Political Science
Major: Political Science
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 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 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 |
Two Math courses | 6.0-8.0 | |
Two Science courses ** | 6.0-8.0 | |
Foundation Requirements | ||
Studies in Diversity electives | 6.0 | |
Three Consecutive Foreign Language courses (must complete level 201) *** | 11.0-12.0 | |
Humanities/Fine Arts electives | 12.0 | |
Social Science electives | 12.0 | |
International Studies electives | 6.0 | |
Core Political Science Requirements | ||
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 |
Political Science Research Methods Sequence | ||
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 |
Intermediate Courses | 16.0 | |
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 Electives | 32.0 | |
Total Credits | 180.0-185.0 |
- *
Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
- **
Any Biology (BIO), Chemisitry (CHEM), Geoscience (GEO), Nutrition (NFS), Physics (PHYS) or Environmental Science (ENVS) course.
- ***
University requirement is two consecutive courses; the third language course, though listed here, is a departmental requirement.
- †
Choose eight 200-level or above PSCI courses.
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 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | COOP 101 | 1.0 | VACATION | |
PSCI 110 | 4.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
PSCI 120, 140, or 150 | 4.0 | PSCI 120, 140, or 150 | 4.0 | PSCI 120, 140, or 150 | 4.0 | ||
UNIV H101 | 1.0 | PSCI 131 | 4.0 | Foreign Language course | 3.0 | ||
Foreign Language course | 4.0 | Foreign Language course | 4.0 | Diversity Studies elective | 3.0 | ||
Social Science elective | 3.0 | ||||||
16 | 16 | 17 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
PSCI 232 | 4.0 | PSCI 231 | 4.0 | Intermediate course | 4.0 | Political Science elective | 4.0 |
Intermediate course | 4.0 | Intermediate course | 4.0 | Humanities/Fine Arts elective | 3.0 | Free electives | 8.0 |
Mathematics course | 3.0 | Mathematics course | 3.0 | Science elective | 3.0 | ||
Diversity Studies elective | 3.0 | Social Science elective | 3.0 | Political Science elective | 4.0 | ||
Free elective | 3.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||
17 | 17 | 17 | 12 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
Intermediate course | 4.0 | Social Science elective | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
Political Science elective | 4.0 | Humanities/Fine Arts elective | 3.0 | ||||
Humanities/Fine Arts elective | 3.0 | Political Science elective | 4.0 | ||||
Social Science elective | 3.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||||
14 | 13 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
UNIV H201 | 1.0 | International Area Studies elective | 3.0 | Political Science elective | 4.0 | ||
Social Science elective | 3.0 | Political Science electives | 8.0 | International Area Studies elective | 3.0 | ||
Humanities/Fine Arts elective | 3.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | Free electives | 6.0 | ||
Political Science elective | 4.0 | ||||||
Free elective | 3.0 | ||||||
14 | 14 | 13 | |||||
Total Credits 180 |
5 year, 3 co-op
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
UNIV H101 | 1.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | COOP 101 | 1.0 | VACATION | |
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
PSCI 110 | 4.0 | PSCI 120, 140, or 150 | 4.0 | PSCI 120, 140, or 150 | 4.0 | ||
PSCI 120, 140, or 150 | 4.0 | PSCI 131 | 4.0 | Foreign Language course | 3.0 | ||
Foreign Language course | 4.0 | Foreign Language course | 4.0 | Diversity Studies elective | 3.0 | ||
Social Science elective | 3.0 | ||||||
16 | 16 | 17 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
PSCI 232 | 4.0 | PSCI 231 | 4.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
Intermediate course | 4.0 | Intermediate course | 4.0 | ||||
Mathematics course | 3.0 | Social Science course | 3.0 | ||||
Diversity Studies elective | 3.0 | Mathematics course | 3.0 | ||||
Free elective | 3.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||||
17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
Intermediate course | 4.0 | Political Science elective | 4.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
Political Science elective | 4.0 | Free electives | 8.0 | ||||
Humanities/Fine Arts elective | 3.0 | ||||||
Science elective | 3.0 | ||||||
Free elective | 3.0 | ||||||
17 | 12 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
Intermediate course | 4.0 | Social Science elective | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | ||
Political Science elective | 4.0 | Humanities/Fine Arts elective | 3.0 | ||||
Humanities/Fine Arts elective | 3.0 | Political Science elective | 4.0 | ||||
Social Science elective | 3.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||||
14 | 13 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Fifth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
UNIV H201 | 1.0 | International Area Studies elective | 3.0 | Political Science elective | 4.0 | ||
Social Science elective | 3.0 | Political Science electives | 8.0 | International Area Studies elective | 3.0 | ||
Humanities/Fine Arts elective | 3.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | Free electives | 6.0 | ||
Political Science elective | 4.0 | ||||||
Free elective | 3.0 | ||||||
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.