About the Program
Professors: Jean Gazarian (adjunct), Johannes Morsink, Philip Mundo (chair)
Associate Professors: Catherine Keyser, Debra Liebowitz, Joseph Romance, Andrea Talentino
Assistant Professors: Jinee Lokaneeta, Patrick McGuinn, Carlos Yordán
Political scientists study how men and women govern themselves-in realms from the smallest communities to the international system. In town meetings, the halls of Congress, or the United Nations, the great political questions are the same-how to reconcile individual aspirations and community needs, freedom and equality, authority and justice, participation and power.
Drew's Political Science program focuses on how these questions and contending values are reflected in diverse political arenas. Basic courses in political theory, American politics, comparative politics, and international relations provide knowledge and analytic tools students need to be informed citizens of their communities, nations, and the world. Advanced courses enrich and deepen this knowledge.
A Political Science major also includes opportunities for on-site study through the following specialized programs: The Semester on the United Nations, the Washington Semester, and the London Semester. Additionally, the John H. Ewing Center for Public Service and Public Affairs each semester provides a program of activities and financial support for students engaging in off-campus research and internships in the public sector.
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Requirements for the Major
Foundation (48 credits)
I. Four introductory courses (16 credits) from the following:
PSCI 2/Comparative Political Systems
PSCI 4/International Relations (4)
PSCI 6/American Government and Politics (4)
PSCI 8/Political Ideologies (4)
II. Eight courses (32 credits) from the following, at least four of which must be upper level. The intermediate and upper level course combined must be distributed across three of the four subfields in the discipline. At least one of the upper level courses must be a senior capstone. Students must take at least 16 intermediate and upper level credits on campus, and must complete the capstone course, normally in the senior year. Students may count a maximum of 8 departmental internship course credits toward the major. Finally, students are strongly encouraged to take PSCI 17/Research Methods in Political Science, which is the department's course in methods.
A. American Politics, Government, and Policy
PSCI 23/Congress (4)
PSCI 24/American Political Campaigns (4)
PSCI 25/The American Presidency (4)
PSCI 27/Urban Politics (4)
PSCI 10/Law, Politics, and Society (4)
PSCI 12/Public Policy and Administration (4)
PSCI 66/Internship in Political Science (2-4)
PSCI 73/Internship Project in Washington (8)
PSCI 101/Civil Liberties (4)
PSCI 103/Criminal Justice (4)
PSCI 121/Selected Studies in American Politics and Administration (4)
PSCI 122/Political Parties and Interest Groups in the United States (4)
PSCI 141/Seminar on Public Policy (4)
PSCI 142/Seminar on American Political Participation (4)
PSCI 155/Gender and U.S. Politics (4)
PSCI 159/American Political Economy (4)
PSCI 174/Policy Making in Washington (4)
PSCI 175/Research Projects: Washington (4)
PSCI 196/Constitutional Law and Civil Rights (4)
PSCI 197/Education Policy and Politics (4)
PSCI 198/Race and Politics (4)
PSCI 190/Capstone Seminar in Political Science (4)
B. Comparative Politics and Government
PSCI 15/Russian Politics (4)
PSCI 16/Latin American Politics (4)
PSCI 107/European Politics (4)
PSCI 18/Chinese Politics (4)
PSCI 19/Middle East Politics (4)
PSCI 33/East Asian Politics (4)
PSCI 176/Contemporary British Politics (4)
PSCI 189/The History of Modern Britain (4)
PSCI 192/Comparative Political Economy (4)
PSCI 193/Comparative Political Parties (4)
C. International Relations
PSCI 165/International Organizations (4)
PSCI 68/Terrorism (4)
PSCI 54/Global Feminisms (4)
PSCI 71/United Nations Community Internships (4)
PSCI 111/Political Change and Development (4)
PSCI 113/Principles of International Law (4)
PSCI 134/Latin America and U.S. Foreign Policy (4)
PSCI 135/International Political Economy (4)
PSCI 138/Collective Conflict Management (4)
PSCI 139/International Human Rights (4)
PSCI 156/Seminar on Gender and International Politics (4)
PSCI 169/Peacemaking and Peacekeeping in the 21st Century (4)
PSCI 170/The United Nations System and the International Community (4)
PSCI 172/Research Seminar on the United Nations (4)
PSCI 192/Comparative Political Economy (4)
PSCI 193/Comparative Political Parties (4)
PSCI 161/Strategies of War and Peace (4)
PSCI 162/Torture: Pain, Body, and Truth (4)
PSCI 190/Capstone Seminar in Political Science (4)
D. Political Theory
PSCI 28/Political Ideologies
PSCI 17/Research Methods in Political Science (4)
PSCI/SOC 115/Political Sociology (4)
PSCI 130/Philosophy of Law (4)
PSCI 139/International Human Rights (4)
PSCI 140/Seminar on Human Rights (4)
PSCI 162/Torture: Pain, Body, and Truth (4)
PSCI 191/Contemporary Theories of Liberalism and Conservatism (4)
PSCI 151/Democratic Theory (4)
PSCI 190/Capstone Seminar in Political Science (4)
Foundation with Concentration (60 Credits)
I. Four Introductory courses (16 credits) from the following (regarding PSCI XX see the Law and Theory Concentration):
PSCI 2/Comparative Political Systems (4)
PSCI 4/International Relations (4)
PSCI 6/American Government and Politics (4)
PSCI /Political Theory (4)
II. Three intermediate or upper level courses (12 credits) distributed across three of the four subfields (see list above).
