Curriculum
Dr. Anna Brown, Chairperson
The Political Science Department offers a major and a minor in Political Science.
Requirements for Political Science Major
Degree of Bachelor of Arts
Political Science majors must complete the following courses, and must maintain a 2.5 GPA in their political science major course of study.
| PO-100 | Perspectives on Politics | 3 |
| PO-200 | Research Methods and Social Impact | 3 |
| PO-201 | American Government | 3 |
| PO-499 | Political Science Capstone | 3 |
| Distribution Courses: choose one course from each of the following designations | ||
| PO- | Political Science course with American Politics designation (AP) | 3 |
| PO- | Political Science course with Political Theory designation (PT) | 3 |
| PO- | Political Science course with Comparative Politics designation (CP) | 3 |
| PO- | Political Science course with International Relations designation (IR) | 3 |
| PO- | Political Science elective courses: choose four courses from any designation or combination of designations (AP, PT, CP, IR) | 12 |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Special Notes on Major Requirements
| 1 | PO-499, the Political Science Capstone course must be taken at the University during the spring semester of a student's senior year. |
| 2 | Students are required to take one Political Science course identified as a seminar course. The seminar course may be taken either as a Distribution Course or as an Elective Course. |
Requirements for a Minor in Political Science
| PO-100 | Perspectives on Politics | 3 |
| PO-200 | Research Methods and Social Impact | 3 |
| PO-201 | American Government | 3 |
| PO- | Political Science electives: choose three courses from any designation or combination of designations (AP, PT, CP, or IR) | 9 |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society
The Department sponsors a chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society. Membership in the Theta Chi chapter is open to any student who has completed at least fifteen credits in political science, maintained at least a 3.3 average in those courses, and demonstrates a deep commitment to the ethical-political life and to social justice. Inductions into Pi Sigma Alpha occur annually during the spring semester and applications are available in the Department office.
Internship Experience
Majors are encouraged to obtain valuable internship experience in government or in public advocacy organizations available through either the Department, the Center for Experiential Learning and Career Services, the Washington Center, or the Guarini Institute for Government and Leadership as well as to participate in the Gannon Debate Society and/or the Harvard Model United Nations.
Harvard Model United Nations
A unique and exciting part of the political science curriculum, the Harvard Model United Nations (U.N.) is a component of PO-376, one of the International Politics courses offered annually during the fall semester. Together with delegations of students from colleges and universities from around the world, each representing a different United Nations member nation, a delegation from Saint Peter’s University participates in a four-day mock United Nations session at Harvard University, debating various topics and advancing the official government policy positions of the nation it is assigned. The Model U.N. affords the student the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the processes of conference diplomacy and negotiation that increasingly characterize the dynamics of international politics. Because the course selected to include the Model U.N. changes every year, interested students are able to participate more than once in this fascinating educational experience.
The Washington Center Internship Program
The Washington Center Internship Program offers students the distinctive and exciting opportunity to intern in Washington, D.C. and earn Saint Peter’s University academic credit at the same time. The university liaison to the program guides and supervises interested students from all major fields of study through the application process. For more details about the program, consult the Special Academic Programs section.
For students majoring in Political Science, no more than 9 academic credits earned through the Washington Center Internship Program may count towards the fulfillment of the required political science major course of study. For political science minors, no more than 6 academic credits earned through the Washington Center Internship may count towards the fulfillment of the required political science minor course of study. Students must have these credits approved ahead of time by the Washington Center Internship Program Coordinator.
Pre-Law
This is for students who desire to learn about the law school application process, the course of study at law schools, or the professional practice of law. For more information about Pre-Law advising or Saint Peter’s University’s Joint B.A./J.D. Program with the Seton Hall University School of Law, consult the Pre-Law section.