B.S. in Political Science
Program Chair: Bill Vitek
Program Goals
Political Science investigates the institutions, practices, traditions, concepts and rules by means of which human beings organize their lives in common and govern themselves.
Courses in Political Science enable students to use empirical analyses and theoretical constructs to understand political aspects of their world, both in the United States and in other parts of the globe.
Students majoring in Political Science will acquire:
- a comprehensive understanding of politics, political institutions, and the processes involved in translating values and information into public policy and legislation.
- a grasp of the leading theories and disputes animating the various subfields of Political Science.
- an appreciation of the facets of citizenship needed to participate fully in political life.
Through their Political Science major at Clarkson, students will also gain the ability to:
- Write clearly and persuasively
- Speak effectively in a group setting
- Think critically
- Understand and analyze complex problems
- Examine and interpret evidence
- Organize and synthesize large amounts of information
Program Requirements*
120 credit hours, comprising:
- 1 credit Introduction to the Liberal Arts pre-seminar
- 8 courses in political science ideally including one each in
- American Politics
- Political Theory
- International Politics
- Law and Public Policy
- The Humanities/Social Sciences Research Seminar
- 5 courses in a pre-professional concentration
- Fulfillment of the requirements of the Clarkson Common Experience
Political Science majors will take POL 220, American Politics and a series of courses chosen in consultation with their advisors to develop a coherent program of study. Students have the opportunity to develop areas of expertise in American Politics, Public Policy, Political Theory or Environmental Politics.
Students majoring in Political Science are required to take a concentration of at least five courses in a pre-professional field, such as pre-law, pre-med, pre-physical therapy, business or communications and media. This concentration provides students with opportunities to increase career choices, while at the same time exploring a wide variety of interests through their major.
* Courses taken to fulfill requirements for a Humanities/Social Sciences Major cannot be used to fulfill requirements for a Humanities and Social Sciences Minor.
| Political Science Courses | |||
| POL210 | Introduction to Politics & Policy | POL350 | (SOC350) International |
| POL220 | American Politics | Development and Social Change | |
| POL250 | Politics in Cross-National Perspective | POL351 | (SOC351) Globalization |
| POL251 | Introduction to International Politics | POL362 | Human Rights, Law and Politics |
| POL301 | Political Theory | POL371 | Environmental Law |
| POL302 | Social & Political Thought in the 20th Century | POL380 | (PHIL380) The Law and Bioethics |
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POL320 |
The American Political Tradition | POL390-99 | Special Topics in Political Science |
| POL391 | Causes of War | ||
| POL400 | Constitutional Law | ||
| POL470 | (SOC470/570) Environmental Policy | ||
| SS380 | Research Methods | ||
| Cognate Philosophy Courses | |||
| PHIL200 | Introduction to Philosophy | PHIL320 | Citizenship and the American Tradition |
| PHIL240 | Contemporary Moral Issues | PHIL341 | Professional Ethics |
| PHIL241 | Medical Ethics | PHIL370 | Environmental Ethics |
| PHIL243 | Business Ethics | PHIL420 | Philosophy of the American Founding |
| PHIL270 | American Environmentalism | ||
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Curriculum |
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FIRST YEAR |
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First Semester
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Second Semester
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| Course | Title |
Cr. Hrs.
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Course | Title |
Cr. Hrs.
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| UNIV190 | Clarkson Seminar |
3
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PSCI MAJOR COURSE |
3
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| Hu/SS/120 | Introduction to Liberal Arts |
1
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Statistics |
3
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| Common Experience | Common Experience | |||||
| Math Requirement |
4
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Science Requirement |
3
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| (MA 180 recommended) |
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Common Experience | ||||
| PSCI MAJOR COURSE |
3
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Knowledge Area Course |
3
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| at 200 Level |
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Pre-professional | ||||
| Free Elective |
3
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Concentration or | ||||
| FY100 | First-Year Seminar |
1
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Free Elective |
3
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15
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15
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SOPHOMORE YEAR |
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First Semester
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Second Semester
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| Course | Title |
Cr. Hrs.
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Course | Title |
Cr. Hrs.
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| PSCI MAJOR COURSE |
3
|
PSCI MAJOR COURSE |
3
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| Common Experience | Common Experience | |||||
| Knowledge Area Course |
3
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Knowledge Area Course |
3
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| Pre-professional |
3
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Pre-professional |
3
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| Concentration |
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Concentration |
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| Free Elective |
3
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Free Elective |
3
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| Common Experience | Free Elective |
3
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| Science Requirement |
4
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15
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16
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JUNIOR YEAR |
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First Semester
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Second Semester
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| Course | Title |
Cr. Hrs.
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Course | Title |
Cr. Hrs.
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| PSCI MAJOR COURSE |
3
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PSCI MAJOR COURSES |
6
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| PSCI MAJOR COURSE |
3
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or Free Electives |
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| or Free Elective |
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Common Experience | ||||
| Common Experience | Knowledge Area or |
3
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| Knowledge Area or |
3
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University Course |
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| University Course |
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Pre-professional |
3
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| Pre-professional |
3
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Concentration |
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| Concentration |
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Free Elective or | ||||
| Free Elective or | Common Experience | |||||
| Common Experience | Technology and |
3
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| Technology and |
3
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Humanity Course |
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| Humanity Course |
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15
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15
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SENIOR YEAR |
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First Semester
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Second Semester
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| Course | Title |
Cr. Hrs.
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Course | Title |
Cr. Hrs.
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| H/SS RESEARCH | H/SS RESEARCH SEMINAR |
3
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| SEMINAR (C2) or | (C2) or MAJOR COURSE |
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| MAJOR COURSE |
3
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Free Electives |
12
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| Pre-professional |
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| Concentration or |
3
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15
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| Free Elective |
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| Knowledge Area or |
3
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| University Course |
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| Free Electives |
6
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15
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