Academic Standards and Requirements
Political Science Majors

Goals of the Program

• To acquire a knowledge and understanding of government and politics and their impact on the individual and society

• To analyze the various models of government and the strengths and weaknesses of these political systems

• To understand the dynamics of relations among nations, the forces of both integration and fragmentation in the global community

• To examine the foundations and function of the American political system and the democratic principles of freedom, individual liberty and equality

• To learn the responsibilities and duties of citizenship in a free society

• To explore avenues for the promotion of domestic and international peace and justice


Objectives: Students will:

• Understand the ideological foundation, the structure and functions of various political systems and their relationship to the individual and the society

• Be able to evaluate the positive and negative feature of comparative governments, including the U.S. government

• Appreciate the current challenges facing the international community, the institutions for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the factors which contribute to rational and irrational behavior among nations

• Become interested, informed and active citizens

• Develop their critical and analytical skills, as well as their oral, written and research skills


General Education Requirements:
All Political Science courses fulfill the general education requirement with the exception of POL 450/451 (internships), POL 470 (independent study) and POL 490 (senior seminar).