Apr 18, 2024

2022-2023 Shepherd University Catalog

2022-2023 Shepherd University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science, B.S.

The study of political science develops knowledge and understanding of national and international government, politics, and policy. The program prepares students for careers in public service, nonprofit organizations, international affairs, and select jobs in the private sector. It prepares students for graduate work leading to careers in a variety of areas including law, public administration, policy analysis, foreign service, journalism, and teaching. Proximity to Washington, D.C., allows enhancement of traditional classroom work with opportunities to observe the federal government in operation.

The learning outcomes of the Political Science program are as follows:

1. To facilitate student learning of core political science knowledge, skills, and values.
2. To foster global and local civic awareness and participation in all students.
3. To provide opportunities for students to engage in original research, meaningful
public service, and practical experiential learning activities.
4. To prepare students for post-graduate study and diverse employment opportunities
in the public and private sectors.

Curriculum for a Major in Political Science

Specific Core Curriculum requirements: take PSCI 150 to fulfill First Year Experience requirement; take PSCI 100 to fulfill Social Sciences area.

Total hours required, 40 Hours:

Required courses, 19 Hours:

PSCI 200 - American Political Institutions (3cr)
PSCI 302 - Intro to Political Theory (3 cr)
PSCI 304 - Intro to Comparative Politics (3 cr)
PSCI 324 - International Relations (3 cr)
PSCI 496 - Research Design and Methods (3cr)
PSCI 497 - Senior Research (4cr)

Elective courses, 21 Hours:

Any 300- or 400-level course in political science**

Note(s):

**Most 300- and 400-level political science courses can only be offered every other year. Students should plan their schedules accordingly.

No more than six hours of PSCI 443 Internship in Government can be counted toward the political science major or minor (additional internship hours will be considered as general electives).

Four-Year Course Progression

**Political Science**
FALL		FIRST YEAR		SPRING		FIRST YEAR
Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit	Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit
PSCI 100*		Politics and Government	3	PSCI 200		American Political Institutions	3
PSCI 150**		First-Year Seminar	1	Core Curriculum	1	Written English II	3
Core Curriculum	1	Written English I	3	Core Curriculum	1	Science II	4
Core Curriculum	1	History	3	Core Curriculum	1	Math	3
Core Curriculum	1	Science I	4	Core Curriculum	2	Wellness or Arts	3
		TOTAL	14			TOTAL	16
* Also meets Core Curriculum Social Science requirement
** Also meets Core Curriculum First-Year Experience requirement

FALL		SECOND YEAR		SPRING		SECOND YEAR
Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit	Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit
PSCI 300+		Elective	3	PSCI 300+		Elective	3
PSCI 304		Introduction to Comparative Politics	3	PSCI 300+		Elective	3
Core Curriculum	2	Wellness or Arts	3	PSCI 302		Introduction to Political Theory	3
Core Curriculum	2	Humanities	3	Core Curriculum	2	Humanities	3
Core Curriculum	2	Social Science	3	Core Curriculum	2	Social Science	3
		TOTAL	15			TOTAL	15

FALL		THIRD YEAR		SPRING		THIRD YEAR
Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit	Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit
PSCI 324		International Relations	3	PSCI 300+		Elective	3
PSCI 300+		Elective	3	PSCI 300+		Elective	3
PSCI 300+		Elective	3	Minor		Minor	3
Minor		Minor	3	Minor		Minor	3
Elective		Elective	3	Elective		Elective	3
		TOTAL	15			TOTAL	15

FALL		FOURTH YEAR		SPRING		FOURTH YEAR
Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit	Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit
Elective		Elective	3	PSCI 497		Senior Research	4
Elective		Elective	3	Minor		Minor	3
Minor		Minor	3	Elective		Elective	3
Minor		Minor	3	Elective		Elective	3
PSCI 496		Research Design and Methods	3	Elective		Elective	3
		TOTAL	15			TOTAL	16

January 21, 2021						DEGREE TOTAL	121

Curriculum for a Major in Political Science, Legal Studies Concentration

Specific Core Curriculum requirements: take PSCI 150 to fulfill First Year Experience requirement; take PSCI 100 to fulfill Social Sciences (SO) area.

