POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR

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.

POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR WITH PUBLIC SERVICE SPECIALIZATION

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.