About the Program
About the Government, Planning, and Philosophy Department
Cassety Hall 202
1300 Elmwood Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-6116
gpp.buffalostate.edu
Political science is the study of government and politics. The major is divided into five areas: American government and politics, international politics, comparative government and politics, political theory, and public law.
Students gain an understanding of government and politics through classes distributed among the five areas and a combination of directed research and experiential learning, e.g. participation in scholarly conferences and/or internships at the national, state or local level. Students are thus prepared for an array of career options in both the public and private sectors.
The Bachelor of Arts program in Political Science enables students to concentrate their studies in Public Legal Studies or commit to a broader program of study under the General Political Science concentration.
Admission Requirements
Any matriculated student in good academic standing may declare this program.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
1. Appraise the existing literature in a given topic area of political science and how the major historical schools of thought explain that topic
2. Implement skills to generate scientific hypothesis in a given topic area of political science
3. Implement appropriate statistical techniques for research design in a given topic area of political science
4. Defend valid conclusions concerning political science topic area based on analysis of literature, theory development, hypothesis generation, statistical analysis of data, and discussion of study outcomes
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the civic dispositions and skills conducive to democratic involvement and global awareness
Program Requirements
General Education 23 Requirements (33 credit hours)
Political Science Major Requirements (39 credit hours)
Students must declare one of the following concentrations:
General Political Science Concentration
OR
Public Legal Studies Concentration
General Political Science Concentration
Required Core Courses (18 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
PSC101 INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC102 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC203 POLITICAL ANALYSIS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC204 POLITICAL STATISTICS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC399 RESEARCH SKILLS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC470 SENIOR SEMINAR | 3 - Credit Hours
OR PSC488 INTERNSHIP | 1 - 15 Credit Hours
Political Science Distribution
American Government and Politics
International Relations
Comparative Government and Politics
Political Theory
Public Law
Political Science Distribution - Select one course from four of the five distribution areas (12 Credits).
American Government & Politics
Select one course if American Government & Politics is one of the four political science distribution choices.
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
PSC210 THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC218 AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC225 THE POLITICS OF DIVERSITY AND JUSTICE | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC310 AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC312 LEGISLATIVE PROCESS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC315 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC323 NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT AND BUDGET | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC410 POLITICAL BEHAVIOR AND PUBLIC OPINION | 3 - Credit Hours
International Relations
Select one course if International Relations is one of the four political science distribution choices.
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
PSC104 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC302 INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC305 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC308 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC309 INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC330 AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC333 AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC335 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC337 POLITICS OF GLOBALIZATION | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC338 POLITICS AND HISTORY OF MODERN TERRORISM I | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC339 POLITICS AND HISTORY OF MODERN TERRORISM II | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC430 UN AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS | 3 - Credit Hours
Comparative Government and Politics
Select one course if Comparative Government and Politics is one of the four political science distribution choices.
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
PSC340 POLITICS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC341 GOVERNMENT, POLITICS, AND POLICIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC344 COMPARATIVE DEMOCRACY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC345 POLITICS AND HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST | 3 - Credit Hours
OR HIS313 POLITICS AND HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST | 3 - Credit Hours
Political Theory
Select one course if Political Theory is one of the four political science distribution choices.
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
PSC351 HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT I | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC352 HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT II | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC355 AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC375 RACE, SEX, AND POLITICS OF MYTH AND STORY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC450 CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THOUGHT | 3 - Credit Hours
Public Law
Select one course if Public Law is one of the four political science distribution choices.
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
PSC221 JUDICAL PROCESS AND POLITICS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC223 LAW AND SOCIETY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC250 INTRODUCTION TO LAW | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC317 U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC320 U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC321 CIVIL PROCEDURE | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC368 COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC420 CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC421 DISCRIMINATION AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC485 MOCK TRIAL | 1 - 3 Credit Hours
Political Science General Electives (9 credit hours)
Courses NOT used to fulfill Political Distribution Requirements may also be used as Political Science electives.
Earn at least 9 credits from the following:
PSC215 URBAN GOVERNMENT | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC319 GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUESTIONING POLITICS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC327 PRACTICAL POLITICS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC360 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC364 AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC368 COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC389 TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC390 THE ITALIAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: POLITICS, SOCIETY, & IDENTITY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC415 URBAN PUBLIC POLICY | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC495 SPECIAL PROJECT | 1 - 3 Credit Hours
PSC497 CAPSTONE INTERNSHIP | 3 - 16 Credit Hours
PSC499 INDEPENDENT STUDY | 1 - 12 Credit Hours
Public Legal Studies Concentration
Required Core Courses (30 credit hours)
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
PSC101 INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC102 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS | 3 - Credit Hours
PHI103 INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC | 3 - Credit Hours
OR PHI107 INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL LOGIC | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC203 POLITICAL ANALYSIS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC204 POLITICAL STATISTICS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC221 JUDICAL PROCESS AND POLITICS | 3 - Credit Hours
OR PSC250 INTRODUCTION TO LAW | 3 - Credit Hours
PHI112 PROFESSIONAL ETHICS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC317 U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW | 3 - Credit Hours
OR PSC320 U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC399 RESEARCH SKILLS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC470 SENIOR SEMINAR | 3 - Credit Hours
OR PSC488 INTERNSHIP | 1 - 15 Credit Hours
Political Science Distribution
American Government and Politics
International Relations/Comparative Gov't & Politics
Political Theory & Philosophy
Political Science Distribution - Select one course from each of the three distribution areas (9 Credits).
American Government and Politics
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
PSC312 LEGISLATIVE PROCESS | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC321 CIVIL PROCEDURE | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC420 CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC421 DISCRIMINATION AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC485 MOCK TRIAL | 1 - 3 Credit Hours
International Relations/Comparative Gov't & Politics
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
PSC302 INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC308 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC344 COMPARATIVE DEMOCRACY | 3 - Credit Hours
Political Theory & Philosophy
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
PHI301 JUSTICE: LIBERTY VS. EQUALITY | 3 - Credit Hours
PHI304 PHILOSOPHY OF LAW | 3 - Credit Hours
PHI314 RIGHTS AND RESPECT | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC351 HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT I | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC355 AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT | 3 - Credit Hours
PSC450 CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THOUGHT | 3 - Credit Hours
All College Electives (48-51 credit hours)
120 Total Credits