Political Science

What Is Political Science ?

Political science is the study of politics and government, both in the United States and around the world. Political science majors develop strong research and analytical skills while exploring topics such as the philosophies on which governments have been founded, the ways in which citizens affect and are affected by their governments, and relationships within the international community.

Success Factors

Political science majors typically possess (or are willing to develop) the strong analytical skills necessary for interpreting and evaluating arguments. Most like to read and succeed when asked to work independently. Political science students also enjoy vigorous in-class discussion and like to apply their learning to real-world problems as well as to theoretical concerns. Consequently, political science majors enjoy researching and debating different points of view on wide-ranging issues involving politics and public affairs.

Career Possibilities

Like students who graduate with other liberal arts majors, graduates with a BA in political science are prepared for many different career options. While many political science majors use their degree to prepare for law school and eventual legal careers, other students establish careers in:

• state, local and federal government
• party politics
• secondary education
• public relations
• journalism

Majors also pursue graduate degrees in political science, becoming professors and researchers in colleges and universities.

Major Details

The department offers a wide range of courses designed to equip the student with basic and advanced information about political life in this country and abroad; conceptual, communication and methodological skills; normative and analytic theories with which to study contemporary and emerging public issues; and an awareness of how political science relates to the other social sciences and the humanities.

The department's own graduate program (MA and PhD) contributes to undergraduate teaching and learning. Majors belong to the Political Science Student Association, the undergraduate chapter of the Political Science Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha, and have participated in Mock Trial competitions, Model United Nations simulations and Naval Academy conferences. Many students do internships in a variety of governmental, political or legal positions.

McMicken College's flexible degree requirements allow for and highly encourage students to pursue multiple areas of study. Free electives allow for enough credits for students to pursue a minor, certificate program or even complete a second major. Some of the most common pairings are listed below.

• Anthropology
• Communication
• Economics
• Geography
• History
• International human rights
• Journalism
• Languages or area studies
• Psychology
• Security studies
• Sociology

Minor Details

Students minoring in political science must complete a total of 30 hours with no less than a 2.0 grade point average.  Students should declare the POL minor.
I. Four Introductory Courses (12 hours from the following):
15 POL 110                 Introduction to American Politics I
15 POL 111                 Introduction to American Politics II
15 POL 140                 Introduction to Political Theory
15 POL 160                 Introduction to Comparative Politics
15 POL 180                 Introduction to International Relations

II. Six Upper Level Courses (18 hours from the following list.  The list is organized by subfields in political science, but students can take any combination of courses they choose, based on their own interests and goals.  Each course counts only once, but some are listed under multiple subfields.)

American Politics
15 POL 210                 American Political Behavior
15 POL 211/511          Election in America
15 POL 212/512          Political Parties
15 POL 214                 Introduction to Public Opinion
15 POL 216                 State and Local Government
15 POL 217                 The Government and Politics of Ohio
15 POL 219                 The American Presidency
15 POL 220                 The American Congress
*15 POL 221               The American Supreme Court
*15 POL 222               Judicial Process
15 POL 231/531          Government and Public Policy
15 POL 232                 Community Disaster Reconstruction
15 POL 314/523          Women and Politics
15 POL 315                 Electing the President
15 POL 318                 Urban Politics
15 POL 319                 Religion, Elections, and Politics
*15 POL 321               Constitutional Law: Federal System
*15 POL 322               Constitutional Law: Civil Rights
*15 POL 323               Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties
15 POL 430                 Practicum in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
15 POL 310/510          American Public Opinion 
15 POL 513                 Campaign Management and Elections (Formerly 15 POL 213)
15 POL 514                 Communication and Presidential Campaigns
15 POL 515                 The Rhetoric of Presidential Debates
15 POL 316/516          Polls, Elections, and Politics
15 POL 517                 Media and US Politics (Formerly POL 317)
15 POL 518                 The Rhetorical Presidency
15 POL 524                 Women and Campaign Communication
15 POL 525                 Domestic Sources of American Foreign Policy
15 POL 526                 Public Administration (Formerly 15 POL 226)
15 POL 527                 Religion, Science, and Politics
15 POL 534                 Emergency Management Policy (Formerly 15 POL 334)
15 POL 535                 American Health Policy (Formerly 15 POL 235)
15 POL 536                 Public Administration and Intergovernmental Rel. (Formerly 15 POL 326)
15 POL 547                 Politics and Literature
15 POL 555                 Introduction to Survey Research  (Formerly 15 POL 255)
15 POL 557                 Proseminar in Survey Research
15 POL 559                 Practicum in Survey Research

Political Theory
15 POL 240                 Development of Political Thought I
15 POL 241                 Development of Political Thought II
15 POL 245                 American Political Thought
15 POL 248                 Mass Political Movements
15 POL 344                 The Internet and Democratic Politics
15 POL 348                 Politics of Protest
15 POL 440                 Individual Work: Political Theory
15 POL 540                 Progressive Political Theory  (Formerly 15 POL 340)
15 POL 541                 Marx and Marxist Tradition  (Formerly 15 POL 341)
15 POL 543                 Citizenship and Terror (Formerly 15 POL 343)
15 POL 546                 State Theory (Formerly 15 POL 346)

