Political Science

Major: Political Science
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Total Credit Hours: 180.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 45.1001
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-3094

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.

Degree Offered

The department offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science, which includes study of a foreign language and allows for options in the fulfillment of humanities, social science, math, and science requirements.

Degree Requirements

General Education Requirements
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
UNIV H101The Drexel Experience1.0
UNIV H201Looking Forward: Academics and Careers1.0
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development *1.0
Two Math courses6.0-8.0
Two Science courses **6.0-8.0
Foundation Requirements
Studies in Diversity electives6.0
Three Consecutive Foreign Language courses (must complete level 201) ***11.0-12.0
Humanities/Fine Arts electives12.0
Social Science electives12.0
International Studies electives6.0
Core Political Science Requirements
PSCI 110American Government4.0
PSCI 120History of Political Thought4.0
PSCI 140Comparative Politics I4.0
PSCI 150International Politics4.0
Political Science Research Methods Sequence
PSCI 131 [WI] Research Design for Political Science4.0
PSCI 231Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Research in Political Science4.0
PSCI 232Quantitative Research Methods in Political Science4.0
Intermediate Courses16.0
Select four of the following courses:
American Political Development
Constitutional Law I
Comparative Political Thought
Theories of Justice
Comparative Politics II
American Foreign Policy
Global Governance
Power in Protest: Social Movements in Comparative Perspective
Public Opinion & Propaganda
Constitutional Law II
Political Science Electives †32.0
Free Electives32.0
Total Credits180.0-185.0

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.


Sample Plan of Study

4 year, 1 co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0COOP 1011.0VACATION
PSCI 1104.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
PSCI 120, 140, or 1504.0PSCI 120, 140, or 1504.0PSCI 120, 140, or 1504.0 
UNIV H1011.0PSCI 1314.0Foreign Language course3.0 
Foreign Language course4.0Foreign Language course4.0Diversity Studies elective3.0 
  Social Science elective3.0 
 16 16 17 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PSCI 2324.0PSCI 2314.0Intermediate course4.0Political Science elective4.0
Intermediate course4.0Intermediate course4.0Humanities/Fine Arts elective3.0Free electives8.0
Mathematics course3.0Mathematics course3.0Science elective3.0 
Diversity Studies elective3.0Social Science elective3.0Political Science elective4.0 
Free elective3.0Free elective3.0Free elective3.0 
 17 17 17 12
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
Intermediate course4.0Social Science elective3.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
Political Science elective4.0Humanities/Fine Arts elective3.0  
Humanities/Fine Arts elective3.0Political Science elective4.0  
Social Science elective3.0Free elective3.0  
 14 13 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
UNIV H2011.0International Area Studies elective3.0Political Science elective4.0 
Social Science elective3.0Political Science electives8.0International Area Studies elective3.0 
Humanities/Fine Arts elective3.0Free elective3.0Free electives6.0 
Political Science elective4.0   
Free elective3.0   
 14 14 13 
Total Credits 180

5 year, 3 co-op 

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
UNIV H1011.0CIVC 1011.0COOP 1011.0VACATION
ENGL 101 or 1113.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
PSCI 1104.0PSCI 120, 140, or 1504.0PSCI 120, 140, or 1504.0 
PSCI 120, 140, or 1504.0PSCI 1314.0Foreign Language course3.0 
Foreign Language course4.0Foreign Language course4.0Diversity Studies elective3.0 
  Social Science elective3.0 
 16 16 17 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
PSCI 2324.0PSCI 2314.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
Intermediate course4.0Intermediate course4.0  
Mathematics course3.0Social Science course3.0  
Diversity Studies elective3.0Mathematics course3.0  
Free elective3.0Free elective3.0  
 17 17 0 0
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
Intermediate course4.0Political Science elective4.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
Political Science elective4.0Free electives8.0  
Humanities/Fine Arts elective3.0   
Science elective3.0   
Free elective3.0   
 17 12 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
Intermediate course4.0Social Science elective3.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
Political Science elective4.0Humanities/Fine Arts elective3.0  
Humanities/Fine Arts elective3.0Political Science elective4.0  
Social Science elective3.0Free elective3.0  
 14 13 0 0
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
UNIV H2011.0International Area Studies elective3.0Political Science elective4.0 
Social Science elective3.0Political Science electives8.0International Area Studies elective3.0 
Humanities/Fine Arts elective3.0Free elective3.0Free electives6.0 
Political Science elective4.0   
Free elective3.0   
 14 14 13 
Total Credits 180