Total hours required, 43 Hours:

Notes:

**No more than 3 hours of PSCI 350 can be counted toward the Political Science - Legal Studies Concentration elective requirement.

Four-Year Course Progression

**Political Science, Legal Studies Concentration**
FALL		FIRST YEAR		SPRING		FIRST YEAR
Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit	Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit
PSCI 100*		Politics and Government	3	PSCI 200		American Political Institutions	3
PSCI 150**		First-Year Seminar	1	Core Curriculum	1	Written English II	3
Core Curriculum	1	Written English I	3	Core Curriculum	1	Science II	4
Core Curriculum	1	History	3	Core Curriculum	1	Math	3
Core Curriculum	1	Science I	4	Core Curriculum	2	Wellness or Arts	3
		TOTAL	14			TOTAL	16
*Also meets Core Curriculum Social Science requirement
**Also meets Core Curriculum First-Year Experience requirement

FALL		SECOND YEAR		SPRING		SECOND YEAR
Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit	Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit
PSCI 320		American Judicial Process	3	PSCI 400		Supreme Court	3
PSCI 304		Introduction to Comparative Politics	3	PSCI xxx		Elective	3
Core Curriculum	2	Wellness or Arts	3	PSCI 302		Introduction to Political Theory	3
Core Curriculum	2	Humanities	3	Core Curriculum	2	Humanities	3
Core Curriculum	2	Social Science	3	Core Curriculum	2	Social Science	3
		TOTAL	15			TOTAL	15

FALL		THIRD YEAR		SPRING		THIRD YEAR
Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit	Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit
PSCI 324		International Relations	3	PSCI 407		Introduction to International Law	3
PSCI xxx		Elective	3	PSCI xxx		Elective	3
Elective		Elective	3	Minor		Minor	3
Minor		Minor	3	Minor		Minor	3
Elective		Elective	3	Elective		Elective	3
		TOTAL	15			TOTAL	15

FALL		FOURTH YEAR		SPRING		FOURTH YEAR
Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit	Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit
PSCI xxx		Elective	3	PSCI 497		Senior Research	4
PSCI xxx		Elective	3	Minor		Minor	3
Minor		Minor	3	Elective		Elective	3
Minor		Minor	3	Elective		Elective	3
PSCI 496		Research Design and Methods	3	Elective		Elective	3
		TOTAL	15			TOTAL	16

January 21, 2021						DEGREE TOTAL	121

Curriculum for a Major in Political Science, Political Communications Concentration

Specific Core Curriculum requirements: take PSCI 150 to fulfill First Year Experience (FY) requirement; take PSCI 100 as part of the 9cr Social Sciences (SO) area; take COMM 203 as part of the 6cr Humanities (HM) area.

Total Hours Required, 46 Hours:

Required Political Science Courses, 19 Hours:

PSCI 200 - American Political Institutions (3cr)
PSCI 302 - Intro to Political Theory (3 cr)
PSCI 304 - Intro to Comparative Politics (3 cr)
PSCI 324 - International Relations (3 cr)
PSCI 496 - Research Design and Methods (3cr)
PSCI 497 - Senior Research (4cr)

Required Concentration Courses, 15 Hours:

COMM 321 - Public Relations Principles (3cr)
COMM 326 - Radio Practicum (3cr)
OR COMM 348 - News Practicum (3 cr)
OR COMM 349 - New Media Practicum (3 cr)
JOUR 204 - Introduction to Journalism (3cr)
PSCI 306 - Introduction to Political Communication (3cr)
PSCI 423 - Topics in Political Communication (3cr)
OR PSCI 442 - Political Communication Internship (3-15cr)

Elective Courses, 12 Hours:

At least 3 credits must be from PSCI.

