Department website: https://academics.potomacstatecollege.edu/majors/two-year-programs/political-science
Degree Offered
- Associate of Arts
Nature of the Program
Why Study Political Science?
Political Science offers students a chance to explore the dynamics of control that shape our world, here in America and internationally. What leads people to take political action? Why do political events unfold a certain way? What are the moral and ethical questions that surround politics? When it comes to answering these questions, Political Science is built on the core aspects of the great liberal arts tradition. Our strengths are logic, appropriate data, analysis, and communication. Explaining the outcomes of political processes and events involves developing theories, using scientific methods to gather relevant evidence and test those theories, and then using strong communications skills to explain the research. Honing these skills and learning the knowledge that is shared in our classes prepares students for careers in law, politics, government, the military, academia, private enterprise, and non-profit service.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities for a four-year graduate in political science include: city manager, lawyer, diplomat, educator, labor relations specialist, political consultant, public recreation director, public health official, urban planner, journalist, law enforcement officer, and lobbyist.
Faculty
Chair
- Cassandra Pritts - M.A. History (Duquesne University)
Year @ PSC (2011)
Admissions
Entering freshmen are admitted directly into the major.
Benchmark Requirements
Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA overall and in the major. If a course is repeated, all attempts will be included in the calculation of the GPA unless the course is eligible for a D/F repeat. Students must meet with their POLS adviser each semester. Students who do not meet these benchmarks may be removed from their major.
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required in all POLS courses. | ||
| GEF Elective Requirements (2, 5, and 6) | 12 | |
| ENGL 101 & ENGL 102 | Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research (GEF 1) | 6 |
| Select one of the following (GEF 3): | 3 | |
| Intro Concepts Of Mathematics | ||
| Algebra with Applications | ||
| POLS 102 | Introduction to American Government (GEF 4) | 3 |
| POLS 103 | Global Political Issues | 3 |
| or POLS 260 | Introduction to International Relations | |
| POLS 210 | Law and the Legal System | 3 |
| or POLS 220 | State and Local Government | |
| POLS 250 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| WVUE 191 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| ECAS International Requirement (GEF 7) | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 6 | |
| Elective | 17 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| POLS 102 (GEF 4) | 3 | POLS 103 or 260 (GEF 7) | 3 |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | Foreign Language | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | GEF 2 | 3 |
| GEF 2 | 3 | Select one of the following (GEF 3): | 3 |
| WVUE 191 | 1 | ||
| Elective | 2 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| POLS 210 or 220 | 3 | POLS 250 | 3 |
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | GEF 6 | 3 |
| GEF 5 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 60 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Political Science
Upon successful completion of the A.A. degree, Political Science majors will be able to:
- Demonstrate a command of basic substantive knowledge about the basic institutions, political actors, and relevant processes in state, national, and international political systems.
- Demonstrate knowledge of major policy issues in state, national, and international affairs and an appreciation of the complexity reflective of the uncertainties, trade-offs, and institutional/bureaucratic context of problems confronting governments.
- Think critically about political phenomena in a way that applies alternative explanatory perspectives across the major theoretical schools of thought in the political science literature.
- Demonstrate an appreciation of the policy implications of different theoretical approaches and, more generally, how they relate to the larger ethical issues facing the West Virginia, national, and international communities.