Political Science BA / Public Policy MS
Major: Political Science and Public Policy
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 225.0 credits
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Five years)
BA Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 45.1001
BA Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-3094
MS Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 44.0501
MS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 11-1031
About the Program
The Political Science program in the Department of Politics helps students cultivate perspective; develop critical thinking, communication, and data analysis skills; and understand the economic, social, and political systems within which we live and work. Our curriculum builds on the department's research focuses and strengths. These include public policy, environmental politics, international organizations, human rights, and law and society. This flexible program allows students to shape a curriculum that meets their needs whether they are preparing for public service, the business world, graduate school in political science, an MBA or other business program, or law school.
Drexel’s MS in Public Policy is designed for people who work, or who would like to work, for government or a nonprofit organization. It is innovative and distinct in at least two key respects: Its focus on case study research and its distinct tracks of specialization.
For more information about this program, contact Academic Advisor, Jenna Gregory 215.895.2590 or email jeg362@drexel.edu
Admission Requirements
Students who meet the standard eligibility requirement for accelerated programs should consult with their advisor and work on an individual plan of study to submit with the Change of Curriculum form.
Degree Requirements
General Education Requirements | ||
ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
UNIV H101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
UNIV H201 | Looking Forward: Academics and Careers | 1.0 |
CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development * | 1.0 |
College of Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum** | ||
Developing Quantitative Reasoning ** | 6.0-8.0 | |
Two courses in MATH based on placement exams OR | ||
Symbolic Logic I | ||
Symbolic Logic II | ||
Engaging the Natural World** | 6.0-8.0 | |
Analyzing Cultures & Histories** | 6.0-8.0 | |
Understanding Society and Human Behavior** | 6.0-8.0 | |
Cultivating Global Competence** | 6.0-8.0 | |
Perspectives in Diversity** | 3.0-4.0 | |
Political Science Major Requirements | ||
Required Introductory Courses | ||
PSCI 110 | American Government | 4.0 |
PSCI 120 | History of Political Thought | 4.0 |
PSCI 140 | Comparative Politics I | 4.0 |
PSCI 150 | International Politics | 4.0 |
Required Research Methods Courses | ||
PSCI 131 [WI] | Research Design for Political Science | 4.0 |
PSCI 231 | Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Research in Political Science | 4.0 |
PSCI 232 | Quantitative Research Methods in Political Science | 4.0 |
Required Intermediate Courses | ||
Any three 200-level PSCI courses EXCEPT for research methods courses (PSCI 231 and PSCI 232)*** | 12.0 | |
Political Science Upper-level Elective Courses | ||
Any five PSCI courses at 300-level or above*** | 20.0 | |
Free Electives | 74.0 | |
MS Public Policy | ||
Required Courses | ||
PLCY 503 | Theory and Practice of Policy Analysis | 3.0 |
PLCY 504 | Methods of Policy Analysis | 3.0 |
PLCY 506 | Institutional Dynamics of the Policy Process | 3.0 |
PLCY 507 | Nonprofit Organizations | 3.0 |
ECON 601 | Managerial Economics | 3.0 |
ECON 616 | Public Finance and Cost Benefit Analysis | 3.0 |
INFO 680 | US Government Information (Or Open Data Research) | 3.0 |
URBS 530 | Quantitative Methods & Reasoning for Urban Strategists | 3.0 |
Statistics - Choose 1 | 3.0 | |
Communication Theory II: Discourse and Semiotics | ||
Intro to Econometrics and Data Analysis | ||
Econometrics | ||
Business Statistics | ||
Statistics for Business Analytics | ||
Case Study Courses (must be taken in sequence during the spring-fall and winter quarters) | ||
PLCY 510 | Introduction to Case Study Research | 3.0 |
PLCY 516 | Case Study Research II | 3.0 |
PLCY 517 | Case Study Final Project | 3.0 |
Public Policy Approved Electives † | 9.0 | |
COM 500-999 | ||
ECON 500-999 | ||
EDPO 500-999 | ||
ENVP 500-999 | ||
PLCY T580 | ||
URBS 500-999 | ||
Total Credits | 225.0-236.0 |
- *
Students not participating in co-op will take one additional credit of free elective instead of COOP 101.
All PSCI students are on the spring/summer co-op cycle.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.- **
See Core Curriculum List for complete list of course options.
- ***
- †
Approve Public Policy Electives must be approved by the PLCY program director and by the department offering the course.
Sample Plan of Study
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
PSCI 110 | 4.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | PSCI 120, 140, or 150 | 4.0 | ||
PSCI 120, 140, or 150 | 4.0 | PSCI 120, 140, or 150 | 4.0 | (UG) Analyzing Cultures & Histories | 3.0 | ||
UNIV H101 | 1.0 | PSCI 131 | 4.0 | (UG) Perspectives in Diversity | 3.0 | ||
(UG) Developing Quantitative Reasoning | 3.0 | (UG) Developing Quantitative Reasoning | 3.0 | ||||
15 | 15 | 13 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
PSCI 232 | 4.0 | PSCI 231 | 4.0 | UG) PSCI Intermediate course | 4.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 |
(UG) PSCI Intermediate course | 4.0 | (UG) PSCI Intermediate course | 4.0 | (UG) Upper-level PSCI elective | 4.0 | (UG) Free Electives | 15.0 |
(UG) Cultivating Global Competence | 3.0 | (UG) Cultivating Global Competence | 3.0 | (UG) Understanding Society & Human Behavior | 3.0 | ||
(UG) Analyzing Cultures & Histories | 3.0 | (UG) Understanding Society & Human Behavior | 3.0 | (UG) Engaging the Natural World | 3.0 | ||
(UG) Free Elective | 3.0 | (UG) Free Elective | 3.0 | (UG) Free Elective | 3.0 | ||
17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
(UG) Upper-level PSCI electives | 8.0 | (UG) Upper-level PSCI electives | 8.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
(UG) Engaging the Natural World | 3.0 | (UG) Free electives | 7.0 | ||||
(UG) Free Electives | 8.0 | ||||||
19 | 15 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
UNIV H201 | 1.0 | (UG) Free electives | 12.0 | (UG) Free Electives | 12.0 | STUDENT CONVERTS TO GR STATUS | |
(UG) Free Electives | 11.0 | PLCY 503 | 3.0 | PLCY 504 | 3.0 | ||
PLCY 506 | 3.0 | (GR) Approved PLCY Elective | 3.0 | PLCY 510 | 3.0 | ||
(GR) Approved PLCY Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
18 | 18 | 18 | 0 | ||||
Fifth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
PLCY 516 | 3.0 | ECON 601 | 3.0 | ECON 616 | 3.0 | ||
STAT 601 | 3.0 | PLCY 507 | 3.0 | INFO 680 | 3.0 | ||
URBS 530 | 3.0 | PLCY 517 | 3.0 | (GR) Approved PLCY Elective | 3.0 | ||
9 | 9 | 9 | |||||
Total Credits 225 |