Comparative Politics
15 POL 269                 Politics in Developing Countries
15 POL 380/587          Regional Politics in Asia
15 POL 560                 Approaches to Comparative Politics  (Formerly 15 POL 360)
15 POL 561                 Government and Politics of Japan (Formerly 15 POL 261)
15 POL 562                 Government and Politics of Korea (Formerly 15 POL 262)
15 POL 563                 Government and Politics of China (Formerly 15 POL 263)
15 POL 564                 Politics in South Asia (Formerly 15 POL 264)
15 POL 565                 Government and Politics of Latin America (Formerly 15 POL 265)
15 POL 566                 Government and Politics of Canada (Formerly 15 POL 266)
15 POL 567                 Civil War and Political Violence (Formerly 15 POL 367)
15 POL 568                 Nationalism and Identity Politics (Formerly 15 POL 368)
15 POL 570                 Comparative Political Behavior (Formerly 15 POL 270)
15 POL 571                 Government and Politics of Middle East I (Formerly 15 POL 271)
15 POL 572                 Government and Politics of Middle East II (Formerly 15 POL 272)
15 POL 574                 Government and Politics of Russia (Formerly 15 POL 274)
15 POL 575                 Government and Politics of East & Central Europe (Formerly 15 POL 275)
15 POL 576                 Politics of the European Union (Formerly 15 POL 376)
15 POL 577                 Government and Politics of Europe I (Formerly 15 POL 277)
15 POL 578                 Government and Politics of Europe II (Formerly 15 POL 278)
15 POL 579                 Women and Politics in the Third World (Formerly 15 POL 365)
15 POL 586                 Security and Conflict-Asia

International Relations
15 POL 280 / 580        Approaches to International Politics
15 POL 281 / 581        US Foreign Relations: Institutions & Processes
15 POL 282 / 582        NATO and Alliances in International Politics
15 POL 283 / 583        International Cooperation
15 POL 284 / 584        National Security Policy
15 POL 285 / 585        Politics of Terrorism
15 POL 286 / 586        Security & Conflict in Asia 
*15 POL 287               Politics of Human Rights
*15 POL 288               International Law
*15 POL 289               International Organization
15 POL 293                 Intelligence/Counterintelligence
15 POL 380 / 587         Regional Politics in Asia
15 POL 588                 US Foreign Policy: Globalization (Formerly 15 POL 382)
15 POL 589                 International Conflict (Formerly 15 POL 383)
15 POL 590                 International Crisis Management (Formerly 15 POL 384)
15 POL 591                 International Politics in East Asia (Formerly 15 POL 386)
15 POL 592                 International Political Economy (Formerly 15 POL 389)

Additional Electives  (optional and only with department permission)
15 POL 406                 Internship Practicum
15 POL 253                 Political Inquiry I: Approaches
15 POL 254                 Political Inquiry II: Methods
* recommended for pre-law students

Curriculum

This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this major. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.

If you are currently enrolled at UC, you can audit your degree online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the course applicability system (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.

 *Needed to fulfill A&S college requirements.

Special Opportunities

Students in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, Tri-state location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

Special Programs

Political science majors belong to the Political Science Student Association and the undergraduate chapters of the national law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta and the national honor society in political science Pi Sigma Alpha.

Students are also eligible to apply for grants for research and travel from The Charles Phelps Taft Research Center.

Special programs include honors, independent study, internships, credit for approved field projects in the metropolitan area and competitive congressional internships in Washington, D.C. 

Admission Requirements

Admission criteria for this program vary based on the relative strength of test scores, class rank and GPA. Please see the Freshman Class Profile for this major in the Quick Facts sidebar on this page for the range of academic credentials typically accepted into this program. Test scores in the lower range may be acceptable with higher class rank and/or GPA. Freshmen applying to this program should also have completed the following state of Ohio articulation requirements with no more than two units missing:

• English (4 units)*
• College-preparatory mathematics (3 units)*
• Science (2 units)
• Social science (2 units)
• Foreign language (2 units)*
• Fine arts (1 unit)
• Additional college-prep subjects (2 units)

*McMicken College of Arts & Sciences does not allow units missing from these areas.

Transfer Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was not in any of the UC colleges must apply to the Office of Admissions. Applicants in this category must submit transcripts for all secondary school and college-level work. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all college-level work is required for admission consideration. Admission to A&S is generally available for any off-campus applicants who have received an associate degree from an accredited college or university and whose cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher.

Although midyear off-campus transfer students are not able to participate in priority registration in the quarter prior to their enrollment, they are included in the summer registration period prior to their fall quarter enrollment.

Changing Major Requirements

Applicants to A&S whose most recent enrollment was as a degree student in one of UC's other colleges can apply directly to the A&S college office. Admission to A&S is generally available for any on-campus students who have:

• at least a 2.0 GPA in all college-level courses (both at UC and at other institutions),
• successfully completed two quarters of English Composition or its equivalent, and
• gained credit for a college-level mathematics course.

Further details on individual programs are available online or in the A&S Office of Undergraduate Affairs and Advising (102 McMicken Hall).

Additional information regarding transfer students is available in the McMicken College Bulletin.

Graduation Requirements

In addition to meeting the university general education requirements, the requirements listed in the college bulletin are common to all potential graduates of the college, whether they are pursuing a bachelor of arts, bachelor of science or bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree.

Application Deadlines

UC operates on a quarter system, with 10-week grading periods beginning in late September, early January, late March and mid-June. While midyear admission is possible, the fall is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin in that quarter. Applicants to the UC McMicken College of Arts and Sciences who are enrolled or who were previously enrolled as degree students in other A&S programs or in other UC colleges should apply for admission directly to A&S (in McMicken 102). All other applicants who wish to earn an undergraduate degree from A&S should apply through the Office of Admissions (3rd Floor, University Pavilion).