Political Science .......................................................Bachelor of Arts

POLITICAL SCIENCE

ANJALI SAHAY, Ph.D., Program Director FACULTY: Professors: Mark A. Jubulis. Associate Professor: Anjali Sahay. Adjunct Faculty: Jay A. Breneman, Diane E. Chido.

Vision Statement

The Political Science program seeks to attract talented students who are intellectually curious about political life and global affairs. As a dedicated community of teaching and learning, we strive to promote awareness and understanding of the key perennial questions concerning the nature of politics. Our efforts will draw strength from Gannon’s Catholic Identity and emphasis on Liberal Learning, and contribute to the enhancement of the intellectual life of the University.

Mission Statement

The Political Science program is dedicated to providing our students with the necessary perspectives to critically and normatively evaluate the wide variety of political regimes that have existed in different time periods and different parts of the world. Our students will develop an understanding of the purpose of politics as the effort to structure a community dedicated to the promotion of justice and the common good. This understanding is developed by making connections across the various academic disciplines, applying moral reasoning to public affairs, and cultivating the virtue of prudence.

Objectives

The Political Science program offers an undergraduate curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree. It also provides the opportunity for students to pursue a dual major or acquire one or two minors. The program covers the four major subfields of political science: American Politics, Political Theory, Comparative Government and International Relations. The curriculum provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in either graduate school or law school, or directly pursue a career in the public, private or not for profit sectors.

Career Opportunities

Individuals with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science may qualify for administrative and management trainee positions in such fields as legislative and policy research, public relations, personnel work, budget analysis, security investigation, etc. Employment opportunities also include such professional careers as college and university teaching, law, city management, urban planning, public administration, policy research and analysis, foreign service and many other careers with local, national and international organizations both public and private.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

POLI 101: Orientation

A required orientation program for freshman Political Science and Pre-Law concentrators. NC/Fall

POLI 111: U.S. Government and Politics

Constitutional foundations of U.S. Government; structure and functions of Congress, the Presidency, the judiciary; administrative institutions and processes, interest groups and political parties; political behavior, and the electoral process. 3 credits, Fall/Spring

POLI 122: Public Policy Analysis

Principles and practices of policy analysis; emphasis on current national policy issues. 3 credits, Fall/Spring

POLI 133: Introduction to International Relations

Introduction to the nature of international relations, focusing on the role of the state and international institutions; the role of ideology and culture in international affairs; and the nature of the world economy and the process of globalization. 3 credits

POLI 210: Bureaucracy and Public Administration

Principles and practices of public administration in modern society with a special attention to the administration of the American Federal government. 3 credits

POLI 220: Comparative Government

Principles of comparative political analysis; principles and features of selected European and other non-Western governmental systems. 3 credits

POLI 260: Introduction to Law in Society

Introduction to legal institutions and processes; evolution of the American legal system; major substantive areas of law; legal reasoning and the adversarial process; and, the role of attorneys and courts in American society. Cross listed with PLAW 111 3 credits

POLI 311: State and Local Government

Institutions and processes of state and local government with special focus upon Pennsylvania. 3 credits

POLI 312: Parties and Political Behavior

The electoral and governmental functions of American political parties, with consideration given to party systems at national and local levels, and the study of campaigns and elections. 3 credits

POLI 315: Congress and Legislative Process

The structure, functions and the role of Congress in both the policy process and the nation’s political life. 3 credits

POLI 317: The American Presidency

Institution, politics, personality, and policies of the president. 3 credits

POLI 322-325: Regional Studies

Political structures and regional features of a select area of the world, such as Russia and Eastern Europe, the European Union, Latin America, Africa, or Asia. 3 credits

POLI 326: Asian Politics and Culture

This course examines the political, historical, cultural, socio-economic, and geographic traits that distinguish this region and shapes its domestic political processes, interstate, and international relations. 3 credits

POLI 331: Urban Politics and Public Policy

The American urban political process and public policy. Community structure and the distribution and use of power. 3 credits

POLI 332: Comprehensive Urban Planning

Consideration of the economic, political and social determinants of comprehensive urban land use planning. 3 credits

POLI 340: Theories of International Relations

Analysis of major theoretical approaches to study of international relations and evaluation of competing paradigms which claim to explain the nature of post-ColdWar international relations. Prerequisite: POLI 133 3 credits

POLI 341: International Law and World Order

This course addresses contemporary issues in international law and world order. Course will enhance students’ comprehension of topics such as human rights, genocide, non-proliferation, terrorism, international criminal court and other conflicts. 3 credits

POLI 342: United Nations Practicum

This course covers the history, goals, principles, rules, procedures, and other institutions of the United Nations organization. Gannon’s Model U.N. for High School students provides opportunities for experiential learning. Participation in Gannon Model UN is required. 3 credits

