Mission Statement

Purpose

It is the purpose of the Department of Political Science and MPA to prepare the student for a life of citizenship and professionalism. Towards this end, the department offers the Bachelor of Arts and the Master of Public Administration programs, leading to their corresponding degrees. Further, the department serves this end through the availability of several program options and appropriate courses. The latter are designed to provide both a needed body of information as well as the opportunity to develop such crucial tools as critical thinking.

The faculty teaching the department courses are fully qualified, holding PhD or JD degrees from various and recognized institutions, and commanding different areas of specialization. Finally, it is to be noted that the department keeps abreast of new developments through professional activities appropriate to the discipline, and that it checks on the relevancy and adequacy of its offerings through the feedback received from its graduates, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Based on the successful track record of these graduates, the Department of Political Science takes pride in its contribution to the success of its students and to the life of this university.

The Department of Political Science offers courses in all major parts of the discipline (American politics, political theory, comparative politics, international relations, public administration, political behavior/policy and law in the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. The graduate program section has information on the Master of Public Administration degree. A political science degree is a pathway to law school, graduate school, or employment with government agencies or private sector organizations (businesses, interest groups, research organizations). While no specific undergraduate major is required for law school, the political science program addresses the communication skills, critical understanding of institutions, behaviors and values, and analytical thinking recommended for the study of law.

Expected Outcomes

Political Science graduates will:

• demonstrate knowledge of the discipline of political science in terms of its history, content, purpose and methodologies
• demonstrate knowledge of the sub-fields of political science (American politics, political theory, comparative politics, international relations, public administration, political behavior/policy, and law)
• demonstrate the ability to analyze materials (e.g. data, texts), and to think critically
• demonstrate the effective ability to communicate orally
• demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in writing be prepared to achieve their personal goals with regard to intellectual and social skills be prepared to achieve their personal goals with regard to governmental employment, private employment, graduate and/or professional school