State and Local Government

Metropolitan Government and Politics

Campaigns and Electoral Behavior

United States Congress

American Presidency

Constitutional Law I: Government Structures

Constitutional Law II: Civil Liberties

Political Themes in Media

PLO 1: Compare how politics is organized and governments operate in different contexts.

PLO 2: Evaluate fundamental ethical and moral values when interpreting political discourses and analyzing political orders.

PLO 3: Explain political events and phenomena using the established theories and concepts of political science.

PLO 4: Assemble interdisciplinary skill sets for a political science career.

PLO 5: Describe the American political system and the functioning of the American government. (Specific to the American Government Concentration)

· 48 General Education credits

The General Education program provides Political Science majors with a broad intellectual foundation in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. This interdisciplinary preparation strengthens students’ ability to think critically, analyze complex political issues, and understand the social, economic, and cultural contexts in which politics operates.

· Six core PSC courses

The core political science courses introduce students to the fundamental ideas, institutions, and methods that define the discipline. Together, they provide a comprehensive intellectual foundation for understanding political systems, political behavior, and the theories and analytical tools used to study politics.

· Six PSC Electives

Elective courses allow students to deepen their knowledge in specific areas of political science and explore topics aligned with their interests and career goals. With the requirement of at least four of these electives to be related to the American politics, the American Government Concentration provides opportunities to engage more closely with specialized themes in the American politics and hence deepen their understanding of it.

· 12 Liberal Art Electives

Liberal arts electives allow Political Science majors to broaden their intellectual horizons by engaging with diverse fields across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. This interdisciplinary exposure deepens their understanding of the social, cultural, and economic forces that shape political life.

· 15 General Electives

General electives provide students with the flexibility to pursue additional academic interests beyond the major. These courses allow students to develop an intellectual background in another field, pursue a minor, or work toward a double major.

⚖️ Law and Legal Careers – Preparation for law school and careers as attorneys, legal analysts, compliance officers, and policy advocates.

🏛️ Government and Public Service – Roles in federal, state, and local government, civil service, legislative offices, public administration, and policy analysis.

📊 Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs – Careers in think tanks, advocacy organizations, and regulatory agencies analyzing and shaping public policy.

🌍 International Affairs and Diplomacy – Opportunities in foreign service, international organizations, global NGOs, and multinational institutions.

💼 Business and Corporate Strategy – Positions in government relations, corporate compliance, political risk analysis, consulting, and public affairs.

🤝 Nonprofit and Community Leadership – Work in nonprofit management, social justice advocacy, community development, and humanitarian organizations.

📰 Journalism and Media – Political reporting, research analysis, communications, and strategic messaging.

🎓 Graduate and Professional Study – Advanced degrees in law, public administration (MPA), public policy (MPP), international relations, business (MBA), and political science.