At which campus can I study this program?
Begin Campus
Any Penn State Campus
End Campus
Erie
Program Description
The discipline of political science consists of different related subfields such as American government, international relations, public policy and administration, the study of how governments accomplish objectives, and comparative politics, the study of foreign government. The major offers students the opportunity to take coursework in most subfields as well as seek practical experience through an internship. All students are encouraged to develop research and writing and statistical skills. Many students have continued their education in law or graduate school.
What is Political Science?
Political science is one of the social sciences. It is the study of systems of governance and governmental institutions, political activity, political thought, and political behavior. Political science draws from many other academic disciplines, including economics, law, sociology, history, philosophy, geography, psychology, and anthropology. There also are subfields of political science, such as comparative politics, political theory, international relations, international law, public administration, and public policy. Political science students study how American government works (and doesn't work) and what can be done to improve government at the federal, state, and local level. In comparative government and international relations coursework, students study the politics and policies of other countries. Political theory courses examine the ideas of famous political philosophers, while courses on law and the legal process provide knowledge about the criminal justice and civil litigation systems.
You Might Like This Program If...
- You want to understand how political and governmental decisions are made.
- You love discussing and analyzing events in the news.
- You're interested in how the legal system works.
- You’re interested in how diplomacy works.
- You’re looking for a degree that is useful in many different career paths.
Entrance to Major
In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:
- attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
- have third-semester classification.
READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Degree Requirements
For the Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, a minimum of 120 credits is required:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 45 |
| Electives | 15 |
| Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements | 24 |
| Requirements for the Major | 36 |
3 of the 24 credits for Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements are included in the Requirements for the Major, General Education, or Electives and 0-12 credits are included in Electives if foreign language proficiency is demonstrated by examination.
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol 
appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required.)
- Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
Knowledge Domains
- Arts (GA): 6 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 6 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 6 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 9 credits
Integrative Studies (may also complete a Knowledge Domain requirement)
- Inter-Domain or Approved Linked Courses: 6 credits
University Degree Requirements
First Year Engagement
All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.
Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.
First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.
Cultures Requirement
6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements
- United States Cultures: 3 credits
- International Cultures: 3 credits
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
B.A. Degree Requirements
Foreign Language (0-12 credits): Student must attain 12th credit level of proficiency in one foreign language. See the Placement Policy for Penn State Foreign Language Courses.
B.A. Fields (9 credits): Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, Foreign Languages, Natural Sciences, Quantification (may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major; foreign language credits in this category must be in a second foreign language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the first language)
Other Cultures (0-3 credits): Select 3 credits from approved list. Students may count courses in this category in order to meet other major, minor, elective, or General Education requirements, except for the General Education US/IL requirement.
Requirements for the Major
Each student must earn at least a grade of C in each 300- and 400-level course in the major field.
To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| PLSC 1 | American Politics: Principles, Processes and Powers | 3 |
| PLSC 3 | Comparing Politics around the Globe | 3 |
| PLSC 14 | International Relations | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
PLSC 7 | ||
PLSC 17 | ||
| Introduction to Political Theory | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas 1 | ||
| Select 12 credits at any level from a program-approved list | 12 | |
| Select 12 credits at the 400 level from a program-approved list | 12 | |
| 1 | In meeting this requirement, select at least one course beyond the prescribed and additional courses listed above from each of the four fields offered in the program: American Government, Comparative Politics, International Politics, and Government in Theory and Practice. |
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university’s academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee’s unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
Erie
Robert Speel
Associate Professor of Political Science
159 Kochel
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6206
rws15@psu.edu
Suggested Academic Plan
Erie Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 15 or 30†‡ | 3 | PLSC 1 or PLSC 3 | 3 |
| PLSC 1 or PLSC 3 | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| Foreign Language (Level One) | 4 | General Education | 3 |
| First-Year Seminar | 1 | Foreign Language (Level Two) | 4 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PLSC 14 or PLSC 17 | 3 | PLSC 14H or PLSC 17 | 3 |
| CAS 100†‡ | 3 | ENGL 202A†‡ | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| Foreign Language (Level Three) | 4 | General Education | 3 |
| General Education | 1.5 | ||
| 16 | 16.5 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PL SC 400-level* | 3 | PL SC 400-level, Writing Across the Curriculum (W) course* | 3 |
| PL SC American Government any level | 3 | PL SC International Politics any level | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | BA Knowledge Domain | 3 |
| General Education | 1.5 | General Education | 3 |
| Other Cultures | 3 | Electives | 3 |
| 13.5 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PL SC 400-level* | 3 | PL SC 400-level* | 3 |
| PL SC Comparative Politics any level | 3 | PL SC Gov in Theory and Practice any level | 3 |
| BA Knowledge Domain | 3 | BA Knowledge Domain | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | Electives | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | Electives | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 121 | |||
* Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
‡ Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
# Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
† Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy University Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
GWS, GQ, GHW, GN, GA, GH, and GS are abbreviations used to identify General Education program courses. General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ) and Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS, and Integrative Studies). Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Integrative Studies courses are required for the General Education program. N is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate an Inter-Domain course and Z is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate a Linked course.
