Political Science (B.A., Major and Minor)
We often hear that politics and government are light-years removed from the lives and concerns of real people. Many believe politics is a dirty business and best left for politicians working in places like the county courthouse, the state capital, the White House, and the United Nations.
We here in the Department of Political Science couldn’t disagree more.
In fact, a major in Political Science will drag this nebulous “political world” into the light of the real world (They’re actually much closer together than you think). We will explore what politicians and political scientists mean when they use abstract words such as power, government, distribution of scarce resources, political culture, freedom, and equality.
We will also help you answer questions like: How is power in America exercised and distributed? What are the sources of conflict in society? Why is there turmoil in the Middle East and what is the role of the United States in that turmoil? Is war ever justified? What do we really mean when we talk about justice? Is there a difference between what governments do and what people really want? How do politics and government in West Virginia compare with that of other states? What kind of world might we live in when your children are getting ready for college? And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Political Science is a fascinating, in-depth look at your world.
Requirements for a Political Science Minor :
Students wishing to minor in Political Science must complete 15 hours of coursework drawn from any of the courses listed in the major.
Requirements for a Political Science Major:
A major in Political Science requires 36 credit hours. In addition to fulfilling all of the requirements for both the Marshall Plan and the College of Liberal Arts, there are four components for a Political Science Major. Students must complete all four components to graduate.
(1) General Requirements (12 credit hours):
The Department of Political Science believes that certain information, as well as critical thinking and research skills, are important to ALL majors. Therefore, ALL students must take the following four courses:
- 104 – American National Government and Politics: (some Writing Intensive sections). Offered every semester.
- 105 – Fundamentals of Politics. Offered every semester.
- 211 – Scope and Method in Political Science. Successful completion of PSC 211 also completes the Marshall Plan’s computer literacy/ competency requirement. Offered only in fall semesters. Should be taken sophomore year.
- 499 – Capstone Experience. (Writing Intensive) Beginning the 2011/12 academic year, this will be offered only in spring semesters. PSC 211 is a prerequisite for 499. Should be taken junior or senior year.
Please plan accordingly.
(2) Depth of knowledge requirements/Concentration (9 credit hours):
The Department of Political Science believes that students should explore one area of Political Science in depth. Students must therefore pick ONE of the subfields listed below and take any THREE courses from it. This will be your concentration.
(3) Breadth of knowledge requirements (9 credit hours):
The Department of Political Science also believes that students should also have a breadth of knowledge across different topics in Political Science. Thus, students must take at least ONE course in THREE subfields other than their concentration.
(4) Major Electives (6 credit hours):
There are six credit hours left in the major after the requirements above are completed. Therefore, students must pick two additional three credit courses to round out the major and complete the 36 required PSC credits. These two courses will be your major electives.
Subfields
In the Department of Political Science, we currently have 7 subfields or more specialized courses of study. These courses are usually offered once every two years (with some exceptions). Please talk to your advisor about when these courses might be offered. You’ll notice that some courses are listed in more than one subfield. These courses may not be counted more than once to meet the requirements for the major. For example, PSC 381 (American Legislative Process) may count in EITHER American State, Local, and Urban Politics OR it may count in American National Politics – not both.
