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Political Science: About The Program
About Our Degrees
Acceptance Criteria
Minimum GPA of 2.0 in two political science courses.
Acceptance Information
Deadlines: Rolling
Number of accepted majors/year: 125
Degree Requirements
Please see Degrees and Policies.
Minimum GPA of 2.0 in two political science courses.
Acceptance Information
Deadlines: Rolling
Number of accepted majors/year: 125
Degree Requirements
Please see Degrees and Policies.
About Our Courses
In political science, students have a wide variety of backgrounds, interests, and career aspirations. As our range of possible concentrations in the department suggests, students interested in law school, public affairs, government service, graduate school, or international studies can obtain a solid background with the courses we offer. Of course, the core or basic concentration allows students the most flexibility in designing a curriculum to meet individual needs.
For course descriptions, please see Courses.
Suggested Introductory Courses
Courses Outside Political Science that Could Improve Employment Opportunities
The typical class size for:
Freshman/introductory courses is: 300
Sophomore/intermediate courses is: 75
Upper level/advanced courses is: 50
In the Department of Political Science, what do teaching assistants (TA's) do?
Advanced graduate students teach some undergraduate courses; other graduate students assist in grading examinations and papers.
For course descriptions, please see Courses.
Suggested Introductory Courses
Courses Outside Political Science that Could Improve Employment Opportunities
- Computer science
- Economics
- English (especially writing skills)
- Statistics
The typical class size for:
Freshman/introductory courses is: 300
Sophomore/intermediate courses is: 75
Upper level/advanced courses is: 50
In the Department of Political Science, what do teaching assistants (TA's) do?
Advanced graduate students teach some undergraduate courses; other graduate students assist in grading examinations and papers.
About Our Faculty
The department has a faculty of 16 full-time members, all of whom have Ph.D.'s and teach both undergraduate and graduate courses. University honors awarded for excellence in teaching to several members of the faculty demonstrates the high quality of teaching. Our faculty is professionally active, nationally recognized, and very accessible. They have authored or co-authored twenty-two books, edited another twenty-one books, and authored or co-authored more than 160 research articles and nearly 100 chapters in edited collections. The faculty have published with many leading university presses, and their work has appeared in the leading professional journals. One faculty member is a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor, and several have won awards for their teaching and research. Several have had grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), and one served as the political science program director at NSF. Two faculty members have served as American Political Science Association congressional fellows. Several have served on the editorial boards of major scholarly journals, and within the governing bodies of regional and subfield organizations in the discipline.
See a list of our Undergraduate Faculty.
See a list of our Undergraduate Faculty.
Practical Experience and Special Academic Opportunities
Undergraduate Research and Practical Experience
Washington Semester Program
Undergraduate students with a GPA of 3.0 higher can spend either a fall or a spring semester in Washington D.C., participating in a full-time internship with a political institution, agency, or group. Students in this program earn up to 15 credit hours.
New York State Senate and Assembly Internship
Undergraduate students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to intern for a semester in the office of a state senator or member of the Assembly in Albany. Participants earn up to 15 credit hours.
Community Internship
Undergraduates with a GPA of 3.0 or better can work with a government office or agency located in Western New York. An academic component, usually a paper is required. Students typically earn 3 credit hours.
Undergraduate Research
Students are invited to approach faculty members to explore mutual research interests.
Honors, Awards, and Scholarships
This is for political science students who wish to pursue a major research interest. A student with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in political science and minimum GPA of 3.0 overall may be admitted into the honors program in the second semester of the junior year. In the fall semester of the senior year, the honors student enrolls in a graduate seminar in the field of interest. During the spring semester the honor student prepares an independent research thesis derived partly from the graduate seminar.
Washington Semester Program
Undergraduate students with a GPA of 3.0 higher can spend either a fall or a spring semester in Washington D.C., participating in a full-time internship with a political institution, agency, or group. Students in this program earn up to 15 credit hours.
New York State Senate and Assembly Internship
Undergraduate students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to intern for a semester in the office of a state senator or member of the Assembly in Albany. Participants earn up to 15 credit hours.
Community Internship
Undergraduates with a GPA of 3.0 or better can work with a government office or agency located in Western New York. An academic component, usually a paper is required. Students typically earn 3 credit hours.
Undergraduate Research
Students are invited to approach faculty members to explore mutual research interests.
Honors, Awards, and Scholarships
This is for political science students who wish to pursue a major research interest. A student with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in political science and minimum GPA of 3.0 overall may be admitted into the honors program in the second semester of the junior year. In the fall semester of the senior year, the honors student enrolls in a graduate seminar in the field of interest. During the spring semester the honor student prepares an independent research thesis derived partly from the graduate seminar.
Extracurricular Activities
Undergraduate Political Science Club
This club sponsors weekly meetings and participates in department social affairs. It also organizes special events, trips to Washington D.C., and faculty/student lunches. Members elect officers and control their own funds. For more information, call (716) 645-2251.
Model European Union Simulation
Each year since 1993, the Department of Political Science has sent a delegation to participate in a simulation of decision-making in the European Union. To facilitate this, UB is a member of a consortium of New York State and European universities. Approximately 150 American students and 100 European students participate in these three- to four-day meetings, which are held either at the University at Buffalo, SUNY/Brockport, or in Luxembourg. Professor D. Munroe Eagles is the faculty advisor for this simulation; interested students are encouraged to contact him.
See the UB Student Association.
This club sponsors weekly meetings and participates in department social affairs. It also organizes special events, trips to Washington D.C., and faculty/student lunches. Members elect officers and control their own funds. For more information, call (716) 645-2251.
Model European Union Simulation
Each year since 1993, the Department of Political Science has sent a delegation to participate in a simulation of decision-making in the European Union. To facilitate this, UB is a member of a consortium of New York State and European universities. Approximately 150 American students and 100 European students participate in these three- to four-day meetings, which are held either at the University at Buffalo, SUNY/Brockport, or in Luxembourg. Professor D. Munroe Eagles is the faculty advisor for this simulation; interested students are encouraged to contact him.
See the UB Student Association.
Complementary Programs and Courses
Majors that Complement Political Science
Minors that Complement Political Science
Minors that Complement Political Science
Links to Further Information About This Program
Last updated: Wednesday, 23-Apr-2008 15:43:08 EDT