Political Science, B.A.

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The Political Science Major provides students with facts, theories and skills they will need to succeed personally, professionally and as community members and citizens of the world. Politics courses, for example, teach abilities highly desired by today’s employers: writing well, working independently, engaging in teamwork, providing leadership and digging for facts. Our graduating students are, moreover, well prepared to excel in graduate school or the legal profession because of their ability to engage in rigorous analysis and thoughtful verbal and written communication. The study of politics also prepares students for specific careers: in government, foreign service, public policy, social action and teaching. Finally, Politics Majors enjoy the challenge of studying different answers to the question of how individuals and groups might live together under conditions of greater equality, peace and justice.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

Political Science B.A. students will be able to:

   • compare and contrast competing arguments about politics.
   • evaluate the validity of claims about politics and political behavior.
   • explain complex political concepts and ideas clearly.
   • apply basic methods of social science inquiry to address an important research question.

Program Requirements

Required Courses: 22-24 Credits

All SUNY Potsdam Politics courses are 4 credits, but students can count up to two 3 credit lower-division Politics courses taken at other colleges towards the major if those courses have been accepted for transfer and authorized as equivalent in content on the transfer credit evaluation.

POLS 110 - Introduction to U.S. Politics 4 Credit(s)
POLS 130 - Introduction to Comparative Politics 4 Credit(s)
POLS 140 - Introduction to International Relations 4 Credit(s)
POLS 200 - Political Ideas 4 Credit(s)
POLS 289 - Approaching Political Puzzles 4 Credit(s)
POLS 400 - Senior Seminar 4 Credit(s)

Cognate Requirement: 3 Credits

STAT 100 - Statistics 3 Credit(s)
or
MATH 125 - Probability and Statistics I 3 Credit(s)
or
CIS 125 - Statistics 3 Credit(s)

Plus Limited Electives: 11-12 Credits

All SUNY Potsdam Politics courses are 4 credits, but students can count one 3 credit upper-division Politics courses towards the Major if that course has been (a) taken at another college and accepted as equivalent in content for transfer, or (b) offered by another SUNY Potsdam department and is cross-listed as an upper-division Politics course. Therefore, at least two of the limited electives must be courses taken in the SUNY Potsdam Politics Department.

One upper-division course in three of the following sub-fields (a course cannot be used to fulfill more than one of the three required sub-fields):

Political Theory (3-4 credits)
Comparative Politics (3-4 credits)
International Relations (3-4 credits)
U.S. Politics (3-4 credits)

Recommended Coursework Outside the Major

This is dependent upon students’ educational and professional objectives. Students are strongly urged to consult with a departmental adviser regarding appropriate course selections.

Note(s)

Students must have at least 70 hours outside any one department. Consequently, majors should not take more than three additional courses beyond those required for the major.
Students must earn a minimum grade of 2.0 in all courses counted toward the politics major.
Only one course (4 credits) for the major can be taken S/U.
No more than 4 credits in internships can be counted toward the major.