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The Program
Concentrations
Admission Requirements
Transfer Policy
Double Majors,
Joint Majors, Minors
Advisement
Honors
Internships
Extracurricular Activities
Courses
Political Science - B.A.
Political Science - Minor
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Political Science
Department of Political Science
College of Arts and Sciences
520 Park Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-4120
(716) 645-2251
Fax: (716) 645-2166
Web: Political Science
Frank C. Zagare, Chair
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 offered. Of course, the core or basic concentration allows students the most flexibility in designing a curriculum to meet individual needs. Many political science majors go on to obtain advanced degrees in law or political science. Some students build upon their internship experiences to pursue careers in politics or government.
The core concentration in political science is for those majors with general interests in politics and government. This program allows majors the most flexibility in choosing courses to match individual interests from the five fields of American politics, comparative politics, international relations, methods of inquiry, and political philosophy. The intent behind the core requirements is to give every student the breadth to understand political issues, theories, and concepts, along with the needed skills for interpreting and doing political research.
This track is designed specifically for students who plan to attend law school. Students who complete the core concentration in political science are not precluded from applying to law school; however, the pre-law concentration represents the department's best collective recommendations for a structured undergraduate plan.
This concentration is designed to prepare students for careers in public service or political organizations. For example, it provides a solid background for the over fifteen million employment opportunities in local, state, or federal government. An internship is considered a useful part of this option.
Students planning careers in the international field are encouraged to pursue this concentration.
Students with excellent undergraduate records are likely to be successful applicants to graduate school. However, the department recommends this particular concentration to provide the best preparation for the top graduate programs in political science. A foundation in the areas of research design, mathematics, formal modeling, and statistics will make the transition to a graduate program much easier. In addition, upper division courses that enable students to execute independent research projects and write research essays are highly recommended.
Students should apply for admission to the major in political science no later than the beginning of their junior year. To become eligible for admission, students must have completed two political science courses with a 2.0 GPA, and have a university GPA of 2.0. Applicants should bring a copy of their current UB DARS report directly to the Department of Political Science. Prospective majors are encouraged to complete the department's required courses: PSC100 during their first semester, and PSC101 as well as PSC200 or PSC393 or PSC408 during their second semester.
Credit for political science courses completed with a passing grade at other colleges or universities may be granted in instances where comparable courses exist within the department. The department will give transfer credit for up to a maximum of five political science courses. Where applicable, transfer courses may be used to meet specific departmental requirements.
A double major must satisfy all of the requirements of two departments.
A joint major combines the programs in two departments, subject to the specific requirements in each. A student pursuing political science as a joint major is restricted to the core concentration, and must complete eight courses in political science, including PSC100, PSC101, one methods of inquiry course, four courses 300-level or above (three must be courses other than PSC400, PSC404, PSC410, PSC411, PSC491, or PSC499), and at least one course in comparative politics, international relations, or political philosophy.
A minor in political science must complete the three required courses, PSC100, PSC101, and PSC200 or PSC393 or PSC408; three upper-division courses, one of which must be in international relations, comparative politics, or political philosophy; and one additional political science course in any field or at any level.
After acceptance into the major or minor, each student can consult with a departmental advisor who will help the student understand departmental and university requirements for the degree. Advisor office hours are posted at the department office (520 Park Hall).
The honors program is intended for highly qualified political science students who wish to pursue a major research interest. It offers exceptional students an opportunity to design and execute an independent piece of research under the direction of a faculty mentor. It is particularly valuable for students who intend to pursue graduate work in political science.
A student with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in political science (or 3.25 and at least one mention as an "outstanding student" in political science) may be qualified for admission into the honors program in the second semester of the junior year. In the fall semester of the senior year, honor students normally enroll in a graduate seminar. During the spring semester, honors students prepare an independent research thesis that may build on work done in the graduate seminar.
The department sponsors three internship programs: (1) The Washington Semester Program, administered through SUNY/ Brockport; (2) The New York State Assembly and Senate internships; and (3) the community internship.
The Political Science Club has been very active in recent years, sponsoring guest speakers, planning trips for undergraduates, arranging regular coffee hours and lunches with faculty, organizing social and sporting events involving faculty members, and participating in such programs as the Harvard Model United Nations. Students are strongly urged to join and participate in the club. Information about club activities is posted on the bulletin board outside 520 Park Hall.
