Politics and Government (BA)
Program Mission
The mission of the Political Science Program is to combine the energies of students and departmental faculty in pursuit of understanding representative and administrative systems, practices, and aspirations, especially through engagement with professional scholarship. Graduates in political science will have learned foundational theories, practical processes, and an appreciation of varied cultures. The curriculum offers a broad reach across subdisciplines, preparing students for many available career options.
Program Outcomes
- Graduates will be able to organize research projects relying on peer-reviewed journals, conference papers, original sources, and the work of recognized scholars.
- Graduates will have learned, through the study of American and foreign government systems, how those apply popular consent toward their views of the common good.
- Graduates will be able to identify and apply classical and contemporary theories that serve as the bases for civil systems.
- Graduates will have a working familiarity with the methods of lawmaking, public administration, foreign policy development and public policy making as these are practiced, chiefly in the American system.
- Graduates will be able to identify and critique how civil systems do or do not incorporate varied cultural views, persons, traditions, and resource differences into their pursuit of their national sense of the common good.
Program Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
POLS-1100 | Fundamentals of Politics | 3 |
POLS-1800 | Principles of American Government | 3 |
or POLS-1200 | Foundations US Constitutionalism | |
POLS-3000 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
POLS-3250 | The American Presidency | 3 |
or POLS-3500 | The American Congress | |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
American Constitutional Development | ||
Fundamental Freedoms: First Amendment | ||
Civil Rights: 14th Amendment | ||
POLS-4010 | International Relations | 3 |
Select one Political Philosophy elective | 3 | |
American Political Thought | ||
Other options to be added later: Check with Department Chair | ||
Four additional courses offered by the department | 12 | |
POLS-4950 | Capstone Senior Seminar | 3 |
POLS-COMP | Senior Comprehensive Exam | NULL |
Total Hours | 36 |
Transfer students who seek to major in political science must complete a minimum of 50% of their credits in political science at Benedictine College.
Suggested Sequence of Courses for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science
Freshman Year | ||
---|---|---|
First Semester | Hours | |
POLS-1100 | Fundamentals of Politics | 3 |
Foreign Language | 4 | |
THEO-1100 | Introduction to Theology | 3 |
ENGL-1010 | English Composition | 3 |
Mathematical Reasoning Foundation | 3 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Second Semester | ||
POLS-1800 | Principles of American Government | 3 |
Foreign Language | 4 | |
Aesthetic Experience | 3 | |
Understanding the Natural World Foundation (with lab) | 4 | |
Skills & perspectives course | 3 | |
Hours | 17 | |
Sophomore Year | ||
First Semester | ||
POLS-3250 or POLS-3500 |
The American Presidency or The American Congress |
3 |
EXSC-1115 | Wellness for Life | 1 |
Faith Foundation | 3 | |
Elective preferably in political science | 3 | |
POLS-4800 | Directed & Honors Research | 1-3 |
PHIL-2100 | Principles of Nature | 3 |
Hours | 14-16 | |
Second Semester | ||
POLS-3000 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
EXSC Fitness Course | 1 | |
Aesthetic Experience | 3 | |
Faith Foundation | 3 | |
Understanding the Natural World Foundation (without lab) | 3 | |
#ELECTIVE | 3 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Junior Year | ||
First Semester | ||
Elective courses (Political Science or non-departmental) upper-division | 18 | |
Hours | 18 | |
Second Semester | ||
Constitutional law class | 3 | |
POLS-4010 | International Relations | 3 |
POLS-4790 | Political Science Internship | 3 |
Political Philosophy Elective | 3 | |
Elective courses (Political Science or non-departmental) upper-division | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Senior Year | ||
First Semester | ||
POLS-4950 | Capstone Senior Seminar | 3 |
POLS-COMP | Senior Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
Elective courses, some need to be upper-division | 14 | |
Hours | 17 | |
Second Semester | ||
Political Science Elective | 3 | |
Elective courses (Political Science or non-departmental) upper-division | 12 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Total Hours | 128-130 |