III. Eight intermediate or upper level courses (32 credits) in one of the concentrations: Law and Theory, Global Politics, or American Politics and Policy, at least five of which must be at the upper level. Students are strongly encouraged to take PSCI 17/Research Methods in Political Science, which satisfies a course requirement in any concentration. Students may not have more than one concentration. At least ont of the upper level courses must be a senior capstone. Students must take at lease 16 intermediate and upper level credits on campus, and must complete the capstone course, normally in the senior year. Students may count a maximum of 8 departmental internship credits toward the major.
A. Law and Theory Concentration
Students in this concentration will be introduced to a variety of theoretical and juridical perspectives such as: rights and responsibilities, justice, equality, freedom, democracy, and other types of governance. Students in this concentration are required to take PSCI 28/Political Ideologies (4) as part of the intermediate and upper level requirements for the concentration.
Courses
PSCI 28/Political Ideologies (4)
PSCI 10/Law, Politics and Society (4)
PSCI 101/Civil Liberties (4)
PSCI 103/Criminal Justice (4)
PSCI 113/Principles of International Law (4)
PSCI 126/Seminar in Political Philosophy (4)
PSCI 130/Philosophy of Law (4)
PSCI 131/Selected Studies in Political Theory (4)
PSCI 139/International Human Rights (4)
PSCI 140/Seminar on Human Rights (4)
PSCI 196/Constitutional Law and Civil Rights (4)
PSCI 162/Torture: Pain, Body and Truth (4)
PSCI 191/Contemporary Theories of Liberalism and Conservatism (4)
PSCI 151/Democratic Theory (4)
PSCI 190/Capstone Seminar in Political Science (4)
B. Global Politics Concentration
This concentration exposes students to the concepts, institutions, issues, policies and actors shaping the terrain of global political life. It offers a rich array of thematic courses that afford a student the opportunity to study the theory, the politics and political behavior of states and nations across the globe. The goal of the Global Politics concentration is to provide the student with an opportunity to study both major themes that cut across nation and region as well as in depth study of politics in the regions of the world. Students may combine courses from the Global Politics menu in a variety of ways. Students with specific regional or thematic interests should discuss combinations with their advisor.
Students will take 8 courses (32 credits), at least five of which must be at the upper level, from the following courses with at least one coming from each of the 4 groupings: International Institutions, Thematic, Regional, and Foreign Policy courses.
Courses
1. International/multinational institutions
PSCI 165/International Organizations (4)
PSCI 113/Principles of International Law (4)
PSCI 135/International Political Economy (4)
PSCI 170/The United Nations System and the International Community (4)
PSCI 171/United Nations Community Internships (4)
PSCI 172/Research Seminar on the United Nations (4)
2. Thematic Courses
PSCI 68/ Terrorism (4)
PSCI 54/Global Feminisms (4)
PSCI 111/Political Change and Development (4)
PSCI 135/International Political Economy (4)
PSCI 138/Collective Conflict Management (4)
PSCI 139/International Human Rights (4)
PSCI 156/Seminar on Gender and International Politics (4)
PSCI 169/Peacemaking and Peacekeeping in the 21st Century (4)
PSCI 192/Comparative Political Economy (4)
PSCI 193/Comparative Political Parties (4)
PSCI 161/Strategies of War and Peace (4)
PSCI 162/Torture: Pain, Body, and Truth (4)
3. Regional Courses
PSCI 15/Russian Politics (4)
PSCI 16/Latin American Politics
PSCI 107/European Politics (4)
PSCI 18/Chinese Politics (4)
PSCI 19/Middle East Politics (4)
PSCI 33/East Asian Politics (4)
PSCI 99/Africa in International Politics (4)
PSCI 134/latin America and U.S. Foreign Policy (4)
PSCI 163/Politics of European Integration (4)
PSCI 176/Contemporary British Politics (4)
PSCI 182/Research Tutorial (4)
PSCI 185/European Research Seminar (4)
PSCI 189/The History of Modern Britain (4)
PSCI 149/Development in Africa (4)
EURST 100/Colloquium Research Seminar on European Society (4)
4. Foreign Policy Courses
PSCI 20/United States Foreign Policy (4)
PSCI 134/Latin America and U.S. Foreign Policy (4)
PSCI 136/The National Security Council (4)
PSCI 137/Europe in World Affairs (4)
PSCI 160/Intelligence and Covert Operations (4)
PSCI 190/Capstone Seminar in Political Science (4)
5. Selected Topics Courses (may satisfy a requirement with department approval)
PSCI 112/Selected Topics in Comparative Politics (4)
PSCI 119/Selected Studies in International Politics (4)
C. American Politics and Public Policy Concentration
This concentration will introduce students to the meaning and consequences of American Politics and public policy with a particular emphasis on citizenship and the practice of Politics in democracy. Students will explore and develop an in-depth understanding of political behavior, formal institutions of government and the public policy process.
