Course List - Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Requirements for the major: 36 credits, with a C or higher letter grade in all courses
| Required Courses (12 credits below the 400 level) | ||
| PL SC 001 | Introduction to American National Government Introduction to development and nature of American political culture, constitution/structural arrangements, electoral/policy processes; sources of conflict and consensus. |
3 credits |
| PL SC 003 | Introduction to Comparative Politics Introduction to study of comparative government and politics: normative/empirical theories; government functions in modern societies; representative structures and processes. |
3 credits |
| PL SC 014 | International Relations Characteristics of modern nation-states and forces governing their international relations; nationalism; imperialism; diplomacy; current problems of war and peace. Credit will not be given for both this course and INT U 200. |
3 credits |
| PL SC 017 | Introduction to Political Theory Introduction to basic issues in political theory through analysis of selected major political thinkers. |
3 credits |
| PL SC 110 | Rights in America This course explores the historical and contemporary struggles of particular groups within American society to expand their rights. |
3 credits |
| Required Courses (15 credits at the 400 level) | ||
| PL SC 418 | International Relations Theory A survey of traditional and contemporary conceptual frameworks and theoretical approaches for the analysis of international relations. Prerequisite: PL SC 014 |
3 credits |
| PL SC 439 | The Politics of Terrorism Analysis of political terrorism as a violent alternative for peaceful change and traditional warfare in the nuclear age. Prerequisites: CRIMJ 100 or PL SC 014 or permission of program |
3 credits |
| PL SC 442 | American Foreign Policy Principles of American foreign policy; processes of policy formulation; roles of the President, Congress, the State Department and other government agencies. Prerequisite: PL SC 014 |
3 credits |
| PL SC 455 | Governments and Politics of Western Europe Comparative analysis of political and governmental structures of major West European nations; main functions and processes of such structures. Prerequisite: PL SC 003 |
3 credits |
| PL SC 458 | Government and Politics of East Asia Examination of political institutions, democratic and communist revolution, political leadership, political processes of major states of East Asia. Prerequisite: 3 credits from PL SC 003 |
3 credits |
| PL SC 470W | Legal Brief Writing Writing of legal briefs as practiced in American courts. Prerequisite: PL SC 001 |
3 credits |
| PL SC 471 | American Constitutional Law The origins of judicial review, landmark decisions of the Supreme Court, and their impact on the American form of government. Prerequisite: PL SC 001 |
3 credits |
| PL SC 472 | The American Legal Process Analysis of the roles, procedures, and policies characterizing the American legal system. Prerequisite: PL SC 001 |
3 credits |
| PL SC 480W | Congress and the Presidency Basic characteristics and processes of the national legislature and executive; roles and interaction of these institutions in the policy process. Prerequisite: PL SC 001 |
3 credits |
| PL SC 490 | Policy Making and Evaluation Advanced analysis of public policy, emphasizing policy evaluation and the factors that determine policy success and failure. Prerequisite: PL SC 001, PL SC 002 or PUBPL 304W |
3 credits |
| Supporting and Related Courses: 9 credits (in consultation with adviser) | ||
| CAS 352 | Organizational Communication This course examines the function and structure of communication in both formal and informal situations. |
3 credits |
| CAS 404 | Conflict Resolution and Negotiation Theories and strategies important for conceptualizing, developing, and managing conflict negotiation, mediation, and third-party intervention. Prerequisites: CAS 100 |
3 credits |
| CAS 475 | Studies in Public Address History and criticism of public discourse; intensive analysis of selected public addresses and social movements. Prerequisites: CAS 100 |
3 credits |
| COMM 403 | Law of Mass Communications Nature and theories of law; the Supreme Court and press freedom; legal problems of the mass media. |
3 credits |
| COMM 405 | Political Economy of Communications Structure and functions of American and other mass communications systems and their relationship to political and economic systems. Prerequisites: ECON 102 |
3 credits |
| COMM 409 | News Media Ethics Ethical problems in the practice of journalism; principal public criticisms of news media; case study approach. |
3 credits |
| COMM 410 | International Mass Communications The role of international media in communication among and between nations and people. Complement to COMM 419. Prerequisites: Select 3 credits from the following COMM 100, COMM 110, COMM 118, COMM 150, COMM 180, COMM 251, COMM 260W, COMM 320 or COMM 370 |
3 credits |
| CRIM 482 | Seminar, Criminal Justice Agency Administration Relates organizational and public policy management approaches to police, courts, and correctional institutions. Prerequisites: CRIM 100 |
3 credits |
| CRIMJ 304 | Security Administration Interdisciplinary analysis of security and loss prevention; its administration, role in crime control and prevention, and relationship to criminal justice. |
3 credits |
| CRIMJ 435 | Border Security This course provides knowledge about government organizations charged with American border security, guiding laws and policies. |
3 credits |
| CRIMJ 465 | Ethics in Criminal Justice Ethical behavior in the criminal justice system. Prerequisites: CRIMJ 100 or permission of program |
3 credits |
| CRIMJ/SOC 467 | Law and Society Law and society studies the social origins of law and legal systems; occupational careers, and decision making of legal officials. Prerequisites: CRIMJ 100 or CRIMJ 113 or permission of program |
3 credits |
| ECON – Any 300 or 400 level | ||
| GEOG 432 | Energy Policy Analysis, formulation, implementation, and impacts of energy-related policies, regulations, and initiatives. Prerequisites: E B F 200, EGEE 120, PL SC 490 |
3 credits |
| L ST 370 | Research Methods for Law and Government Information Resources Evaluating, retrieving and integrating Federal and Legal Information Resources into scholarly research. Prerequisites: 3 credits in Administration of Justice Political Science Communication History or Sociology |
3 credits |
| LER – Any 400 level | ||
| PL SC – Any 300 or 400 level | ||
| PSYCH – Any 400 level | ||
| PUBPL 306 | Introduction to Crisis and Emergency Management An introduction to emergency management in mitigating, preparing for, responding to and recovering from hazards. |
3 credits |
| PUBPL 475 | Critical Infrastructure Protection This course provides knowledge about protection of critical infrastructure as an aspect of homeland security. |
3 credits |
| PUBPL 483 | Seminar in National Security Policy This course will examine the inter-relationship of foreign, military and economic policy. |
3 credits |
| SOC – Any 400 level | ||
Please note: Among the above degree requirements, students should incorporate at least 3 credits in US cultures, 3 credits in international (IL) cultures, and 3 credits in writing across the curriculum courses. The above course list includes only courses offered by World Campus. An official degree audit or the recommended academic plan for this program may include additional course options and detailed requirements. All students are expected to complete at least 36 Penn State credits to earn this degree. Please consult an academic adviser for details.