General Catalog 2007-2009

Department of History and Political Science

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The Department of History and Political Science offers Baccalaureate degree programs in History, Political Science and Secondary Education Social Studies. The department is committed to scholarly and teaching excellence in order to prepare students for success in a wide variety of careers in government, public history, education, law, lobbying, public service, advocacy, journalism, business, management, and administration as well as for graduate and professional study in many areas, including law school. The Department also offers minors in African & African-American Studies, American History, World History, Geography, Political Science, Public Administration and International Studies. The Department also works with the Education Department to prepare students for careers in secondary education.

The Department offers a rich selection of courses to support the College’s general education program and to offer both breadth and depth for its majors. It is able to offer all students the opportunity to develop a global perspective which brings together the past and the present in order to understand the complexity, diversity and inter-relatedness of the world.

A wide variety of extracurricular activities and programs is sponsored by the Department. These include a student journal, Past and Present, which showcases student writing and research, chapters of national honor societies in History (Phi Alpha Theta) and Political Science (Pi Sigma Alpha) and many opportunities for independent research and internships in a variety of settings. Students may also compete for a variety of awards to support independent research and to recognize academic excellence.

Baccalaureate Degree Programs

Bachelor of Arts Degree in History

This curriculum is built on the premise that a knowledge about the past provides us, collectively and individually, with a better sense of who we are and where we are heading. The study of History sharpens our skills as thinkers and writers, and it prepares us for a variety of roles in our lives. In addition to traditional courses of study, students majoring in History are afforded opportunities in oral history, public history, and a wide spectrum of internship experiences in museums and historic sites.

Requirements For Graduation:

To be eligible for graduation, students majoring in History must complete a minimum of 124 credits, achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher, satisfy the College’s residency requirements, and complete the General Education Requirements of the College. Courses used to complete general education requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis, and credits earned in WRT100 may not be applied to degree requirements.

In addition, students majoring in history must maintain a 2.0 grade point average in the course requirements of the major and receive a grade of 2.0 or higher in all history courses.

Required Courses in History Major (54 credits):

History (suggested course sequence)

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science

Political scientists study the formal and informal political processes that shape public policy. As a discipline, political science combines both humanistic and scientific perspectives in order to understand the behavior of individuals, groups, nations and international organizations. The Department offers courses in all of the major fields of the discipline (American Government and Politics, Comparative Politics, Constitutional Law, International Relations, Political Theory, Methodology, and Public Administration.

The major is designed to provide a firm foundation in all sub-fields and to provide sufficient flexibility for students to pursue their own intellectual interests with both breadth and depth. It provides a basis for informed participation in community organizations, electoral politics, national and world affairs and public policy. Students receive a solid foundation for graduate study, including law, as well as for a wide variety of careers in both the public and private sector. Students often explore these possibilities through internships with government agencies, parties and groups, law firms and selected business and non-profits.

Requirements For Graduation:

To be eligible for graduation, students majoring in political science must complete a minimum of 124 credits, achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher, satisfy the College’s residency requirements, and complete the General Education Requirements of the College. Courses used to complete general education requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis, and credits earned in WRT100 may not be applied to degree requirements.

In addition, students majoring in political science must maintain a 2.0 grade point average in the course requirements of the major and receive a grade of 2.0 or higher in all political science courses.

Required Courses: Political Science Major (60 credits)

Political Science: (suggested course sequence)

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