COMM 306 - History of Advertising (3cr)
COMM 322 - Social Media (3cr)
COMM 350 - Digital Filmmaking (3 cr)
OR COMM 360 - TV Production (3 cr)
COMM 400 - Media Law and Ethics (3cr)
COMM 403 - Media Studies (3 cr)
COMM 406 - Advertising and Imagery (3 cr)
COMM 435 - Media and Audience Analytics (3cr)
COMM 447 - Advanced Internet Media (3 cr)
COMM 470 - Strategic Campaigns (3cr)
JOUR 204 - Introduction to Journalism (3cr)
JOUR 310 - Media and Politics (3 cr)
PSCI 300 - State and Local Government (3 cr)
PSCI 301 - Public Policy (3 cr)
PSCI 305 - U.S. Congress (3 cr)
PSCI 307 - The U.S. Presidency (3 cr)
PSCI 310 - Parties, Politics, and Elections (3 cr)
PSCI 312 - Public Opinion and Political Behavior (3 cr)
PSCI 350 - Debate and Forensics (3cr) **
PSCI 351 - Model United Nations (3cr) **
PSCI 400 - The Supreme Court and Constitutional Law (3 cr)
PSCI 420 - Critical Political Issues (3 cr)
PSCI 423 - Topics in Political Communication (3cr)

Notes:

** No more than 3 hours of PSCI 350 or PSCI 351 can be counted toward the Political Science - Political Communications concentration elective requirement.

Four-Year Course Progression

**Political Science, Political Communication Concentration**
FALL		FIRST YEAR		SPRING		FIRST YEAR
Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit	Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit
PSCI 100*		Politics and Government	3	PSCI 200		American Political Institutions	3
PSCI 150**		First-Year Seminar	1	Core Curriculum	1	Written English II	3
Core Curriculum	1	Written English I	3	Core Curriculum	1	Science II	4
Core Curriculum	1	History	3	Core Curriculum	1	Math	3
Core Curriculum	1	Science I	4	Core Curriculum	2	Wellness or Arts	3
		TOTAL	14			TOTAL	16
*Also meets Core Curriculum Social Science requirement
**Also meets Core Curriculum First-Year Experience requirement

FALL		SECOND YEAR		SPRING		SECOND YEAR
Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit	Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit
PSCI 306		Introduction to Political Communications	3	COMM 321		Public Relations Principles	3
PSCI 304		Introduction to Comparative Politics	3	JOUR 204***		Introduction to Journalism	3
Core Curriculum	2	Wellness or Arts	3	PSCI 302		Introduction to Political Theory	3
COMM 203***		Communication and New Media	3	Elective		Elective	3
Core Curriculum	2	Social Science	3	Core Curriculum	2	Social Science	3
		TOTAL	15			TOTAL	15
*** Also meets Core Curriculum Humanities requirement				*** Also meets Core Curriculum Humanities requirement

FALL		THIRD YEAR		SPRING		THIRD YEAR
Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit	Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit
PSCI 324		International Relations	3	COMM 326, 348, or 349		Practicum	3
PSCI xxx		Elective	3	PSCI/COMM		Elective	3
PSCI/COMM		Elective	3	Minor		Minor	3
Minor		Minor	3	Minor		Minor	3
Elective		Elective	3	PSCI/COMM		Elective	3
		TOTAL	15			TOTAL	15

FALL		FOURTH YEAR		SPRING		FOURTH YEAR
Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit	Sub./Course No.	Tier	Title	Credit
PSCI 423 or 442		Political Communications Seminar or Internship	3	PSCI 497		Senior Research	4
Elective		Elective	3	Minor		Minor	3
Minor		Minor	3	Elective		Elective	3
Minor		Minor	3	Elective		Elective	3
PSCI 496		Research Design and Methods	3	Elective		Elective	3
		TOTAL	15			TOTAL	16

January 21, 2021						DEGREE TOTAL	121

Future Students

Current Students

Alumni & Friends

Faculty & Staff

Visitors

Political Science, B.S.

Curriculum for a Major in Political Science

Total hours required, 40 Hours:

Required courses, 19 Hours:

Elective courses, 21 Hours:

Note(s):

Four-Year Course Progression

Curriculum for a Major in Political Science, Legal Studies Concentration

Total hours required, 43 Hours:

Required Courses, 19 Hours:

Concentration Core Courses, 9 Hours:

Elective Courses, 15 Hours:

Notes:

Four-Year Course Progression

Curriculum for a Major in Political Science, Political Communications Concentration

Total Hours Required, 46 Hours:

Required Political Science Courses, 19 Hours:

Required Concentration Courses, 15 Hours:

Elective Courses, 12 Hours:

Notes:

Four-Year Course Progression