Political Science Department - Requirements - Cleveland State University

Political Science Department

Major and Minor Requirements

Major Requirements Students who seek a political science program oriented toward practical politics and government service can earn a political science major with a specialization in public service. The political science major with public service specialization has the same requirements as the political science major; however, the public service specialization major selects a specific track (Urban, State, or National) and participates in an internship related to that track instead of the senior seminar. Students take one course specifically related to their internship, as well as the usual field distribution requirements for the major.

Public Service Specialization Students who seek a political science program which is more oriented toward practical politics and government service can take the regular political science degree with a specialization in public service. Requirements of this program are identical to those of the political science major with two exceptions: public-service track majors take an internship (PSC 401, 402, 403 or 405, for 6 hours of credit) instead of the senior seminar, as their capstone course. They also take one course specifically related to their internship, as well as the usual field-distribution requirements for the major.

International Relations Major Requirements This major is designed to give students the opportunity to engage in a multi-disciplinary study of the variety of subjects related to international affairs. International relations majors will concentrate in an in-depth study of one of the following areas: International Business and Economics, Asia Studies, Central and Post-Soviet States, Africa and the Middle East, or Latin America and the Caribbean.
Political Communication Major Requitements Students majoring in communication and/or political science may select political communication as a specialization. The School of Communication and the Department of Political Science jointly administer the program, which provides students with a systematic and comprehensive orientation to political communication. This orientation will enable students to understand the role of communication in the political process.
Minor Requirements The Department allows students to earn a minor in American Politics, Law and Theory, Comparative Politics or International Politics.
Middle Eastern Studies (Interdisciplinary Minor) - The Political Science Department participates in the Middle Eastern Studies minor. This program provides a broadly based program that focuses on important Middle Eastern topics in several departments. The United States has a long-term need for a critical mass of professionals in Middle Eastern languages, history, politics and culture, who understand the Middle East, to serve the nation's international relations, diplomatic, homeland security, military and economic needs. No other university in Northeast Ohio has such a program.