Political Science: General
Why study political science at CMU?
The political science program provides students with a broad education in liberal arts and politics as well as training for specific career paths. Consider these key features distinguishing this program at CMU:
- Close interaction with faculty who specialize in a wide variety of areas such as state and local government, public policy, political theory, and international relations
- Course work designed to teach students to think critically, write well, and speak with confidence
- Professional development through the Political Science Club with projects in public administration, international relations and more
- Internship opportunities throughout Michigan, at the national level, and in international organizations
Career outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, for all occupations through the year 2014:
- Employment of urban and regional planners is expected to grow 9 to 17 percent.
- Employment growth will be driven by the need for state and local governments to provide public services such as regulation of commercial development, the environment, transportation, housing, and land use and development for an expanding population.
- Wage and salary employment in state and local government is projected to increase 11 percent.
- The distribution of federal employment will continue to shift toward a higher proportion of professional, business and financial operations, and protective service workers.
Career options
Graduates of the political science program at CMU will find a variety of career opportunities. Some of these may require additional education.
- Campaign Director
- City and County Manager
- Legislative Assistant
- Lobbyist
- Planner
- Pollster
- Urban Planner
- Speech Writer
Program Overview
The course listings below are a representation of what this academic program requires. For a full review of this program in detail please see our official online academic bulletin AND consult with an academic advisor. This listing does not include the General Education courses required for all majors and may not include some program specific information, such as admissions, retention, and termination standards.
(Click on the course name or number for a complete course description.)
Political Science Major: General Concentration
A political science major consists of 33 hours. A minimum of 15 hours of course work must be at the 300 level or above, with at least one course at the 400-500 level. PSC 405 cannot be used to fulfill this requirement. Students must choose between the General Political Science Major, the Public Administration Concentration or the International Relations/Comparative Politics Concentration.
Courses taken on a Credit/No Credit basis may not be counted toward political science majors and political science minors. Majors and minors in political science should enroll in PSC 105 as freshmen (see course description). Transfer students majoring in political science will be expected to take at least 15 hours of coursework in the department; transfer minors, 12 hours.
The student is required to take a minimum of three hours in four of the following five fields:
I. American National Political Institutions and Processes;
II. American State and Local Government, Public Administration and Policy;
III. International Relations;
IV. Comparative Politics;
V. Political Theory.
Note: Field II is not applicable to the International Relations/Comparative Politics Concentration.
It is recommended that all political science majors enroll in PSC 280 during their sophomore year.
PSC 398 and PSC 598 are Special Topics courses which may be used to fulfill the area requirements for majors and minors. Permission to do this is based on the substantive content of the course, and requires the consent of the student's major or minor advisor or the department chair. Any regular faculty member in the department can serve as the student's advisor on a major or minor.
Internships: The department has established an internship program where students are provided relevant firsthand work experience. The duration of an internship can vary depending on the number of credit hours (1-12) taken. Students majoring in political science with a concentration in public administration, as well as the minors in public administration and public affairs, are allowed to count three internship credit hours toward their major or minor.
( Total: 33 semester hours
Note: A minimum of 15 hours of PSC course work must be at the 300 level or above, with at least one PSC course at the 400-500 level. PSC 405 cannot be used to fulfill this requirement. )
(9 hours)
Required Courses
3
PSC 100 Introduction to Political Science
3
PSC 105 Introduction to American Government and Politics
3
PSC 280 Introduction to Empirical Methods of Political Research
(12 hours)
Other Requirements
Select one 3-credit hour course in four of the following five fields:
Field I
3
PSC 101 Political Behavior
3
PSC 125 African-American Politics
3
PSC 320 The American Legislative Process
3
PSC 321 The American Chief Executive
3
PSC 322 Judicial Process and Politics
3
PSC 323 American Parties and Politics
3
PSC 325/PHL 345/REL 345/SOC 345 The Civil Rights Movement
3
PSC 326/WST 326 Women and Politics
3
PSC 327 Lobbying and Interest Group Behavior
3
PSC 328 Campaigns and Elections
3
PSC 421 Constitutional Law: Powers of Government
3
PSC 422 Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties
3
PSC 520 American National Government and Politics
Field II
3
PSC 210 Introduction to Public Administration
3
PSC 261 State and Local Government
3
PSC 300 Michigan Politics and Elections
3
PSC 301 Law and Policy in Michigan State Government
3
PSC 313 Budgetary Processes in the United States
3
PSC 411 Public Sector Human Resources and Organization Theory
3
PSC 514 American Public Policy Making
3
PSC 516 Environmental Politics and Policy
3
PSC 522 Regulatory Processes and Administrative Law
3
PSC 561 American State Government and Administration
3
PSC 563 Politics and Policy in Urban Communities
3
PSC 565 Managing Modern Local Government
3
PSC 566 Intergovernmental Relations in the United States
3
PSC 585 Public Sector Information Technology Management
Field III
3
PSC 150 World Politics
3
PSC 151 The U.S. and the World
3
PSC 351 International Relations
3
PSC 352 US - Latin American Relations
3
PSC 453 American Foreign Policy
3
PSC 551 Seminar in International Relations
3
PSC 555 International Law I
Field IV
3
PSC 242 Introduction to Comparative Politics
3
PSC 340 African Political Systems and Processes
3
PSC 341/EUR 303 Comparative Politics: Eastern Europe
3
PSC 343 Southeast Asian Political Systems and Processes
3
PSC 344 East Asian Political Systems and Processes
3
PSC 345 Middle Eastern Political Systems
3
PSC 346 The Politics of Islam
3
PSC 347 Comparative Politics: Western Europe
3
PSC 348 Latin American Political Systems
3
PSC 515 Comparative Public Policy
3
PSC 540 Cultural Heritage and Politics of Eastern Europe
Field V
3
PSC 275 Great Political Thinkers
3
PSC 371 American Political Thought
3
PSC 372 American Radical Thought
3
PSC 375 Socialism, Fascism, and Liberalism
3
PSC 378 Modern Democratic Theory
3
PSC 426/PHL 426/WST 426 Feminist Theory
(12 hours)
Electives
Hours selected from the five fields listed above.