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 important political documents and statements of American and others 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 of 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 develop the analytical skills need to build a solid basis for continuing reflection, and seek to offer students a sense of both 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.  There is inevitably, however, an overlapping and interrelations among these fields and between political science and other disciplines in the College’s general curriculum

Internships in local government offices, congressional, law offices, and social service agencies are strongly encouraged as a 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 be such, our students should be familiar with and understand the major figures of political philosophy.  They should be familiar with and understand the structure and operation of not only the American Government, but also other major governmental systems.  They should be familiar with the history and development of the international structures and movements affecting contemporary international affairs.  It is to these goals that we direct our efforts.
 
B.A. in Political Science
To be eligible for acceptance into the program for the degree, 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 Comparative Government
• PO 309 Constitutional Law
• PO 401 Classical Political Philosophy
• PO 402 Modern Political Philosophy
• PO 413 International Relations I
• Five (5) upper-level Political Science elections

(In addition to upper level course work a comprehensive exam or thesis is required).

NOTE: Although an internship PO 452 is not required, it is strongly recommended.

Minor in Political Science    

• PO 305 or PO 306 Comparative Government                            
• PO  309 Constitutional Law                                                       
• PO 401 or 402 Political Philosophy 1, II                                    
• PO 413 or PO 414  International Relations I, II                         
• One upper-level elective                                                      

Political Science Faculty
Dr. Robert Jones – Chair of the Political Science Department and Professor
B.S., St. Louis University, M.A., University of Notre Dame, Ph.D., University of Notre Dame

Travis Cook – Assistant Professor of Political Science
B.A., University of Maine, M.A., Boston College