Cook – Chair and Assistant Professor of Political Science
B.A., University of Maine, M.A., Boston College
Laurence Reardon, Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science
B.S., University College Dublin
M.A., Ph.D., The Catholic University of America
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