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.
100 Enduring Issues in Political Science (3)
Introduces political science; focuses on concepts that have been developed over the long tradition of research and that advance our understanding of different features of political life. LEC
101 Introduction to American Politics (3)
American specialty area
Theory and practice of the American political system: the three government branches; federalism; political parties; groups in the electoral and governmental process; public policy making; contemporary political problems. LEC
102 Introduction to International Politics (3)
International specialty area
Introduces contemporary and historical international relations; nationalism; imperialism; power diplomacy; ideological conflict. LEC
103 Politics Abroad (3)
Comparative specialty area
Introduces foreign political systems; significant political similarities and differences among countries. LEC
104 Introduction to Political Philosophy (3)
Philosophy specialty area
Recurring themes in political thought, such as justice and equality, using the works of major political philosophers. LEC
105 Democracy in America (3)
Philosophy specialty area
The meaning of the self-government of a political community; constitutional limitations on political rule; citizen participation and representation; reconciliation of constitutional government with democracy and equality; proper functions of government in relation to the economy and society. LEC
180 Election Year Politics (3)
American specialty area
Introduces national election politics in the United States. Focuses on the voters, the candidates, and the media. LEC
200 Empirical Political Science (3)
Methods specialty area
Basis for and methods of empirical political science; formulation of empirical hypotheses and their testing. Formerly PSC391. LEC
211 Issues in Contemporary Politics (3)
Current topics of political interest, such as AIDS or government regulation of the economy. Topics vary for each course. LEC
214 Congressional Elections (3)
American specialty area
Introduces the context, the rules, the actors, the outcomes, and the implications of elections to the United States House and Senate. Teaches students to approach and evaluate individual races or specific election years within a general framework of analysis. LEC
215 Law and the Political Process (3)
American specialty area
Role of law as a political instrument: relations between law and morality, technology, economics, and social reform. LEC
222 Politics and Society (3)
Comparative specialty area
Introduces students to classic and contemporary issues and readings in political sociology, centering on the relationship of social and political forces. Draws empirical illustrations and cases from American and other "advanced industrial" societies. LEC
225 Equality and Justice in the United States (3)
Philosophy specialty area
Examines the conflict between the commitment of the American people to equality, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, and its correspondence with economic and racial realities. LEC
229 East Asian Political Economy (3)
Comparative specialty area
Institutions that operate within and among China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea; the political, social, and economic settings in which international business is transacted in East Asia. LEC
276 African American Political Systems (3)
American specialty area
Role of Black Americans, and the significance of race, in national politics and the overall politico-economic system. LEC
301 Cases in Civil Liberties (3)
American specialty area
Case analyses of individual rights and liberties as defined by courts in the United States. LEC
302 Protecting Civil Liberties (3)
American specialty area
Processes by which policies dealing with civil liberties are implemented. Examines federal and local public bureaucracies charged with law enforcement, the nature of legal services, litigation strategies, and reform proposals. LEC
303 Constitutional Law (3)
American specialty area
Common law background of the American Constitution; role of the Constitution in American politics; selected problem areas. LEC
304 Legislative Politics (3)
American specialty area
Legislative process in the United States; organization, internal dynamics, and functioning of legislative bodies; their relations with the executive and judicial branches and with groups in society. LEC
305 Judicial Politics (3)
American specialty area
Courts in the American political system; selection of judges; flow of decisions through trial and appellate courts; consideration of judicial decision making; relations with other government institutions. LEC
306 The American Presidency (3)
American specialty area
Role of the presidency in the politics and policy process of the United States; growth, scope, and limits of presidential power. LEC
307 Political Parties (3)
American specialty area
Analyzes structures, functions, and roles of political parties in American government and politics, as well as internal dynamics and citizen identification with parties and politics. LEC
308 Organizational Theory in Political Institutions (3)
American specialty area
Basic theories about organizations, their structure, and their behavior (both the organization and its members). Applies these theories to a number of institutions in American politics. LEC
309 American Federalism (3)
American specialty area
Political relationships and policy outcomes associated with the changing nature of the federal system and intergovernmental relations over the past fifty years. LEC
310 Public Administration (3)
American specialty area
Structures and functions of public bureaucracies; behavior of civil servants and political control of administrative behavior. LEC
311 State Politics (3)
American specialty area
Significant political institutions, processes, and problems in the fifty states. LEC
312 Urban Politics (3)
American specialty area
Social and historical patterns underlying the organization of power in American municipalities; means by which power is brought to bear upon the problems of the city. LEC