American State, Local, and Urban Politics:
- 202 American State Government and Politics (some Writing Intensive sections)
- 301 Urban Government and Politics
- 376 Black Politics
- 381 The American Legislative Process
- 383 The American Executive Process
- 436 The American Judiciary (Writing Intensive)
- 440 Power in American Society
- 461 Urban Problems and Public Policy
American National Politics:
- 303 American Political Parties
- 307 Public Opinion and Propaganda
- 376 Black Politics
- 381 The American Legislative Process
- 383 The American Executive Process
- 417 Homeland Security and Civil Liberties
- 423 American Foreign Policy
- 436 The American Judiciary (Writing Intensive)
- 440 Power in American Society
- 442 Politics and Welfare (Writing Intensive)
- 460 Civil Rights and Liberties
- 484 Constitutional Law
- 446 Politics in History
Comparative Politics (all count for International credit):
- 207 Comparative Politics
- 407 Asian Politics
- 408 Middle Eastern Politics
- 409 Western Democratic Politics
- 410 Post Soviet Politics
- 411 Latin American Politics
- 422 African Political Systems
- 424 Comparative Foreign Policy
- 428 Islamic Political Ideas and Institutions
- 429 The Politics of Conflict and Revolution
International Politics (all count for International credit):
- 209 Fundamentals of International Relations
- 405 International Organization
- 406 International Politics
- 412 International Political Economy
- 415 International Law
- 416 Politics of Development
- 420 Current World and Regional Issues
- 423 American Foreign Policy
- 424 Comparative Foreign Policy
- 429 The Politics of Conflict and Revolution
- 431 Politics of Global Terrorism
Political Theory:
- 200 Models of Politics
- 418 American Political Thought II: Reconstruction to Present (Writing Intensive)
- 419 Women and Political Thought (Writing Intensive)
- 421 American Political Thought I: Founding to Civil War (Writing Intensive)
- 425 Ancient and Medieval Political Thought (Writing Intensive)
- 426 Modern Political Thought (Writing Intensive)
- 428 Islamic Political Ideas and Institutions
- 429 The Politics of Conflict and Revolution
- 430 Political Ideologies (Writing Intensive)
- 446 Politics in History
Public Administration and Public Policy:
- 233 Introduction to Public Policy
- 311 Issues in Public Policy
- 333 Introduction to Public Administration
- 417 Homeland Security and Civil Liberties
- 433 Public Administration and Policy Development
- 442 Politics and Welfare
- 450 Administrative Law
- 452 Public Personnel Adminisration
- 453 Governmental Budgetary Administration
- 454 Administrative Organization and Behavior
Constitutional Democracy
- 418 American Political Thought II: Reconstruction to Present (Writing Intensive)
- 421 American Political Thought I: Founding to Civil War (Writing Intensive)
- 427 Shapers and Definers
- 429 The Politics of Conflict and Revolution
- 436 The American Judiciary (Writing Intensive)
- 444 Dictatorship and Democracy
- 446 Politics in History
- 460 Civil Rights and Liberties
- 484 Constitutional Law
Courses that appear in more than one subfield may not be counted twice.
Additional Credit Hours
Internship Credits
There are many opportunities for internships at Marshall. Please click here for detailed internship information. Internship credits will vary.
- 382 Student Legislative Program (1 credit hour)
- 489 Seminar in Public Service (3 credit hours)
- 490 Public Service Internship (6 credit hours)
Selected Topics
From time to time, the Department of Political Science will offer “Selected Topics” courses in various subfields at the 200 and 400 levels. Often these courses revolve around current events and/or timely topics not covered in regular courses. Please check each semester’s course schedule for course availability. Before signing up for one of these courses, please check with your advisor to see which subfield requirement each Selected Topics course fulfills.
- 280-283 Special Topics (1-4 credit hours)
- 480-483 Selected Topics (1-4 credit hours)
Independent Study/Readings in Honors in Political Science
Independent Study/Honors Readings courses are designed with the specific interests of a student and a faculty member in mind. Students may approach faculty with ideas for these courses. If the faculty member agrees to direct the course, the student and faculty member will then set up a detailed course of study, including reading list and research/writing schedules. Most Independent Study/Honors Readings courses include a substantial research paper.
- 485-488 Independent Study (1-4 credit hours)
- 495H-496H Readings for Honors in Political Science (2-4 credit hours)
General Electives
As you fulfill all of your requirements (PSC major, Marshall Plan, and College of Liberal Arts), you might have some general electives – classes that might not meet any other requirements, but which are necessary for you to obtain the 128 credit hours needed to graduate. For Political Science majors, recommended electives include Economics (especially 250 and 253); History 205 and 206 (for pre-law students), 230, 231; Accounting 215 and 216 (for pre-law students); Philosophy; Psychology; Sociology; Communications Studies 310; and English 408.
