About the Program

Political science is the study of government and politics. The major is divided into five areas: American government and politics, international politics, comparative politics, political theory, and public law. The program offers a variety of courses in each of these areas. Minors are offered in public administration, political science, legal studies and international relations.

Students gain an understanding of government and politics through 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 may prepare 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 either in Public Legal Studies, or Urban Civic Engagement, , or to develop a more individualized broader program of study under the General Political Science concentration.

About the Pol Sci, Public Admn,and Plan Department

202 Cassety Hall
1300 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-6116
Fax: (716) 878-3369
https://politicalscience.buffalostate.edu/

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. be able to select and critically evaluate existing literature in a given topic area of political science.
2. demonstrate mastery of research report writing.
3. demonstrate the ability to generate a scientific hypothesis in a given area of political science.
4. be able to apply appropriate statistical techniques for a given research design.
5. demonstrate the rudimentary skills to design and implement research to test scientific hypotheses.
6. demonstrate the ability to apply valid conclusions based on topic area, hypothesis, review of literature, and study outcomes.
7. demonstrate an understanding of the major historical schools of thought and approaches in political science.
8. demonstrate global awareness and engagement skills.

Program Requirements

General Education 23 Requirements
33 credit hours 33

Political Science Major Requirements (39 credit hours)
Students will select one of the following concentrations: 39
General Political Science Concentration
Urban Civic Engagement Concentration
Public Legal Studies Concentration

All College Electives
48-51 credit hours 48-51

Total Credit Hours 120

General Political Science Concentration
Required Courses (18 credit hours)
PSC 101 INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 3
PSC 102 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 3
PSC 203 POLITICAL ANALYSIS 3
PSC 204 POLITICAL STATISTICS 3
PSC 399 RESEARCH SKILLS 3
PSC 470 SENIOR SEMINAR 3
or PSC 488 INTERNSHIP

Political Science Distribution Requirements (12 credit hours)

Students choose one course from four of five of the distribution areas (American Government, International Relations, Comparative Government, Political Theory, Philosophy, and Public Law)

American Government and Politics (3 credit hours)
Select one of the following: 3
PSC 210 THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
PSC 218 AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE
PSC 225 WOMEN IN AMERICAN POLITICS
PSC 310 AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES
PSC 312 LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
PSC 410 POLITICAL BEHAVIOR AND PUBLIC OPINION

International Relations (3 credit hours)
Select one from the following: 3
PSC 230 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
PSC 302 INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION
PSC 305 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
PSC 308 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
PSC 309 INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
PSC 330 AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
PSC 333 AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
PSC 335 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
PSC 336 LATIN AMERICA IN WORLD POLITICS
PSC 337 POLITICS OF GLOBALIZATION
PSC 338 POLITICS AND HISTORY OF MODERN TERRORISM I
PSC 339 POLITICS AND HISTORY OF MODERN TERRORISM II

Comparative Government (3 credit hours)
Select one from the following: 3
PSC 240 EUROPEAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS
PSC 341 GOVERNMENT, POLITICS, AND POLICIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
PSC 344 COMPARATIVE DEMOCRACY
PSC 345/HIS 313 POLITICS AND HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST

Political Theory and Philosophy (3 credit hours)
Select one from the following: 3
PSC 351 HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT I
PSC 352 HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT II
PSC 355 AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
PSC 375 RACE, SEX, AND POLITICS OF MYTH AND STORY
PSC 450 CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THOUGHT

Public Law (3 credit hours)
Select one from the following:
PSC 250 INTRODUCTION TO LAW
PSC 317 U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
PSC 320 U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES
PSC 321 CIVIL PROCEDURE
PSC 420 CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
PSC 421 DISCRIMINATION AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
PSC 485 MOCK TRIAL

General Electives in Political Science (9 credit hours)
Courses NOT used to fulfill Political Distribution Requirements may also be used as Political Science electives. 9
PSC 215 URBAN GOVERNMENT
PSC 360 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
PSC 364 AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY
PSC 368 COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
PSC 389 TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
PSC 390 THE ITALIAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: POLITICS, SOCIETY, & IDENTITY
PSC 415 URBAN PUBLIC POLICY
PSC 495 SPECIAL PROJECT (1-3)
PSC 497 WASHINGTON SEMESTER (1-16)
PSC 499 INDEPENDENT STUDY (3-12)

Urban Civic Engagement Concentration
Required Courses (24 credit hours)
PSC 101 INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 3
PSC 102 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 3
PSC 203 POLITICAL ANALYSIS 3
PSC 204 POLITICAL STATISTICS 3
PSC 215 URBAN GOVERNMENT 3
PSC 313 CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 3
PSC 399 RESEARCH SKILLS 3
PSC 470 SENIOR SEMINAR 3
or PSC 488 INTERNSHIP

Political Science Distribution Requirements (9 credit hours)
American Government and Politics (3 credit hours)
Must take one of the following: 3
PSC 315 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
PSC 410 POLITICAL BEHAVIOR AND PUBLIC OPINION

International Relations/Comparative Government (3 credit hours)
Must take one of the following: 3
PSC 309 INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
PSC 337 POLITICS OF GLOBALIZATION
PSC 340 POLITICS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Political Theory and Philosophy (3 credit hours)
Must take one of the following: 3
PSC 355 AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
PSC 375 RACE, SEX, AND POLITICS OF MYTH AND STORY

Electives: Urban Civic Engagement Concentration (6 credit hours)
Select two from the following: 6
PSC 305 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
PSC 317 U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
PSC 320 U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES
PSC 327 PRACTICAL POLITICS
PSC 360 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
PSC 364 AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY
PSC 415 URBAN PUBLIC POLICY
PSC 420 CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
PSC 421 DISCRIMINATION AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
SPF/SOC 366 CULTURAL PROFICIENCY AND PUBLIC ACHIEVEMENT
SWK 301 POVERTY AND PUBLIC POLICY

Public Legal Studies Concentration
Required Courses (27 credit hours)
PSC 101 INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 3
PSC 102 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 3
PSC 203 POLITICAL ANALYSIS 3
PSC 204 POLITICAL STATISTICS 3
PSC 250 INTRODUCTION TO LAW 3
PSC 317 U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW 3
or PSC 320 U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES
PSC 398 LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING 3
PSC 399 RESEARCH SKILLS 3
PSC 470 SENIOR SEMINAR 3
or PSC 488 INTERNSHIP

Political Science Distribution Requirements (12 credit hours)
American Government and Politics (6 credit hours)
Must take one of the following: 6
PSC 210 THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
PSC 312 LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
PSC 321 CIVIL PROCEDURE
PSC 420 CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
PSC 421 DISCRIMINATION AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
PSC 485 MOCK TRIAL

International Relations/Comparative Government (3 credit hours)
Must take one of the following: 3
PSC 308 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
PSC 309 INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
PSC 344 COMPARATIVE DEMOCRACY

Political Theory and Philosophy (3 credit hours)
Must take one of the following: 3
PSC 351 HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT I
PSC 355 AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
PSC 450 CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THOUGHT