313 Voting and Public Opinion (3)
American specialty area
Describes Americans' political preferences, explaining how these preferences develop and change, and examines the impact of these preferences on democratic politics. A portion of the course material is devoted to analyzing recent and current electoral behavior; the remainder suggests historical and theoretical frameworks that can help us understand trends in opinion and voting that have emerged since World War II. LEC
314 Public Policy Making (3)
American specialty area
Dynamics of the policy process in the United States: agenda-setting, formulation, and implementation. Case studies in substantive policy areas illustrate these processes. LEC
315 American Political Economy (3)
American specialty area
Relationship between the political system and the economic system; nature of American capitalism, government regulation of the economy, role of economic factors in the political system, and selected economic problems. LEC
316 Politics of Political Choice (3)
American specialty area
Choices made in the political arena. The scientific study of politics, including the development and appropriateness of theories and models to political behavior. LEC
319 Media in American Politics (3)
American specialty area
Historical context of the mass media in American politics, legal issues surrounding freedom of speech and press, the production of news, the role of the media in campaigns and elections, the media as a political institution that interacts with the three branches of government, citizen response to news coverage of politics, and the cultural impact of daily media fare. LEC
320 Political Socialization (3)
American, Comparative specialty areas
Political learning; theories of political change and political stability; kinds of political teaching; adult socialization into citizen roles. LEC
325 American Foreign Policy Problems (3)
International specialty area
Selected problems in American foreign policy, such as United States relations with Europe or the Third World, arms control and disarmament, the future world role of the United States. LEC
326 War and International Security (3)
International specialty area
Impact of nuclear weapons on United States national security; nuclear deterrence, arms control, and United States-Soviet relations. LEC
327 The Cold War and After (3)
International specialty area
Reassesses the cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union, from the Bolshevik revolution until the collapse of the Soviet Union. LEC
328 Economics and Foreign Policy (3)
International specialty area
American foreign economic relations; American trade, aid, and investment relations; American role in the international economic system. LEC
330 International Relations Problems (3)
International specialty area
Examines selected questions regarding international conflict and cooperation. LEC
331 Foreign Policy Making (3)
International specialty area
Process of decision making in foreign policy; role of Congress, the Presidency, the State Department, public opinion, and interest groups. LEC
332 International Organizations (3)
International specialty area
United Nations, specialized agencies, and other intergovernmental organizations in peacekeeping, economic development, and social welfare; regional integration. LEC
333 International Relations Theory (3)
International specialty area
Introduces theory of international relations; nature of the international system, alliances, nuclear strategy, negotiation, and decision making within governments. LEC
335 American Foreign Policy (3)
International specialty area
American foreign policy, particularly since World War II. LEC
336 Soviet Foreign Policy (3)
International specialty area
Prerequisite: sophomore standing
Continuity and change in Soviet foreign policy; forces motivating Soviet behavior in world affairs; selected problems of Soviet foreign policy. LEC
338 Comparative Foreign Policy (3)
International specialty area
Reviews theoretical approaches in explaining foreign policy making, with selected case studies. LEC
339 International Law (3)
International specialty area
Examines existing body of international law and functions that international law performs. LEC
340 Politics in Western Europe (3)
Comparative specialty area
Governmental institutions and political processes in major Western European nations. LEC
341 Political Change (3)
Comparative specialty area
Violent and peaceful transitions within political systems; examines theories and selected cases. LEC
342 Politics of Developing Nations (3)
Comparative specialty area
Comparative analysis of political institutions, processes, and behavior in developing nations. LEC
344 Political Campaigns (3)
American specialty area
Investigates the fundamental characteristics and regularities in American political campaigns and how they affect elections and, thereby, popular control of government. Focuses to a great degree on presidential election campaigns, but also examines campaigns for Congress and state offices, as well as campaigning in primary elections. LEC
345 Canadian Politics (3)
Comparative specialty area
Explores the politics and government of America's largest trading partner and neighbor to the north. Gives primary attention to Canadian politics and institutions, but also makes some comparisons with the United States. LEC
346 Individuals and World Politics (3)
International specialty area
Surveys international politics from the vantage point of the individual decision maker. LEC
350 Politics of the U.S.S.R. (3)
Comparative specialty area
Prerequisite: sophomore standing
Introduces political processes and institutions of government in the U.S.S.R. and its successor states from 1917 to the present; Marxist-Leninist ideology and czarist institutions. LEC
355 Asian Politics (3)
Comparative specialty area
Contemporary political development in Asian countries, emphasizing Chinese and Japanese politics. LEC
370 African Politics (3)
Comparative specialty area
