RN to BSN Program
Click here to view a pdf copy of the curriculum requirement sheet for the B.A. in political science.
Click here to view a pdf copy of the curriculum requirement sheet for the B.A. in political science-legal studies concentration. For more information about the B.A. in political science/legal studies, please visit the pre-law section of the department web site.
Political science program description
Political Science students at Edinboro University develop a broad and sophisticated understanding of politics, including knowledge of American politics, international relations, comparative politics, and political theory. Students develop skills in critical thinking, research, and oral and written communication. In class and through an optional internship experience, students learn to use their knowledge and developed skills to address real life problems in politics and policy and are prepared to serve in roles of responsibility in the community. Political Science students are prepared to work in almost any field, but are especially suited for careers in government, political advocacy, non-governmental organizations, and law.
Political science program objectives
What do we want political science students to learn while they are at Edinboro? Our B.A. in political science is meant to achieve five major objectives:
Objective 1: Knowledge of politics. Students will possess a sophisticated undersatnding of politics in all of the major fields of political science:
- Comparative politics
- Political theory
- International relations
- American politics
Objective 2: Critical analysis. Students will possess the ability to interpret, analyze, and critique political phenomena. Student facility in critical analysis is enhanced by the following:
- Critical thinking skills: Students can analyze empirical phenomena carefully, reasonably, and skeptically
- Normative analysis and critique: Students are able to engage in rigorous normative analysis of political phenomena
- Research skills: Students have developed research skills, including question formulation, research design, data gathering, and data analysis and interpretation
Earning a degree in political science
At Edinboro, 48 credits (of 120 overall) are devoted to courses in political science and closely related disciplines.
Required courses
All political science students must take the following courses:
- POLI 200, Introduction to Government
- POLI 201, American Government
- POLI 240, Introduction to Comparative Government
- POLI 348, Introduction to International Relations
- POLI 370, Political Thought I OR POLI 372, Political Thought II
- POLI 480, Research Methods
- MATH 260, Elements of Statistics
- Six credits of foreign language courses
Political science electives
In addition to required coursework, political science majors have the opportunity to focus on a specific are of politics by taking 21 credits of upper-level political science courses.
For students completing the B.A. in political science with a legal studies concentration, a more specific set of electives must be taken, in addition to a more specific set of courses for general education credit. Please consult the curriculum requirement sheet for the legal studies concentration.
Field experience (i.e., internship) or concentration
In order to encourage the practical application of a student's course-based knowledge and promote workplace readiness, political science students are strongly encouraged to must complete an internship for six or more academic credits. If a student is unable to undertake an internship while at Edinboro, they may take six additional credits in political sciences courses in order to deepen their knowledge of politics.
For more information on internships, click here.
