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.

Political Science (B.A.) At-a-Glance

Minimum Hours Required for Major: 32

Minimum Hours Required for Minor: 16

Department Office and Contacts: Rhodes Tower 1744; Telephone: 687-4541; e-mail address: v.varaljay@csuohio.edu; home page: http://www.csuohio.edu/class/politicalscience. All political science faculty members can be reached through the home page, or by sending an e-mail to them at [first initial].[last name]@csuohio.edu. Several faculty members have their own home pages which can be accessed through the World Wide Web.

Special Tracks and Joint Programs: public service specialization, political communication

Foreign Study Abroad: China (Suzhou), Germany, France (Clermont) and others which can be arranged through the Center for International Services and Programs

Awards: Distinguished Student Award, Distinguished Senior Seminar Paper Award, Outstanding Student Intern Award, Membership in Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society

Admission to the Major: Majors in the regular political science program must complete PSC 111 (Introduction to American Government) prior to declaring their major. Prospective majors are encouraged to take PSC 111 in their freshman year as part of their university General Education requirement. Then, early in the sophomore year, students should arrange a meeting with the department chair to discuss declaring a major. Transfer students from community colleges and other four-year institutions should declare their political science major as soon as possible after arriving on campus. NOTE: The prerequisite of PSC 111 does not apply to International Relations majors.

Advising: All prospective majors should schedule an appointment with the chair to discuss their education and career interests. On the basis of this meeting, students decide which political science program they will follow. They can see their adviser each semester to discuss the next semester's registration and any career or post-B.A. training issues. There are also separate advisers available to assist students with internships in public service or international relations.

Service Courses: In addition to the major, the Department of Political Science offers a number of courses which fulfill the university's General Education Requirements.

• PSC 111 American Government (4 hours)
• PSC 217 African-American Experience in Urban Politics (3 hours)
• PSC 221 Comparative Politics (4 hours)
• PSC 227 Power, Authority and Culture in Nonwestern Communities (4 hours)
• PSC 231 International Politics (4 hours)
• PSC 274 Introduction to the Middle East (4 hours)
• PSC 305 Cultural Diversity in U.S. Politics (4 hours)
• PSC 340 Foundations of Political Thought (4 hours)
• PSC 341 Modern Political Thought (4 hours)
• PSC 342 American Political Thought (4 hours)
• PSC 420 Seminar in American Politics (5 hours)
• PSC 421 Seminar in Comparative Politics (5 hours)
• PSC 422 Senior Seminar in International Relations (5 hours)
• PSC 423 Seminar in Political Theory (5 hours)

Additional Information:

The program in political science is designed to help students understand contemporary public policy, the importance of politics and democracy in their lives, and the means of influencing government to respond to collective needs. The Department of Political Science offers a major and a minor for both day and evening students. Details of the minor program are available in the department office.

The department also offers a public-service specialization as an alternative track to the regular departmental major. This specialization is designed specifically for those majors planning a career in the public sector, although it could prove equally useful to those seeking careers in the private sector. Details of this specialization are available in the department office. The department also offers a separate interdisciplinary major in international relations (see separate listing).

The political science curriculum stresses a broad understanding of the workings of political processes in the United States and abroad; the cultural and ideological bases of modern governments; and the acquisition of skills for evaluating public policies and participating in the political process. Political science bridges liberal arts and sciences, and the Cleveland State Department of Political Science stresses the importance of both scientific and humanistic approaches to the field.

A major in political science helps to prepare students for careers in government, the legal profession, politics, community organizations, national and international nonprofit organizations, journalism and the mass media, and education. Many political science graduates take positions in business and industry as well.

Students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA in political science courses in order to graduate with a major or minor.

Major-Field Requirements

(32 semester hours)

A minimum of 32 hours in political science beyond PSC 111 is required for the major. The program is divided into three parts: the Common Core, Field Distribution Requirements, and Seminar (or Internship)

1. Common Core: 7 hours
• PSC 251 Introduction to Data Analysis (3 hours)
  plus EITHER
• PSC 221 Comparative Politics (4 hours)
  OR
  PSC 231 International Politics (4 hours)
2. Field Distribution Requirements (20 hours at the 300- to 400-level)
1. One course in political theory (PSC 340, 341, 342) (4 hours)
2. Two courses in American politics (8 hours)
   American Politics Courses: PSC 301 Urban Politics and Policy, PSC 305 Cultural Diversity in U.S. Politics, PSC 310 Constitutional Law, PSC 311 Civil Rights & Civil Liberties, PSC 314 State Government & Elections, PSC 315 Public Policy and Administration, PSC 317 Political Parties and Elections, PSC 318 The Presidency and Congress, PSC 319 Public Opinion
3. Two courses in the comparative/international politics field (8 hours)
   Comparative/International Politics Courses: PSC 321 Political Violence, PSC 323 African Politics, PSC 324 Russia & the Successor States, PSC 325 Western European Politics, PSC 326 Politics of the Third World, PSC 327 Politics of Peaceful World Change, PSC 328 International Political Economy, PSC 329 Politics and Political Economy of the European Union; PSC 330 U.S. National Security Policy, PSC 331 U.S. Foreign Policy, PSC 332 Politics in the Middle East, PSC 333 Latin America Politics, PSC 334 Causes of War, PSC 335 East Asian Politics, PSC 337 Canadian Government & Politics, PSC 338 Central & Eastern Europe, PSC 339 Political Economy of Africa & the Middle East
3. Seminar (5 hours) Prerequisite: completion of Common Core and at least one 300- or 400-level course in the field, or permission of the instructor.
   
   • One PSC 400-level seminar in any field
     Seminar Courses:
     PSC 420 American Politics, PSC 421 Comparative Politics, PSC 422 International Politics, PSC 423 Political or Legal Theory, PSC 424 Urban Politics

For more information on Major Requirements click here.