Mar 19, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin

Political Science Major, B.A.


Total minimum number of credits for a major in Political Science leading to the B.A. degree - 120
Total minimum number of credits for a minor in Political Science - 18
Total minimum number of credits for a minor in Policy Studies- 18

As a traditional liberal arts discipline, students who choose to major in Political Science are broadly trained and so have a wide variety of career options available. Among the most common fields of employment are government, law, education, social services, media, business, and foreign or international service. See the Pre-Law section of this bulletin for information on law school advising and admissions.

Political Science Major


All Majors Must Take the Following Courses


A major in Political Science requires a minimum of 120 hours.These include 43 hours in the University’s General Education Requirements and 44 hours in Political Science. All majors must take the following courses that comprise the Core in Political Science:

In Conjunction with the Secondary Education Major or Minor


Students interested in becoming secondary teachers in Political Science should make an appointment with the chairperson of the Education Department or the Coordinator of the Secondary Education Program as early as possible in their course of study to plan their professional studies. These students will declare a major in Political Science and as well as a major or minor in Secondary Education. The major in Secondary Education must be taken in conjunction with an approved major; it cannot stand alone as a major. Upon successful completion of the secondary education program, students may become certified in Pennsylvania to teach in grades 7-12 Social Studies.

Students interested in pursuing either the major or the minor in Secondary Education should refer to the Education Department section of this bulletin for complete details of the curriculum and other degree requirements. Students should also consult carefully with their Education program and Political Science program advisors in planning their course of studies.

Total credits required for Secondary Education minor - 40

Total credits required for Secondary Education major - 47

In Addition


  • All Teacher Education candidates must apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program in the sophomore or junior year.
  • To be admitted into the Teacher Education Program, candidates must:
    • Attain a 3.0 GPA
    • Complete 48 credits including six credits in both Mathematics and English
    • Pass a test of basic skills
    • Submit required clearances showing ‘no record’
  • To remain in the Teacher Education Program, candidates must:
    • Maintain a 3.0 GPA
    • Adhere to the Code of Professionalism and Academic Honesty
  • To be certified as a teacher in Pennsylvania in grades 7-12, candidates must:
    • Successfully complete all required Education courses, including student teaching
    • Graduate with a 3.0 cumulative GPA
    • Pass the appropriate exit test(s) in their content area
    • Apply for certification through the Pennsylvania Teacher Information Management System (TIMS).