BACHELOR OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

 The Bachelor of Arts is the traditional degree program.  It reflects the goals of a well-rounded, humanistic education.  Cultural, historical, and foreign language components distinguish the Bachelor of Arts, as does its focus on knowledge of international political institutions and processes.  Accordingly, courses in international relations, comparative politics, international law and organizations, as well as in Western European and Latin American political systems constitute its core.  The Bachelor of Arts is particularly well suited for students who wish to prepare for graduate or law school, as well as for those attracted to careers in foreign policy analysis, foreign service, military service, intelligence analysis, or as a consultant for international business and industry.

Total credit hours: 30

—This may include courses taken to satisfy requirements for general education.—

 

Required Courses

Political Science (required core): 12 hours

  •  PO121 American National Government (3 hrs.)
  •  PO330 International Relations (3 hrs.)
  •  PO333 American Foreign Policy (3 hrs.)
  •  PO500 Research in Political Science (3 hrs.)

 

Communication: 3 hours

  •  EG301 Advanced Composition

 

Political Science (electives): 15 hours

  •  PO100 Introduction to Government & Politics (3 hrs.)
  •  PO331 International Relations Research (3 hrs.)
  •  PO335 International Law & Organization (3 hrs.)
  •  PO345 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 hrs.)
  •  PO350 Public Administration (3 hrs.)
  •  PO411 Development of Political Thought (3 hrs.)
  •  PO427 Government & Politics of Latin America (3 hrs.)
  •  PO471 Independent Study (1-3 hrs.)

 

Competency in a foreign language is a requirement for all BA degrees at ESU.  This competency commonly entails 10 credits hours in one foreign language.

The course of study includes completion of General Education requirements and a minor in another field.  Within the broad study, additional courses may be added in pursuit of a second major.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

 The Bachelor of Science is a decidedly domestic course of study.  That is to say, knowledge and understanding of American political institutions, organizations, and processes are its central focus.  Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science will gain from a disciplined study of legislative, executive, and judicial institutions at the national, state, and local levels.  The Bachelor of Science is appropriate for those preparing for graduate work in political science, policy analysis, and law school, as well as considering careers as policy analysts, legislative staff or consultants, lobbyists, advisors to candidates and political parties, or interest group leaders and consultants.

Total credit hours: 54

—This may include courses taken to satisfy requirements for general education.—

 

Required Courses

Political Science (required core): 18 hours

  • PO121 American National Government (3 hrs.)
  • PO322 State & Local Government (3 hrs.) 
  • PO350 Public Administration (3 hrs.)
  • PO410 Development of Political Thought (3 hrs.)
  • PO412 American Political Thought (3 hrs.)
  • PO500 Research in Political Science (3 hrs.)

 

Communication Skills: 3 hours

  •  EG301 Advanced Composition

 

Political Science (study of institutions): 9 hours

  • PO446 The American Legislature (3 hrs.)
  • PO447 The American Presidency (3 hrs.)
  • PO448 The American Judiciary (3 hrs.)
  • PO449 The American Bureaucracy (3 hrs.)

 

Political Science (preferred electives): 12 hours

  • One course in institutions (above) not used to satisfy that requirement.
  • PO312 Political Thinking: An Introduction (3 hrs.)
  • PO351 Seminar in Public Affairs (3 hrs.)
  • PO354 Politics of Budgeting & Financial Administration (3 hrs.)
  • PO400 Seminar in Political Science (3 hrs.)
  • PO411 Contemporary Political Ideas (3 hrs.)
  • PO444 Constitutional Law I:  Governmental Institutions (3 hrs.)
  • PO445 Constitutional Law II:  Civil Liberties (3 hrs.)
  • PO455 Legislative Internship (5 hrs.)
  • PO471 Independent Study (3 hrs.)
  • PO480 Introduction to Law (3 hrs.)

 

Political Science (electives): 6 hours

  • Any of the preferred electives (above) not already taken for credit.
  • PO330 International Relations (3 hrs.)
  • PO335 International Law & Organization (3 hrs.)
  • PO345 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 hrs.)
  • PO422 Government & Politics of Western Europe (3 hrs.)
  • PO425 Government & Politics of Soviet Union/Russia (3 hrs.)
  • PO426 Government & Politics of China (3 hrs.)
  • PO427 Government & Politics of Latin America (3 hrs.)

 

Other Electives: 6 hours

  • PI255 (3 hrs.), PI256 (3 hrs.),  SP222 (3 hrs.), SO202 (3 hrs.), SO320 (3 hrs.), SO370 (3 hrs.)
       

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Total credit hours: 70

—This may include courses taken to satisfy requirements for general education.—

The interdisciplinary Public Affairs course of study consists of 58 or 59 required credits and 11 or 12 elective credits.  The 70 unit study is formally termed a "Bachelor of Science, with a major in Political Science (Public Affairs)."  The program leading to the degree must meet the following minimum requirements.

   Core General Education Requirements: 46-49 credits
   Major in Political Science (Public Affairs): 70 credits
   Electives of student's choice: number of hours required to complete Bachelor of Science degree

Within the 70-hour Public Affairs course of study, at least 40 of the credits must be courses numbered 300 or higher.

