Undergraduate
Programs of Study
Political Science (PSC)
For information, please contact
Won Paik, Chairperson,
774-3442, 247 Anspach Hall
College of Humanities and Social & Behavioral Sciences
Department
Website
Political Science
Why Study Political
Science?
Political Science
at CMU
Degrees in Political
Science
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
Political Science
Political science is a social science concerned with
describing and analyzing political institutions and
processes. Political scientists study the origins of and
preconditions for government, the rise and fall of
governments, and the relations among nations of the world.
Political scientists are interested in how governments are
structured, how they make decisions, and how they manage
social conflicts. Political scientists also study the
behavior of individuals within political systems, both as
individuals and as part of groups and organizations.
Finally, political science encompasses normative inquiry
into such larger questions as the best form of political
order, the optimum relationship between the individual and
government and the nature of the public good. Political
scientists today study such phenomena as political parties
and voting behavior, interest groups, bureaucratic
organizations and administrative procedures, national
security and international organizations, presidential and
gubernatorial politics, legislative behavior, courts and the
administration of justice, intergovernmental relations,
political socialization, mass movements, revolution,
ideologies, political philosophy, community organization and
urban politics, and public policies.
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Why Study Political
Science?
Students studying political science have a wide variety of
background, interests, and career goals. A political science
major provides students with the opportunity to obtain a
broad education in liberal arts and politics as well as
training for specific career paths. Students with career
goals in law, administrative or executive positions in
state, local or federal government, teaching political
science at the secondary school and college levels, foreign
service, international agencies or private business
overseas, the mass media, television, radio, newspaper,
internet and polling organizations, would be well served by
a political science major or minor. Additionally, a
political science education provides students with a variety
of skills they may use in all aspects of their lives.
Coursework in political science teaches students to think
critically, write well and speak with confidence. Students
are exposed to a variety of methods of examining
information, from textual analysis to the use of statistical
software to analyze data. Finally, students studying
political science develop a better understanding of the
functioning of government in order to better prepare them
for democratic citizenship.
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Political Science at
CMU
Faculty in the Political Science Department at CMU
specialize in a wide variety of topics, including but not
limited to American national political institutions and
processes, American state and local government, public
administration, public policy, international relations,
comparative politics, and political theory. The courses
offered in the department reflect these research interests,
allowing students to take courses on a wide variety of
topics. The major is structured so that students may take
courses in many areas of political science or they may focus
their education by selecting a concentration in
international relations/comparative politics or public
administration. A political science minor is also
complementary to large number of other majors at CMU,
including management, foreign languages, history, military
science, integrative public relations, journalism,
philosophy, psychology, sociology, interpersonal and public
communications, and recreation, parks and leisure services
administration. The department participates in a number of
interdisciplinary programs, such as those in public affairs,
Latin American studies, women's studies, environmental
studies and European studies. The Department also has a
strong internship program, providing students with
on-the-job training in real life settings throughout
Michigan, at the national level and in international
organizations. The department hosts the Griffin Endowed
Chair in American Government. The chair holder focuses on
stimulating political interest among CMU students as well as
preparing future Michigan political leaders. The Griffin
Chair, a person with a distinguished record of public
service and an extensive background in Michigan politics,
teaches courses each year focusing on Michigan state
politics and policy and provides students with a
behind-the-scenes look at current state politics.
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Degrees in
Political Science
The Department of Political Science offers B.A. and B.S.
degrees in political science. Students may choose the
general major or a concentration in International
Relations/Comparative Politics or Public Administration. The
Political Science minor and Public Administration minor are
also offered at the undergraduate level. At the graduate
level, the Department offers a Master of Arts degree in
Political Science, a Master of Public Administration degree,
and courses contributing to several other graduate programs,
including a concentration in Public Administration in the
Master of Science in Administration.
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The
basic fields in political science are covered in the
following departmental courses:
-
American National Political Institutions and Processes:
PSC 101, 105, 125, 224, 235, 300, 301, 320, 321, 323, 325,
326, 327, 421, 422, 520.
-
American State and Local Government, Public Administration
and Policy: PSC 210, 261, 313, 411, 514, 522, 561,
563, 565, 566, 585.
-
International Relations: PSC 150, 151, 351, 352, 453,
551, 555.
-
Comparative Politics: PSC 242, 340, 341, 342, 343,
344, 347, 348, 349, 515, 540.
-
Political Theory: PSC 275, 371, 372, 373,
375, 378, 426.
-
Methodology: PSC 280, 583.
Notes:
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 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 33 hours, including
PSC 100 (3) Introduction to Political Science, PSC 105 (3)
Introduction to American Government and Politics, PSC 280
(3) Introduction to Empirical Methods of Political Research.
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.
The student is required to take a minimum of three hours in
four of the following five fields:
-
American National Political Institutions and Processes;
-
American State and Local Government, Public Administration
and Policy;
-
International Relations;
-
Comparative Politics;
-
Political Theory.
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.
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General
Political Science Major
Required Courses (9 hours):
PSC 100 (3) Introduction to Political Science
PSC 105 (3) Introduction to American Government and Politics
PSC 280 (3) Introduction to Empirical Methods of Political
Re- search
Distribution Requirements (12 hours):
One 3-credit hour course in four of the following five
fields:
-
American National Political Institutions and Processes;
-
American State and Local Government, Public Administration
and Policy;
-
International Relations;
-
Comparative Politics;
-
Political Theory.
Electives (12 hours):
Note: 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.
Total: 33 semester hours
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Beyond
the general major in political science there are two
concentrations: one in International Relations/Comparative
Politics and one in Public Administration.
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.
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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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