Political Science, B.A.
Upon successful completion of the program of studies for Political Science, the student will receive a B.A. in Political Science and will have given evidence of the following outcomes and goals:
- Students will apply the theories and history of political institutions in the United States and other nations to analyze political situations and events.
- Students will effectively communicate, through written and oral argument, an analysis of significant political issues, events, and concepts using appropriate evidence.
- Students will integrate their learning through a capstone seminar paper that demonstrates the ability to research, write, and document a research paper/assignment based on primary and secondary sources and apply appropriate skills of synthesis, argument, and analysis.
- Students will apply the values of Mercy to the range of questions that political scientists pose, thereby developing a commitment to engaged citizenship and a just society.
- Students will be challenged to integrate their political science study with experiential learning: internships, travel abroad, study abroad, and/or service learning.
To earn this degree, students must successfully complete at least 120 credits, including General Education requirements and the major requirements below.
Major Sequence
The 36 credits in the major entail 24 credits of required courses (6 of which count as General Education credits) and 12 credits of electives. In addition, the student is required to take MA103 Introduction to Statistical Thinking, which fulfills the general education mathematics requirement. The electives will be chosen from among two clusters: 6 credits is required from among political science, criminal justice, or religious studies (Catholic social justice ethics) and 6 credits from among history courses. An International Relations concentration is optional.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses 1 | 24.0 | |
Contemporary Economics 2 | ||
or EC181 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
Social Statistics | ||
American National Government 1 | ||
Modern Political Thought 2 | ||
International Relations | ||
Research Methods in Political Science | ||
Comparative Politics | ||
Seminar in Political Science | ||
Cluster 1: Pol Sci / Other Soc Sci / Relig Studies / Internships 1 | 6.0 | |
Constitutional Law (will be cross-listed as PO) | ||
Political Crimes & Terrorism (will be cross-listed as PO) | ||
State & Local Government in America (PO221 counts as a social science General Education course) | ||
or PO330 | N.J. Government & Politics | |
U.S. Presidency | ||
U.S. Congress | ||
Parties & Elections | ||
Internship in Political Science | ||
Social Justice Ethics 3 | ||
Cluster 2: Modern History 1 | 6.0 | |
Modern Asian History | ||
U.S. Politics & Society, 1890-1945 | ||
America Since 1945 | ||
Gandhi & King | ||
America & the World Since 1898 | ||
Vietnam & America | ||
or HST332 | U.S. & 9/11 Wars & Era | |
Comparative Empires | ||
Modern Latin America | ||
Modern Middle East | ||
Europe Since 1914 | ||
Total Credits | 36.0 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
International Relations Concentration (Optional) 1 | 15.0 | |
The Global Business Environment | ||
or EC382 | International Finance & Economics | |
or EC481 | Comparative Economic Systems | |
Political Crimes & Terrorism (will be cross-listed as PO) | ||
International Human Rights Law | ||
or CJ375 | Global Justice & Law | |
Modern Asian History | ||
America & the World Since 1898 | ||
Vietnam & America | ||
or HST332 | U.S. & 9/11 Wars & Era | |
Comparative Empires | ||
Modern Latin America | ||
Modern Middle East | ||
Europe Since 1914 | ||
Comparative Politics |
- 1
No more than 6 credits toward the requirements for the Political Science degree may be earned in any combination of internships, independent study, or study abroad.
- 2
Counts as a social science General Education course.
- 3
Counts as an ethics General Education course.
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall Semester | Credits | |
GEN101 | Pathway to the Bridge 1 | 2.0 |
EN111 or EN221 |
Academic Writing and Research I 1 or Honors Argument: Rhetoric & Research |
3.0 |
MA103 | Introduction to Statistical Thinking (prerequisite for SO201) 2 | 3.0 |
History 1 | 3.0 | |
PO211 | American National Government 1, 2 | 3.0 |
Credits | 14.0 | |
Spring Semester | ||
GEN199 | WI:Discovering Self in the Universe 1 | 3.0 |
Literature or Nat. Science 1 | 3.0-4.0 | |
Mod. Lang. or V&P Arts 1 | 3.0 | |
SO/PO201 | Social Statistics 2 | 3.0 |
PO233 | Modern Political Thought 1, 2 | 3.0 |
Credits | 15.0-16.0 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
Literature or Nat. Science 1 | 3.0-4.0 | |
EC180 or EC181 |
Contemporary Economics 1, 2 or Principles of Macroeconomics |
3.0 |
Political Science Major Course 2 | 3.0 | |
PO250 | International Relations 2 | 3.0 |
Elective | 3.0 | |
Credits | 15.0-16.0 | |
Spring Semester | ||
PL245 | Philosophical Inquiry (or Religous Studies) 1 | 3.0 |
PO275 | Research Methods in Political Science 2 | 3.0 |
Poltical Science Major Course 2 | 3.0 | |
Elective | 3.0 | |
Elective | 3.0 | |
Credits | 15.0 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
PL245 | Philosophical Inquiry (or Religious Studies) 1 | 3.0 |
Mod. Lang. or V&P Arts 1 | 3.0 | |
Political Science Major Course 2 | 3.0 | |
Political Science Major Course 2 | 3.0 | |
Elective | 3.0 | |
Credits | 15.0 | |
Spring Semester | ||
Select one of the following: 1 | 3.0 | |
Ethics |
||
Shaping Lives: Women & Gender | ||
WI:Visioning a Future | ||
Select one of the following: 1 | 3.0 | |
Ethics |
||
Shaping Lives: Women & Gender | ||
WI:Visioning a Future | ||
Political Science Major Course 2 | 3.0 | |
Elective | 3.0 | |
Elective | 3.0 | |
Credits | 15.0 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
Select one of the following: 1 | 3.0 | |
Ethics |
||
Shaping Lives: Women & Gender | ||
WI:Visioning a Future | ||
Elective | 3.0 | |
Elective | 3.0 | |
Elective | 3.0 | |
Elective | 3.0 | |
Credits | 15.0 | |
Spring Semester | ||
Elective | 3.0 | |
PO475 | Seminar in Political Science 2 | 3.0 |
Elective | 3.0 | |
Elective | 3.0 | |
Elective | 3.0 | |
Credits | 15.0 | |
Total Credits | 119.0-121.0 |
- 1
General Education
- 2
Major