Courses
PSCI 23/Congress (4)
PSCI 24/American Political Campaigns (4)
PSCI 25/The American Presidency (4)
PSCI 27/Urban Politics (4)
PSCI 10/Law, Politics, and Society (4)
PSCI 12/Public Policy and Administration (4)
PSCI 66/Internship in Political Science (4)
PSCI 73/Internship Project in Washington (4)
PSCI 101/Civil Liberties (4)
PSCI 103/Criminal Justice (4)
PSCI 121/Selected Studies in American Politics and Administration (4)
PSCI 122/Political Parties and Interest Groups in the United States (4)
PSCI 129/Urban Policy Research (4)
PSCI 141/Seminar on Public Policy (4)
PSCI 142/Seminar on American Political Participation (4)
PSCI 155/Gender and U.S. Politics (4)
PSCI 159/American Political Economy (4)
PSCI 174/Policy Making in Washington (4)
PSCI 175/Research Projects: Washington (4)
PSCI 196/Constitutional Law and Civil Rights (4)
PSCI 197/Education Policy and Politics (4)
PSCI 198/Race and Politics (4)
PSCI 190/Capstone Seminar in Political Science (4)
Additional Courses
PSCI 17/Research Methods in Political Science (4) satisfies a course requirement in any concentration
PSCI 152/Independent Study (2-4) may satisfy a requirement depending on department approval.
Students planning to attend graduate school in political science, public policy, public administration, or a related field and students planning to write an honors thesis or enroll in upper-level research seminars are encouraged to take PSCI 117/Contemporary Approaches to Political Science. Additional highly recommended courses are MATH 3/Introductory Statistics and CSCI 4/ Introduction to Computers and Computing.
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Requirements for the Minor (20 Credits)
Students must take one of the four introductory level courses and four courses at the intermediate or upper level at least two of which must be at the upper level. These four courses must be distributed across two subfields in the discipline. Students must take at least 8 intermediate or upper level credits on campus. Students may count a maximum of 4 departmental internship course credits toward the minor.
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Advanced Placement (AP) examinations
A 4-credit exemption from PSCI 6/American Government and Politics will be given for a score of 4 or 5 on the AP American Government and Politics exam. An exemption will not be given for AP Comparative Politics, nor may students apply AP credits in Comparative Politics to the general education breadth requirements.
Off-Campus Programs
The European Semester
The European Semester is offered in Brussels, Belgium, each fall semester annually. It allows students to explore the politics, economics, sociology, and history of the EU and NATO, as well as the member states of these organizations. The program is directed by a Drew faculty member and courses are taught by a distinguished European faculty. Guest speakers and field trips to prominent European historical, political, and artistic settings are central to the European Semester experience. After spending 9 weeks in Brussels, students will travel to individual countries for the final weeks of the term, in order to explore a national perspective on Europe and its issues.
Semester on the United Nations
Students interested in the study of international relations have the unique opportunity to participate in the Semester on the United Nations. This fall semester program, directed by a Drew faculty member, offers focused study of an important international organization. On Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the semester, the students meet in New York at the Drew facility on United Nations Plaza. Speakers from various organizations associated with the United Nations share their insights about how the organization functions and how it deals with the issues confronting it. Students participate in segments of the same training developed for diplomats new to the United Nations. This is an eight-credit program, and students take two additional courses on campus to complete a full academic schedule.
Washington Program
Each spring semester, students may travel to Washington , D.C., to participate in Drew's Washington Semester. This program includes an internship in which the students work in congressional offices, nongovernmental organizations (such as the Sierra Club, the Food Research and Action Center , or the Congressional Management Foundation), and with other participants in the Washington political community. Students also take two courses offered by the Drew faculty member who directs the program: a research project and a public policy course. Students live in conveniently located prearranged apartments.
Drew London Semester
The London Semester, offered in the spring semester annually, allows students to explore political and social change in Britain. Courses focus on the interplay of British history and politics, and literary and theatrical portrayals of social and political themes. The program is directed by a Drew faculty member, and classes are taught by a continuing staff of distinguished British faculty. Field trips to political meetings, party conferences, theatres, and museums, along with guest speakers from British political, literary, and theatrical life, are a regular feature of the academic program. Students live in apartments prearranged by the program staff. A variety of cultural activities and special events introduce the students to the cultural life of London.
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