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Political Science
Academic Bulletin
Area of Study: Social and Behavioral Science
Programs: Major and Minor
Professors Harward (Chair), Bloeser, Kirschner, Mattiace, Oliver, Wesoky, Williams
When advising a student interested in Political Science, please note:
- The introductory courses are POLSC 110, 120, 130, and 140
- For the major, two introductory courses are required and three may count toward the major. First year students should begin by taking both introductory courses, ideally one in each semester of the first year. (Students are strongly encouraged to complete these by the end of the fourth semester.)
- For a minor, one introductory course is required.
- A 4 or a 5 score on AP exams in American or Comparative Government may substitute for one of the introductory courses.
All students (majors and minors) are required to take the Introduction to Research Design course, POLSC 289 (2 credits), ideally during the spring of their first year, but certainly by the end of their fourth semester.
- The Department is divided into four subfields: (Law and Policy, American Politics, Comparative Politics/International Relations, and Political Theory/Method). Majors are required to take at least one course in each of the four subfields (and at least three courses at the 300- or 400-level).
- 200-level courses are open to first year students. In general, introductory courses should be taken before 200-level courses.
- Special topics courses will be assigned to categories by writing them in by hand and will “count” toward the subfield requirement.
- Students interested in…
- international affairs are encouraged to include foreign language study and take the 120 and 130 introductory courses.
- pre-law may consult the Pre-Legal Guidelines of the Advisor’s Handbook or see Prof. Brian Harward.
- We encourage first year students to attend the many programs sponsored by the Center for Political Participation (CPP) and consider applying to the Law and Policy (L & P) program (includes a Global Affairs track, for those interested), run by the CPP.
- Academic Advisor: Students can ask any faculty member to serve as their advisor. It usually works best when they have taken courses with their prospective advisor.
- Junior Seminar: Students should plan to register for the Junior Seminar in the Fall or Spring semester of the junior year or the fall semester of the senior year. Students register for an open section.
- Senior Comp: All majors (including double majors) are required to take POLSC 600 (pre-comp) course prior to enrolling in POLSC 610 (the comp). POLSC 600 is offered both fall and spring semesters, but most students will take 600 in the fall and 610 in the spring of their senior year.
Please contact Professor Harward for more information about the major and minor in Political Science.
Suggested Schedule for Political Science Majors:
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1st Semester |
2nd Semester |
| First Year |
One intro class (POLSC 110, 120, 130, 140) |
One intro class (POLSC 110, 120, 130, 140) and
POLSC 289 (2 cr) |
Information for Transfer Students
| Transferring after one year |
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We expect students transferring to Allegheny after attending one year at another institution may have one introductory course; in some cases, they may also be transferring in a 2nd introductory course and/or a 200-level course. We would expect all transfer students interested in POLSC to take POLSC 289 as soon as possible.
Below you will find a roadmap of the Political Science major and minor requirements as you make progress towards your degree at Allegheny College
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MAJOR |
MINOR |
Year 1 at
Allegheny |
- Complete remaining POLSC 100-level introductory courses (majors need 2 from POLSC 110, 120, 130, 140)
- Take POLSC 289 (2 cr)
- Take 1-2 POLSC 200-level courses
- Some students enroll in a POLSC 300/400-level course, particularly in the 2nd semester
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- Complete POLSC 100-level introductory course if necessary (minors need 1 from POLSC 110, 120, 130, 140)
- Take POLSC 289 (2 cr)
- Take 1-2 additional courses at the POLSC 100/200-level
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Year 2 at
Allegheny |
- Take 1 POLSC 200-level course if desired
- Take 2-3 POLSC 300/400-level courses (majors need 3)
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- Take 1-2 POLSC 300/400-level courses (minors need 2)
- Courses should cover 3 of the 4 subfields
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Year 3 at
Allegheny |
- Complete required 3 courses at the POLSC 300/400-level
- Enroll in POLSC Junior Seminar (580-587) in the Fall if necessary
- Take POLSC 600, Senior Project Proposal in Fall
- Complete POLSC 610, Senior Project in Spring; students enrolled in POLSC 600 as juniors will complete POLSC 610 in the Fall
- Take any remaining POLSC courses to reach major requirement of 44 credits
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- Complete required 2 courses at the POLSC 300/400-level
- Courses should cover 3 of the 4 subfields. Take any remaining POLSC curses to reach minor requirement of 22 credits.
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| Transferring after two years |
| We expect students transferring to Allegheny after attending two years at another institution may have at least two introductory courses and may also be transferring in a 200-level course. It is also possible to complete the major in two years with fewer transfer credits in Political Science |
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MAJOR |
MINOR |
Year 1 at
Allegheny |
- Complete remaining POLSC 100-level introductory courses (majors need 3 from POLSC 110, 120, 130, 140) in 1st semester
- Take POLSC 289
- Take 1-3 POLSC 200-level courses
- Take at least 1 POLSC 300/400-level course (majors need 3)
- Enroll in POLSC Junior Seminar (580-587)
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- Complete POLSC 100-level introductory course if necessary (minors need 1 from POLSC 110, 120, 130, 130) in 1st semester
- Take POLSC 289
- Take 1-3 additional courses at the POLSC 200-400 level (covering 3 of the 4 subfields)
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Year 2 at
Allegheny |
- Complete requirement to take 3 courses at the POLSC 300/400-level
- Enroll in POLSC Junior Seminar (580-587) in Fall if it wasn’t taken the prior year. Students who entered with fewer transfer credits in POLSC may wish to pursue this option.
- Take POLSC 600, Senior Project Proposal in Fall (POLSC 500 required for all majors, including double majors)
- Complete POLSC 610 Senior Project in Spring; students enrolled in POLSC 600 as juniors will complete POLSC 610 n Fall
- Take any remaining POLSC courses to reach major requirement of 44 credits
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- Take 1-2 POLSC 300/400-level courses (minors need 2)
- Take any remaining POLSC courses to reach minor requirement of 22 credits
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