Required Courses

Political Science: 6 courses/20 credits

  • PO322 State and Local Government & Politics (3 hrs.)
  • PO350 Public Administration (3 hrs.)
  • PO450 Seminar in Public Affairs (3 hrs.)
  • PO451 Practicum in Public Affairs (5 hrs.) [Prerequsitite PO 350 Public Administration]
  • and two of the following:
    • PO444 Constitutional Law l:  Governmental Institutions (3 hrs.)
    • PO445 Constitutional Law ll:  Civil Liberties (3 hrs.)
    • PO447 American Presidency (3 hrs.)
    • PO448 American Judiciary (3 hrs.)
    • PO449 American Bureaucracy (3 hrs.)

 

Economics: 3 courses/9 credits

  • EC 103 Principles of Economics I (3 hrs.)
  • EC 104 Principles of Economics II (3 hrs.)
  • and one of the following:
    • EC554 Public Finance (3 hrs.)
    • PO354 Politics of Budgeting & Finance (3 hrs.)

 

Methods/Statistics: 2 courses/6 hours

  • PO500 Research in Political Science (3 hrs.)
  • and one of the following:
    • BU255 Business Statistics (3 hrs.)
    • MA341 Introduction to Probability & Statistics  (3 hrs.)

 

Computer Information Systems: 1 course/3 credits

  • IS113 Introduction to Microcomputer Applications  (3 hrs.)
  • CS215 Elements of Computer Science (3 hrs.)

 

Accounting: 1 course/3 credits

  • AC223 Financial Accounting I (3 hrs.)

 

Communication Skills: 3 courses/8-9 credits

  • SP303 Organizational Communication (3 hrs.)
  • EG301 Advanced Composition (3 hrs.)
  • and one of the following:
    • SP222 Argumentation & Debate (3 hrs.)
    • SP302 Discussion (3 hrs.)
    • SP315 Small Group Communication (3 hrs.)
  •  Any one of the following foreign language courses: FR110, FR111, FR213, FR495, SA110, SA111, SA213, SA495, GR110, GR111

 

Sociology: 2 courses/6 credits

  • SO101 Introduction to Sociology (3 hrs.)
  • and one of the following:
    • SO320 Social Stratification (3 hrs.)
    • SO351 Introduction to Social Welfare (3 hrs.)
    • SO353 Criminology (3 hrs.)
    • SO370 Race & Ethnic Relations (3 hrs.)
    • SO405 Urban Sociology (3 hrs.)
    • SO418 Juvenile Delinquency (3 hrs.)
    • SO553 Community Organization and Development (3 hrs.)

 

Philosophy: 1 course/3 credits

  • PI255 Ethics (3 hrs.)
  • PI256 Logic (3 hrs.)

 

The remaining courses required to achieve 70 credits are electives.  These courses should have obvious relevance for a career in public affairs and should be taken from the courses listed below.  In certain cases, a student may find relevant a course not included in this list; such exceptions/substitutions will be permitted only with advance consent of the Director of the Public Affairs Program.

Political Science

  • PO121 American Government: National
  • PO444 Constitutional Law I:  Governmental Institutions
  • PO445 Constitutional Law II:  Civil Liberties
  • PO447 American Presidency
  • PO448 American Judiciary
  • PO449 American Bureaucracy
  • PO750 Public Administration
  • PO757 Seminar in Public Law

 

Economics

  • EC305 Intermediate Microeconomics
  • EC306 Intermediate Macroeconomics
  • EC313 Mathematical Applications for Economics
  • EC351 Labor Economics
  • EC353 Money & Banking
  • EC361 Current Economic Problems
  • EC560 Economic Development

 

Business

  • AC233 Managerial Accounting I
  • AC303 Intermediate Accounting I
  • AC313 Intermediate Accounting II
  • AC333 Cost Accounting
  • AC553 Government and Non-Profit Accounting
  • BU353 Legal Environment of Business
  • BU373 Law of Business Associations
  • MG342 Principles of Management & Organizational Behavior
  • MG443 Organizational Behavior
  • MG444 Personnel/Human Resources Management

 

Data Processing

  • All data processing courses are acceptable for this program, with permission of the Public Affairs Program Director

 

Sociology

  • SO320 Social Stratification
  • SO351 Introduction to Social Welfare
  • SO353 Criminology
  • SO370 Race & Ethnic Relations
  • SO405 Urban Sociology
  • SO418 Juvenile Delinquency
  • SO553 Community Organization and Development

 

Philosophy

  • PI369 World Religions
  • PI412 Theory of Knowledge
  • PI414 Religion in American Culture

 

Geography

  • GE325 Geography of U.S. & Canada
  • GE373 Political Geography
  • GE515 Urban Geography

 

Speech

  • SP222 Argumentation & Debate
  • SP312 Theories of Communication
  • SP315 Small Group Communication

 

Any one of the following foreign language courses: FR110, FR111, FR213, FR495, SA110, SA111, SA213, SA495, GR110, GR111