Political change south of the Sahara; post-independence period; historical, geographical, economic, and social factors analyzed for pre-independence period. Traditional social patterns; colonialism, nationalism; role of the military; Africa in world politics; transformation in southern Africa. LEC
371 Middle Eastern Politics (3)
Comparative specialty area
Introduces students to the politics of the Middle East in the form of political issues currently facing the region. LEC
372 Latin American Politics (3)
Comparative specialty area
Patterns of political development resulting from structural aspects of Latin American societies; social stratification; political and governmental structures; patterns of dependency; case studies of selected Latin American countries. LEC
373 International Futures (3)
International specialty area
Prerequisite: PSC102
Introduces students to a range of ways by which analysts have tried to think about and study the future. LEC
376 Money In Politics (3)
American specialty area
Investigates how political campaigns have been funded and explores the impact of campaign financing on election outcomes and on the behavior of elected officials in making public policy decisions. LEC
378 Politics of Gender (3)
American specialty area
The connections between American politics, sex, and gender. Includes discussions of the women's movement, feminist theory, the Equal Rights Amendment, women voters and candidates, and the politics of abortion. LEC
380 Classical and Medieval Political Philosophy (3)
Philosophy specialty area
Major contributions to political philosophy from Plato and Aristotle to Machiavelli. LEC
382 Machiavelli to Marx Political Philosophy (3)
Philosophy specialty area
Political philosophy from the Renaissance through the nineteenth century. LEC
383 Twentieth-Century Political Philosophy (3)
Philosophy specialty area
Treatment of selected major problems of political philosophy by contemporary thinkers. LEC
384 American Political Thought I: Colonial Era to the Civil War (3)
Philosophy specialty area
Origins, development, and application of American political ideas from colonial beginnings through the conflict of ideas of the Civil War. LEC
391 Morality and International Politics (3)
International specialty area
Examines a selection of the diverse ways issues of morality enter into debates over the practice of international politics. LEC
393 Game Theory and Politics (3)
Methods specialty area
Introduces game theoretic and related models in political science, while emphasizing application of these models to international politics. LEC
404 Community Internship Program (1)
American specialty area
Service with state legislators from the area, city or county government,
various public agencies. Work includes policy research, drafting legislation,
field investigations, program evaluations, and contacts with other organizations.
TUT
408 Basic Statistics for Social Science (3)
Methods specialty area
Introduces statistics and their applications in political science. LEC
410-411 New York State Senate and Assembly Internship (15)
American specialty area
Semester placement in the Albany office of a member of the state senate or assembly; forty-plus-hour week as legislative assistants under the guidance of a professional staff member; special readings, weekly seminar, short reports, and a major research paper, under the direction of SUNY faculty-in-residence. SEM/LAB
418 The International System (3)
International specialty area
Evolution of the international system from the late nineteenth century to the present; uses diplomatic history and contemporary international affairs as a "laboratory" for testing various theories about international politics. LEC
420 Comparing Political Parties (3)
Comparative specialty area
Functions, internal organization, and impact of political parties from a comparative perspective. LEC
421 Comparative Bureaucracies (3)
Comparative specialty area
Classic theories of bureaucracy from Marx to Weber; theory and practice of bureaucracy in various sociocultural settings (United States, France, U.S.S.R., China). LEC
430 Human Rights (3)
Comparative, International specialty areas
Examines the development, primarily since World War II, of international systems for the promotion and protection of human rights. LEC
436 Citizen Participation (3)
Comparative specialty area
Patterns of individual political behavior in selected countries; differences and similarities across nations in voting behavior, public opinion. LEC
438 Civil-Military Relations (3)
Comparative specialty area
Involvement of the armed forces in political affairs; civilian control of the military; causes and effects of military seizures of control; importance of coercion within the political process. LEC
491 Honors Thesis (3)
Supervised independent study leading to the submission of an honors thesis. Permission of instructor required. TUT
492 Pre-Law Honors Seminar (3)
American specialty area
Enables a select number of upper-class political science and legal studies majors who plan to go to law school to delve deeply into an important issue in the American legal system. Provides an opportunity for students to read cases and secondary literature on the selected topic and to develop legal research and library skills by writing a paper on a subject related to the main focus of the seminar. SEM
499 Independent Study (1-3)
Permission of instructor required. TUT
Minimum GPA of 2.0 in two political science courses
Minimum GPA of 2.0 in both the major and overall
Twelve PSC courses, with no more than five courses in any particular distribution field, distributed as follows:
- PSC100 Enduring Issues in Political Science
- PSC101 Introduction to American Politics
- Seven 300/400-level PSC courses, up to two of which may be from
PSC400, PSC404 Community Internship Program, PSC410-411
New York State Senate and Assembly Internship, PSC491 Honors
Thesis, PSC499 Independent Study
- One methods course
- At least one course in any three of the following four fields: American
politics, comparative politics, international relations, political
philosophy
Note: Some concentrations have additional required courses
See Baccalaureate Degree Requirements (page 254) for general education and remaining university requirements.