POLI 343: U.S. Foreign Policy

Historical and intellectual foundations of contemporary U.S. foreign policy. 3 credits

POLI 345: Globalization and World Politics

Course will explore the global contours of economic, political, technological, security, cultural, migratory, linguistic, and environmental aspects of globalization. 3 credits

POLI 350: Constitutional Law and the Judicial Process

Processes of constitutional development and interpretation; the Judicial system; judicial review; the federal system; Presidency: office and powers; powers of Congress. 3 credits, Fall

POLI 351: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Constitutional basis of civil liberties; freedom of speech and press; freedom of association, religious liberty and the separation of church and state; federal and state procedural due process; substantive due process; equal protection of the laws. 3 credits, Spring

POLI 357: Legal Analysis and Persuasion

Legal analysis and persuasion will introduce the student to the fundamentals of legal thinking; including the critical examination of case law and other written materials. Applying this legal analysis, students will learn to persuade a targeted audience in both written and oral forms. Classroom exercises include briefs, mock appellate arguments and/or mock trial. Cross listed with PLAW 357 3 credits

POLI 360: Political Theory

The Classical and Christian tradition of political theory and philosophy. Reading and discussion of select works of Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas and Machiavelli. Modern Political Theory and philosophy. Reading and discussion of select works, including writings of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, John Stuart Mill, and Marx. 3 credits

POLI 390-394: Special Topics

Such as Political Rhetoric & Leadership, Presidential Campaigns and Elections, Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict, and Totalitarianism. 1-3 credits POLI 395-399: Independent Study 1-3 credits

POLI 400: Political Analysis Senior Coordinating Seminar

The Coordinating Seminar is designed to enhance and integrate the student’s comprehension of politics; and to develop further, critical and analytical skills in reading, writing and research. 3 credits

POLI 490: Fieldwork and Internships I

Qualified individuals will be placed in internship positions with public officials, political organizations and governmental agencies particularly, not exclusively, in the local community. Students may also design, in consultation with the program director, an appropriate program of field research. Prerequisite: Permission of Department. 3 credits, Fall

POLI 491: Fieldwork and Internships II

Prerequisite: Permission of Department. 3 credits, Spring

Semester or summer internships in Washington, DC are available to all majors for academic credit through Gannon’s affiliation with the Washington Center.

Political Science Curriculum

Liberal Studies Core Requirements: 39 credit hours Program Requirements: Concentrators should successfully complete 36 credit hours in Political Science and 43 credit hours in cognate and elective subjects, including the following courses:

Freshman Orientation: POLI 101 (NC)

Introduction: POLI 111, 122, 133, 220

Upper Level Core: POLI 360; 400, one of the following: POLI 321, 322, 340, 341 343 and one of the following: POLI 210, 260, 312, 315, 317, 350, 357.

Experiential Learning Component: One of the following: POLI 342, 490, or 491 – 3 credits.

Program Electives: 9 credits of upper level courses or Internship Fieldwork, Independent Study of Intersession Courses.

Cognate Requirements: 9 credit hours including: Social Science Cognates: 6 credit hours from Economics/BCOR 111 or BCOR 112 or Sociology/SOCI 110 or Psychology/PSYC 111 or HIST 221/222. Statistics: 3 credits Required: Language: 6 credit hours in Language

Electives: 32 credits

Legal Studies: Law and Politics

Students pursuing this track will take most of the required courses in the Political Science major, but will substitute two legal courses, Introduction to Law & Society and Legal Analysis & Persuasion, for two upper level Political Science courses. Students who intend to go on to law school are encouraged to complete the Legal Studies Certificate. The certificate can be completed within the four year program by using those courses as the allowable cognates and electives offered in the Political Science Program. If the pre law school student does not want to complete the certificate, they are encouraged to take some of the Legal Studies courses so that they can learn skills that could enable them to find summer employment and/or part-time employment in legal settings. Some helpful courses would include Legal Research &Writing I and II, Public Records Research, and Computers in Law.

Political Science Curriculum

(Numerals in front of courses indicate credits) FRESHMAN Fall 2 First Year Seminar 3 College Composition/LENG 111 3 History Without Borders/LHST 111 3 Intro to Philosophy/LPHI 131 3 Foundations of Theology/LTHE 101 3 Intro to US Government/POLI 111 0 Orientation/POLI 101 17 Spring 3 Crit Analysis & Comp/LENG 112 3 Public Policy Analysis/POLI 122 3 Introduction to Psychology/PSYC 111, or Macroeconomics/BCOR 112 or HIST 222 3 Elective 3 Intro to International Relations/POLI 133

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