Program Information

The Department of Political Science offers the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.  The purpose of the major is to introduce students to the major subfields, debates, methods, and approaches to the study of government and politics.  Students will take four foundational courses, at least seven upper division courses offered from accross the discipline, and a senior capstone class.  

The four foundational courses are: American Politics, U.S. and World Affairs, Statistics, and Research Methods.   

The department offers upper division coursework in five areas:

• American Poltics and Government
• Public Law and Policy
• Comparative Politics
• International Relations
• Political Theory

Students will take at least seven upper division courses in these five areas.  This must include at least one course from each of the five areas, as well as a second course in Comparative Politics.  At least one of the courses in Comparative politics must be Non-Western. 

The Senior Capstone course involves research in an area of the students own choosing. You will have the chance to study an area of politics in depth, and comment on the dynamics of the politics in your issue area, and shed light on causes of the political events you identify.  In the capstone course you will have the opportunity to bring the wealth of knowledge you have gained into the area of politics you find most interesting.

Students who entered the program before Fall 2005 may elect to take a programme of study in effect at the time of their enforllment.  Information on that program sequence of courses can be found in the college catalog in effect at the time of their admission.

The Department also offers a Minor in Political Science.

Students should see a faculty advisor or the department chairperson to discuss a choice of program and the careers open within the major. Regardless of the program chosen, the members of the department are dedicated to sharing with students the excitement and challenge of politics in today's world.

The department participates in two Interdisciplinary Studies Majors and Minors.   These are in Legal Studies, and International Studies.  Several Political Science courses fulfill course requirments for these Interdisciplinary programs.  We also offer courses related to the interdisciplinary Criminal Justice program.  Please see their links for more information.

Geographic Information Systems
This program is sponsored jointly by Political Science and the Department of Geosciences. More information is available on the GIS web page.

Certificate in International Political Economy
A certificate program in International Political Economy is available. The program is open only to Business Administration and Economics majors.

Students wishing to teach political science in the secondary schools may obtain provisional certification by completing the Social Studies Adolescence Education program. Students in all education programs are required to demonstrate competence in a foreign language. This requirement may be satisfied in any one of the following four ways: (1) completion of course work at the 116 level at Fredonia, or (2) transferring of two successful college semesters, or (3) scoring at the 50th percentile or higher on the CLEP exam, or (4) completion of three years of high school language with a passing Regents score (passing = 65). The College Core Curriculum foreign language requirement differs from the certification requirement and must be satisfied for degree conferral.   For information on on admission and sequence of courses please see the College of Education.

Course Search | Course Descriptions

Questions? Please contact the Chair of the Department.

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