Programs

The Major in Political Science provides students with a well rounded and solid grounding in the discipline with opportunities to develop more specialized expertise in their areas of interest. Students are required to take 39 credits in Political Science, including three required courses and at least two courses from four of the six more specialized areas in the major. For a detailed look at the major requirements, please see the link for the Political Science Curriculum Guide.

Political Science is the most common major for students interested in law school. SRU offers a robust Prelaw Program that is open to students of all majors.

In addition to the Political Science Major, there are four minors in our department.

Political Science: International Politics

If you aspire to resolve persistent global problems, appreciate the diversity of world cultures, have an aptitude for diplomatic and strategic thinking, and are fascinated by the political and economic forces that shape the international community, then International Politics is for you.

For additional information, please see International Politics.

Political Science: Law and Politics

If you are interested in political science and intend to pursue a law degree upon graduation, you should choose this concentration in order to develop skills critical to law school success, including argumentation and debate, briefing cases, remembering detailed information, excellent writing skills, and confidence communicating ideas in the classroom.

For additional information, please see Law and Politics.

Political Science: Professional Politics

If you want to be a player in political negotiations, whether as an elected official or a staffer behind the scenes, the Professional Politics degree is for you.

For additional information, please see Professional Politics.

Political Science: Public Policy

If you want to tackle complex social problems like the shortage of affordable housing, high child poverty rate, rising economic inequality, community decline, or global climate change, our Public Policy program is for you. If you want to make a difference in your community by playing a role in the public policy process, this major will give you the toolset to make a difference.

For additional information, please see Public Policy.

Minor in Political Science

All human societies are embedded in complex political systems. Learning how these political systems work is both relevant to how we live, and inherently interesting. A grounding in political science compliments many majors and careers.

Students who select this minor will be able to select from a broad range of courses within the discipline that meet their interests and needs. Students can learn about the American political system, the international system, how other countries are organized and how they work politically, and can study political theory, policy making and political behavior.

For additional information, please see the Political Science Minor.

Minor in American Politics

The American Politics Minor will appeals to students who are particularly interested in American institutions and political processes. Students can gain a broad-based understanding of American politics and a deeper knowledge of a select sub-field. Depending the interests of the student, s/he can opt to focus on political behavior of individual actors, of political institutions (Congress, the executive branch, the federal judiciary and state and local government), or of quasi-institutions (political parties, interest groups, and the media).

Students in this minor will gain a solid understanding of American Politics that can serve them well in many careers, such as law, government, teaching and business (most businesses interact extensively with multiple levels of government). The minor will also provide students with the tools that they need to function successfully in campaigns, in political party organizations, in positions within the executive and legislative branches, in government agencies at the federal, state and local levels, and in non-profit organizations, including interest groups.

For additional information, please see the American Politics Minor Curriculum Guide.

International Affairs Minor

The interdisciplinary minor in international affairs prepares a student for a life and career in an increasingly globalized world. Its mix of classes, language skills, and international experience provides a valuable addition to many majors, including for example, those in business, health care, education, the arts, and geology, geography and the environment. Built upon a core of classes from several departments, as well as a wide range of electives, the minor encourages students to move beyond their major to see how it fits into the context of global issues, while introducing them to cultures other than their own.

The minor in international affairs complements several degrees and programs, including political science, history, economics, ROTC, public health, modern languages, communications, geography, and area studies. It contributes to a skill set that is valuable for a wide range of careers, from businessman to FBI agent, lawyer to doctor, news producer to banker, financier to humanitarian aid worker. Graduates with this minor work in the private sector, government, and non-government organizations.

Comparative Politics and International Relations Minor

This minor provides students with the opportunity to study the field of comparative politics, which uses a comparative method to study politics in different countries. In addition to a focus on various political institutions and regime types within an array of countries, the minor emphasizes the study of the relationships among countries and represents both an academic and a public policy field. This helps students learn to analyze and understand the formulation of state policies and the interactions of states in the international arena.

The minor in comparative politics and international relations prepares students for a wide range of possible opportunities following graduation. It can open doors to graduate programs in political science, international relations or international law. This minor helps to prepare students for careers in government, civil service, non-profit sectors, secondary or higher education, and business, because business is highly globalized in today's world.

For additional information about this minor, please see the Curriculum Guide for the Minor in Comparative Politics and International Relations.

Political Science

Programs

Political Science

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