Political Science (PSC)
For information, please contact
Lawrence Sych, Chairperson,
774-3442, 247 Anspach Hall
Department
Website
Why Study Political
Science?
Political Science
at CMU
Center for Applied
Research and Rural Studies
Political Science Major
General Political
Science Major
International
Relations/Comparative Politics Concentration
Public
Administration Concentration
Political Science Minor
Public Administration
Minor
Public Affairs Minor
The Faculty
PSC Course
Descriptions
Why
Study Political Science?
Political science is the study of governments and the manner
in which decisions are made for society. Political
scientists study the origins of and the preconditions for
governments, the rise and fall of governments, and the
relationships among nations of the world. Political
scientists also are interested in how governments are
structured, how they make decisions, and how they manage
social conflicts. In addition, true to their oldest academic
traditions, political scientists retain a concern with the
fundamental question of how governments should be
constituted.
Political
Science at CMU
The Department of Political Science endeavors to provide a
diversified curriculum for students whose career goals
include:
1. Professions likely to involve participation in public
affairs, including law, education, social welfare,
engineering, and communication planning.
2. Administrative or executive positions in government -
local, state, or federal.
3. The teaching of political science at the
junior college and university levels.
4. Positions in the diplomatic, foreign, and overseas
programs of the U.S. Government, or employment in
international agencies or private business concerns involved
in overseas activity.
5. Positions associated with the mass media - television,
radio, newspapers, and polling organizations - in which
basic understanding of public affairs and governmental
policies and organization is required for accurate reporting
and analysis.
6. Graduate work in political science or related
disciplines. The department participates with the Department
of Journalism in the interdisciplinary minor in Public
Affairs. This program is described in the Interdepartmental
Majors and Minors section of this Bulletin.
At the graduate level the department offers the Master of
Arts and Master of Public Administration. The department
also offers courses contributing to a concentration in
public administration in the Master of Science in
Administration.
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Center
for Applied Research and Rural Studies
The Center for Applied Research and Rural Studies (CARRS)
was created through a Michigan Research Excellence Fund
grant in 1995. Its primary focus is to address issues of
concern to rural Michigan. The Center utilizes the resources
and academic expertise of Central Michigan University to
assist public agencies, governmental units, and non-profit
organizations who require guidance in order to address
social, economic, environmental and community development
concerns.
The
Center undertakes studies of local problems while also
attempting to provide decision-makers with a broader picture
of the larger forces that affect the development of or the
improvement in the quality of life of the citizens of rural
Michigan. Growing regional needs and an increased reliance
by federal and state governments on the local units of
government to address policy problems have created the need for this
research center.
Contact
Anspach Hall, 774-3442/2572, for further information.
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The
basic fields in political science are covered in the
following departmental courses:
I.
American Political Institutions and Processes
A. National Government: PSC 101, 105, 125, 224, 235, 300,
301, 320,
321, 323, 325, 326, 327, 421, 422, 520, 522
B. State and Local Government: PSC 261, 561, 563, 565,
566
C. Public Administration: PSC 210, 313, 411, 514, 585
II. International Relations and Comparative
Politics
A. International Relations: PSC 150, 151, 351, 352, 453,
551, 555
B. Comparative Politics: PSC 242, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344,
347, 348, 515, 540
III.
Political Theory and Methodology
A. Theory: PSC 275, 371, 372, 373, 375, 378
B. Methodology: PSC 280, 583
Notes:
Courses taken on a Credit/No Credit basis may not be counted
on 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 course work in the department; transfer
minors, 12 hours.
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Majors
Political Science Major
B.A.,
B.S.
A
political science major consists of no fewer than 30 hours,
including PSC 105 (3) Introduction to American Government
and Politics, PSC 280 (3) Introduction to Empirical Methods
of Political Research, and at least 15 hours of course work
at the junior-senior level. Students must choose between the
general major, the public administration concentration or
the concentration in international relations and comparative
politics. The student is expected to take a minimum of six
hours in each of three fields of study listed above. 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.
