Department of Political Science

Department Head: Kapeluck
John C. West Chair: Patterson
Professors: Kapeluck, Mays
Associate Professors: Porter, Segrest, Tenney
Assistant Professors: Sun, Hostetter
Instructor: Collins

The Department offers an academic major in political science. This major affords students an opportunity to obtain a broad liberal arts education that enriches their lives and acquaints them with the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. The course of study for students majoring in political science begins with a set of core courses to introduce the student to the discipline. Students then have the opportunity to select from a list of specialized electives in their area of concentration and to increase their understanding of their field by taking courses in the related disciplines of anthropology, criminal justice, economics, history, psychology, and sociology as well as General Electives from other departments. As the central element of a general education, political science provides preparation for graduate education and for useful and satisfying careers.

Political Science Major: The course of study for students majoring in political science prescribes a set of core courses to introduce the student to the discipline. In addition, each major must select one of the following departmental subfields for specialization in the junior and senior years.

American Government and Politics.
International Politics and Military Affairs.
Pre-Law and Legal Studies.

The discipline of political science seeks to describe and to explain political phenomena, including both foreign and domestic political institutions, the political process, political behavior, and contemporary political and security issues. Political science also studies the relationships of individuals with their governments, including the rights and responsibilities of citizens. The major has especially strong appeal for those who anticipate careers in law and government, particularly in the Foreign Service, Department of Homeland Security and Department of State, intelligence agencies, the military services of the US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, and US Coast Guard, as well as a broad range of ancillary civilian and government organizations.

Other Programs and Courses: The Department offers five minors: Non-Western Studies, American Politics, International and Military Affairs, Public Policy and Law and Legal Studies. The Department also participates in the college’s interdisciplinary minors in African-American Studies, International Criminal Justice, International Relations, Southern Studies, Leadership Studies, and East-Asian Studies. For a full description of these minor programs, please refer to the appropriate entries in this catalog: Department of Criminal Justice - International Criminal Justice; Department of English - Leadership Studies; Department of History - African-American Studies, International Relations, and Southern Studies; Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures - East Asian Studies.

Programs

Majors

Political Science Major

Concentrations

Minors

Courses

Political Science