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DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
Professors: Jane L. Curry, Janet A. Flammang (Department Chair and Lee and Seymour Graff II Professor), Dennis R. Gordon, Eric O. Hanson (Patrick A. Donohoe, S.J. Professor), Timothy J. Lukes, Peter I. Minowitz, Terri L. Peretti, William J. Stover Associate Professors: Elsa Y. Chen, Gregory P. Corning, James S. Lai Assistant Professors: James B. Cottrill, Naomi Levy, Farid D. Senzai
The Department of Political Science offers a degree program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Political Science. The department introduces students to the analysis of political behavior, values, institutions, and governments. It also offers preparation for various graduate and professional studies and for careers in public service. The department makes available opportunities to participate in a variety of programs that combine practical field experience and academic credit. It assists students in arranging academic credit for internships in local politics. Students may work for government agencies, legislative or judicial bodies, political parties, or politically related groups. The department regularly offers courses that combine local internships with classroom work. On the national level, Santa Clara is a member school of American University’s Washington, D.C., program, in which students receive credit for internships and intensive seminars at the nation’s capital. Santa Clara also participates in the Panetta Institute’s Congressional Internship Program, which fully subsidizes students who study and intern with the California Congressional delegation on Capitol Hill. On the international level, the department encourages student participation in the numerous University-operated and -approved study abroad programs, especially those with internships. See the Domestic Public Sector Study Programs information in Chapter 2 for additional details on Public Sector Programs. The political science honors program enhances the regular major by providing a more specialized course of study to prepare highly qualified students for graduate study. All majors who are not seniors and who have completed at least two of the lower-division sequence of courses (1, 2 or 3, 25, 30, 40) with a grade point average of 3.0 or better are eligible to apply. A maximum of 15 students from each class are admitted. Admission is determined on the basis of coursework, recommendations, and a personal interview with the faculty director. Honors students are expected to participate in various department-sponsored events, and a representative from the program has full voting status in the deliberations of the department faculty. Participants in the program must complete a senior thesis, fulfill one of three supplemental curriculum requirements (a minor or a second major, Economics 1 and 2, or language 21 and 22), and take a highly active role in department affairs. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJORIn addition to fulfilling University Core Curriculum requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree, students majoring in political science must complete the following departmental requirements:
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINORStudents must fulfill the following requirements for a minor in political science:
OPTIONAL EMPHASESPolitical science majors may select an emphasis in pre-law, public sector studies, or international relations, which will be noted on the student’s transcript. Recommended courses for completing the three emphasis options are available on the department’s website.Emphasis in Public Sector Studies The public sector emphasis is a specialized area of concentration within the political science major allowing students to focus their coursework toward public sector studies. The emphasis is designed to provide a closer look at the creation, implementation, and analysis of public policies, and the operation of governments and public organizations. The public sector emphasis provides an excellent foundation for those who would like to pursue careers or graduate studies in public policy, public administration, public affairs, urban planning, and law. Requirements for the public sector emphasis include a variety of courses both inside and outside of the political science department. For the most up-to-date information about the public sector emphasis, visit www.scu.edu/cas/polisci/publicsector.cfm.
Emphasis in International Relations The international relations emphasis allows students to focus on the international system and the interaction of national and non-national actors on the global stage. Sample topics addressed by the international relations emphasis include international organizations; transnational movements; conflict resolution, peace, and reconciliation; military-strategic issues; international political economy; human rights; development and economic justice; and global sustainability. Requirements for the public sector emphasis include a variety of courses both inside and outside of the political science department. For the most up-to-date information about the public sector emphasis, visit www.scu.edu/cas/polisci.
Emphasis in Pre-Law Political science is one of the most common majors for pre-law students. After all, political science is the closest of all majors to the institutions and values with which law deals. The primary study of law is the state, and so too for political science. Additionally, the demands of political science courses (reading of complex texts, independent research, frequent class presentations, and demanding writing assignments) strengthen the analytical and communications skills that the practice of law requires. Requirements for the pre-law emphasis include a variety of courses from both inside and outside of the political science department. At most, six courses are required: three within the political science department and three from outside the political science department, although many of these courses fulfill other Core and political science major requirements. For the most up-to-date information about the pre-law emphasis and specific courses, please visit the department’s website.
LOWER and UPPER DIVISION COURSE LISTINGS are AVAILABLE in the Undergraduate Bulletin (PDF) |
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