Co-Op/Career Opportunities

Political Science majors have a wide variety of co-op experiences from which to choose. Business and public utilities offer many lucrative possibilities, and local, state, and federal governments, museums and archives, and law firms present many additional interesting co-op placements. Pre-law students, for example, are especially eager to see the inside of a law office whether the co-op job they receive is clerical or a more challenging paralegal assignment. These practical experiences in the “real” world can reinforce the lessons of the classroom, sharpen skills, and establish important contacts. Sample co-op positions include:

  • Law clerk/paralegal, Joe Davidson, Attorney-at-Law, Philadelphia
  • Research analyst, Legislative Office for Research Liaison, Harrisburg, PA
  • Legislative intern, Corporate Public Affairs Division, Philadelphia Electric Company
  • Assistant lobbyist, Government Relations Office, Drexel University
  • Education intern, Philadelphia Museum of Art
  • Researcher, Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
  • Assistant, Office of the Governor, Harrisburg, PA

Career Opportunities

The flexible programs allow students to shape a curriculum that meets their needs whether they are preparing for the business world, graduate school in history or political science, the department's master's program in Science, Technology, and Society, an MBA or other business program, or law school.

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.

Politics Faculty

Zoltán Búzás, PhD (Ohio State University). Assistant Professor. International relations theory, international security, race and politics, diplomatic history.
Rose Corrigan, PhD (Rutgers University) Director of the Center for Law, Policy, and Social Action. Associate Professor. Women, public law, American politics and policy.
Richardson Dilworth, PhD (Johns Hopkins University) Director, Center for Public Policy. Professor. American political development, urban politics, public policy.
Erin R. Graham, PhD (Ohio State University). Associate Professor. International institutions, international relations theory, global environmental politics.
Amelia Hoover Green, PhD (Yale University). Associate Professor. Dynamics of conflict-related violence; intra-armed group politics and socialization; statistics in human rights.
Christian Hunold, PhD (University of Pittsburgh). Professor. Environmental policy; comparative politics; urban wildlife; political theory.
Alison Kenner, PhD (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). Associate Professor. Science, technology, and health; environmental health problems; cities and place; feminist theory; medical anthropology; digital humanities
Joel E. Oestreich, PhD (Brown University) Director of the Global Studies major. Professor. International organizations, international finance, development, and human rights.
Gwen Ottinger, PhD (University of California, Berkeley). Associate Professor. Social studies of science and technology, environmental justice, environmental political theory, citizen science, science and engineering ethics.
William L. Rosenberg, PhD (Temple University). Professor. Behavioral politics, public opinion, and political communication.
Jack Santucci, PhD (Georgetown University). Assistant Teaching Professor. Electoral Systems, Political Parties, American Political Development.
Chloe Silverman, PhD (University of Pennsylvania) Director, Center for Science, Technology & Society. Associate Professor. Parent advocacy for autism, neurodiversity, and pollinator health research.
Jose Tapia, PhD (New School for Social Research). Associate Professor. Social development, world economy, climate change, macroeconomic effects on health

Emeritus Faculty

Julie Mostov, PhD (New York University). Professor Emeritus. Modern political thought, democratic theory, nationalism, gender studies, South Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
  • Schedule of Classes
  • All Course Descriptions
  • Co-op
  • Academic Advising
  • Admissions
  • Tuition & Fees
LEARN MORE