Intern Courses: The department has established an
internship program where students are provided firsthand
governmental work experience. These internships can range
from a day or two a week to a full semester in duration. For
more information on internships, students should contact the
department office. Internship hours may not be counted
toward the major or minor.
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of page)
General
Political Science Major
Required
Courses (21 hours)
PSC 105 (3) Introduction to American Government and
Politics
PSC 280 (3) Introduction to Empirical Methods of Political
Research
3 hours of courses in Political Theory and Methodology
Group
6 hours of courses in International Relations and
Comparative Politics Group
6 hours of courses in American Political Institutions and
Processes Group
Electives: (9 hours)
Total:
30 semester hours
Beyond
the general major in political science there are two
concentrations: one in International Relations/Comparative
Politics and one in Public Administration.
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International
Relations/ Comparative Politics Concentration
Required
Courses (12 hours):
PSC 105 (3) Introduction to American Government and Politics
PSC 242 (3) Introduction to Comparative Politics
PSC 280 (3) Introduction to Empirical Methods of Political
Research
PSC 351 (3) International Relations
Electives
(18 hours):
6 hours from PSC 320, 321, 323, 327 and 421
3 hours from PSC 275 or 375
9 hours from the following International Relations and
Comparative Politics courses (6 hours from one of the areas
below and 3 hours from the other area):
International Relations - PSC 352, 453, 551, 555
Comparative Politics - PSC 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 347,
348, 540
Total: 30 semester hours
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Public
Administration Concentration
Required
Courses (18 hours):
PSC 100 (3) Introduction to Political Science
PSC 105 (3) Introduction to American Government and
Politics
PSC 210 (3) Introduction to Public Administration
PSC 280 (3) Introduction to Empirical Methods of Political
Research
PSC 313 (3) Budgetary Processes in the U.S.
PSC 411 (3) Public Sector Human Resources and Organizational
Theory
Electives
(12 Hours):
One course in American Political Institutions and
Processes.
Two courses in International Relations and Comparative
Politics.
One course in Political Theory and Methodology.
Capstone Experience (3 hours):
PSC 395 (3) Internship in Government and Politics
Required for students without any relevant PA
experience. Student must have completed 56 hours or
more.
OR
PSC 390 (3) Independent Study
Students with previous relevant PA experience may select an
Independent Study with permission of the Internship
Director.
Total:
33 semester hours
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Minors
Political Science Minor
B.A.,
B.A.A., B.S.
A
political science minor consists of no fewer than 20 hours,
including PSC 105 (3) Introduction to American Government
and Politics, and three hours in each of the three following
fields:
I) American Political Institutions and Processes,
II) International Relations and Comparative Politics,
III) Political Theory and Methodology.
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Public
Administration Minor
B.A.,
B.A.A., B.S. degrees
Required
Course Work (15 hours):
PSC 105 (3) Introduction to American Government and
Politics
PSC 210 (3) Introduction to Public Administration
PSC 280 (3) Introduction to Empirical Methods of Political
Research
PSC 313 (3) Budgetary Processes in the U.S.
PSC 411 (3) Public Sector Human Resources and Organizational
Theory
Electives (6 hours) selected from the following:
PSC 261 (3) State and Local Government
PSC 320 (3) The American Legislative Process
PSC 395 (3) Internship in Government and Politics
PSC 514 (3) American Public Policy Making
PSC 522 (3) Regulatory Processes and Administrative
Law
PSC 561 (3) American State Government and
Administration
PSC 563 (3) Politics and Policy in Urban Communities
PSC 565 (3) Managing Modern Local Government
PSC 566 (3) Intergovernmental Relations in the United
States
PSC 585 (3) Computer Applications for Public Administrators
Total:
21 semester hours
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Public
Affairs Minor
This
is an interdepartmental major. Please check the
Interdepartmental and Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors
section.
The
faculty: Joyce Baugh, William P.
Browne, Edward Clayton, John Dinse, James P.
Hill, Sterling Johnson, Rick Kurtz, Martha Logsdon, Won Paik,
Orlando Pérez, Delbert Ringquist, Douglas Roscoe, Vidu Soni, Lawrence Sych
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