Bachelor of Arts Requirements:
Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.
Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in Other Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as Other Cultures courses.
| 1 | Quantification of Natural Science |
| 2 | Students need 6 credits in GQ and 9 credits in GN ; one Natural Science (GN) course must include a laboratory component |
| 3 | Foreign Language (Level One) |
| 4 | This requirement is governed by placement policy dictated by the number of levels of foreign language completed prior to admission to college. |
| 5 | Arts, Humanities, or Social and Behavioral Science. |
| 6 | Students need 6 credits in GA, 6 credits in GH, and 6 credits in GS. Courses may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major. |
| 7 | PL SC 400-level |
| 8 | W and Y are codes used to designated courses that satisfy University Writing Across the curriculum requirements. |
| 9 | BA Knowledge Domains |
| 10 | Students are permitted to complete all 9 credits in an one of six domains or a combination thereof, but courses may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major. The six domains are ARTS (GA), Humanities (GH), Social & Behavioral Sciences (GS), Natural Sciences (GN), Quantification (GQ). and Foreign Language if the coursework is in a second foreign language or beyond the 12th credit proficiency of the first foreign language. |
Additional Notes
Both US (United States Cultures) and IL (International Cultures) must be completed within the degree requirements.
Program Notes: Students can double count US & IL requirements for general education courses but not for the Other Cultures requirement.
Academic Advising Notes: The course series listed above is only one of many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The number of electives required varies per student. Please be sure to consult with an adviser about your intended plan.
Career Paths
The B.A. in Political Science program emphasizes the development of key intellectual skills, ingraining the habits of questioning, debating, challenging, and shaping coherent and persuasive arguments. You’ll be expected to master effective writing, speaking, and reasoning, and conduct upper-level research in public affairs—skills that are impressive to future employers. Penn State Behrend has a comprehensive support system to help you identify and achieve your goals for college and beyond. Meet with your academic adviser often and take advantage of the services offered by the Academic and Career Planning Center beginning in your first semester.
Careers
Employers of recent Penn State Behrend B.A. in Political Science graduates include the FBI, CIA, U.S. State Department, Social Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Pennsylvania General Assembly, and NASA. Recent Political Science graduates work as attorneys for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Michigan Attorney General, The Nature Conservancy, and GEICO, and in policy positions at Toyota Motors, Erie Insurance, and the Center for Naval Analyses. Other recent graduates work in education at the University of California, Los Angeles, University of Notre Dame, University of Connecticut, and in many secondary schools.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE POLITICAL SCIENCE PROGRAM
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
Recent Penn State Behrend Political Science alumni have attended the law schools at Cornell University, University of Pittsburgh, New York University, George Washington University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, University of Illinois, Duquesne University, and Boston College. Other recent graduates have pursued graduate-degree programs in fields such as public policy and international relations at the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown University, Oregon State University, Cornell University, Cleveland State University, University of Pittsburgh, Johns Hopkins University, Pepperdine University, Fudan University in China, and England’s Cambridge University.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES
Professional Resources
Contact
Erie
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
170 Irvin Kochel Center
4951 College Drive
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6108
HumSocSci@psu.edu