Overview
A major in political science comprises 36 political science semester hours with the requirement that students complete six core courses (18 hours) and a concentration (18 hours).
This degree may be earned in eight semesters if students enroll in 16 hours per semester.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS | ||
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar | 1-2 |
| or YSU 1500S | Youngstown State University Success Seminar | |
| or HONR 1500 | Intro to Honors | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| Mathematics Requirement | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities (6 s.h.) | 3 | |
| HIST 2650 | CL History of American Democracy | 3 |
| HIST 2650 fulfills 3 s.h of Arts and Humanities | ||
| Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) (6-7 s.h.) | 7 | |
| Social Science (6 s.h.) | 3 | |
| POL 1560 | American Government | 3 |
| POL 1560 fulfills 3 s.h of Social Science | ||
| General Education Electives (9 s.h.) | 9 | |
| Requirements for all Concentrations | ||
| American Government (Fulfilled in gen ed.) | ||
| POL 3700 | American Presidency | 3 |
| or POL 3701 | American Legislative Process | |
| POL 3712 | Political Behavior | 3 |
| POL 3718 | American Public Policy and Policy Analysis | 3 |
| POL 3785 | Political Thought 1 | 3 |
| or POL 3786 | Political Thought 2 | |
| or POL 3787 | Political Thought 3 | |
| POL 4801 | Senior Research Seminar | 3 |
| Area of Concentration | 18 | |
| Minor | 18 | |
| Electives to meet 120 | 31 | |
| GOVERNMENT CONCENTRATION | ||
| For this concentration please select 2 classes from the following disciplines | ||
| World Politics (take 2 classes from this list) | ||
| Contemporary World Governments | ||
| International Relations | ||
| United States Foreign Policy | ||
| Israeli Politics | ||
| International Conflict | ||
| Select Problems of Global Affairs | ||
| American Military History | ||
| American Institutions (Take 2 classes from this list) | ||
| American Legislative Process | ||
or POL 3700 | American Presidency | |
| Law and Society | ||
| American Constitutional Law 1: Government Power, Structure, and Limits | ||
| American Constitutional Law 2: Civil Rights and Liberties | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Select Problems, American Government | ||
| Political Ideas and Interests (Take 2 classes from this list) | ||
| American Political Parties and Elections | ||
| African-American Politics | ||
| Political Thought 2 | ||
or POL 3785 | Political Thought 1 | |
or POL 3787 | Political Thought 3 | |
| Select Problems, Political Thought | ||
| Introduction to Jewish Studies (Public Administration Concentration) | ||
| Public Administration Concentration | ||
| For this concentration students complete the classes below | ||
| Public Management | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Financial Accounting | ||
| Health Care Policy | ||
| Aging and Social Policy | ||
| Social Statistics | ||
| **Urban internship (POL 4810 CE) can be substituted into either one of the concentrations | ||
| ***Students cannot double between required core courses and concentrations | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar or Youngstown State University Success Seminar or Intro to Honors | 1-2 |
| POL 1560 | American Government | 3 |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| HIST 2650 | CL History of American Democracy | 3 |
| Any Gen Ed Math | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 14-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| POL 3718 | American Public Policy and Policy Analysis | 3 |
| NS Gen Ed | 3 | |
| AH Gen Ed | 3 | |
| GER Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| POL 3712 | Political Behavior | 3 |
| POL 3700 | American Presidency | 3 |
| POL 3785 | Political Thought 1 or Political Thought 2 or Political Thought 3 | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| NS gen ed + lab | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| POL 3718 | American Public Policy and Policy Analysis | 3 |
| Course in Concentration | 3 | |
| Course in Concentration | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Course in Concentration | 3 | |
| Course in Concentration | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Course in Concentration | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Course in Concentration | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POL 4801 | Senior Research Seminar | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Course in Minor | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
Learning Outcomes
The department's learning outcomes for political science majors are as follows:
- Students will be able to summarize fundamental components of knowledge that have developed in relation to areas of political theory, American government, comparative politics, and international relations.
- Students will recognize and explain the fundamental ideas and constitutional principles that have shaped the American Republic, as well as the institutions and behaviors that provide the setting and substance of American politics.
- Students will recognize and explain the basic ideas, problems and processes of comparative politics and international relations relative to issues of Western and non-Western political development, different forms of national government, and foreign policy behaviors relative to a global economy.
- Students will use and apply the Style Manual of the American Political Science Association (APSA) in conjunction with their research and writing skills associated with the creation of credible political science projects.