General Concentration (36 cr)
First Year
Spring-One methods course
Fall or Spring-PSC100, PSC101
Second Year
Fall-One 300/400-level PSC course
Spring-Two 300/400-level PSC courses
Third Year
Fall-Two 300/400-level PSC courses
Spring-One 300/400-level PSC course
Fourth Year
Fall-One 300/400-level PSC course, one 100/200/300/400-level PSC elective
Spring-One 100/200/300/400-level PSC elective
Public Law Concentration (36 cr)
First Year
Fall or Spring-PSC100, PSC101
Spring-One methods course
Second Year
Fall-One 200-level PSC course from the public law list
Spring-One 300/400-level PSC course from the public law list
Third Year
Fall-One 300/400-level PSC course from the public law list
Spring-One 300/400-level PSC course from the public law list, one 300/400-level PSC course
Fourth Year
Fall-One 300/400-level PSC course from the public law list, one 100/200/300/400-level PSC elective
Spring-Two 300/400-level PSC courses
American Politics and Public Affairs Concentration (36 cr)
First Year
Spring-One methods course
Fall or Spring-PSC100, PSC101
Second Year
Fall-One 200/300/400-level course in the American politics field
Spring-One 300/400-level PSC course in the American politics field
Third Year
Fall-One 300/400-level PSC course in the American politics field, one 300/400-level PSC course
Spring-One 300/400-level PSC course in the American politics field
Fourth Year
Fall-Two 300/400-level PSC courses
Spring-One 300/400-level PSC elective, one 200/300/400-level PSC elective
International Politics Concentration (36 cr)
First Year
Spring-One methods course
Fall or Spring-PSC100, PSC101
Second Year
Fall-PSC102
Spring-Two 300/400-level PSC courses in the international field
Third Year
Fall-Two 300/400-level PSC courses in the international field
Spring-One 300/400-level PSC course in the international field
Fourth Year
Fall-One 300/400-level PSC course, one 100/200/300/400-level PSC elective
Spring-One 300/400-level PSC course
Comparative Politics Concentration (36 cr)
First Year
Spring-One methods course
Fall or Spring-PSC100, PSC101
Second Year
Fall-PSC103
Spring-Two 300/400-level PSC courses in the comparative field
Third Year
Fall-Two 300/400-level PSC courses in the comparative field
Spring-One 300/400-level PSC course in the comparative field
Fourth Year
Fall-One 300/400-level PSC course, one 100/200/300/400-level PSC elective
Spring-One 300/400-level PSC course
Advanced Concentration (36 cr)
First Year
Spring-PSC200 or PSC408
Fall or Spring-PSC100, PSC101
Second Year
Fall-PSC393
Spring-PSC408 or PSC200, one 300/400-level PSC course
Third Year
Fall-One 300/400-level PSC course
Spring-Two 300/400-level PSC courses
Fourth Year
Fall-Two 300/400-level PSC courses
Spring-One 100/200/300/400-level PSC elective
PSC200 Empirical Political Science
PSC393 Game Theory and Politics
PSC408 Basic Statistics for Social Science
PSC215 Law and the Political Process
PSC225 Equality and Justice in the United States
PSC301 Cases in Civil Liberties
PSC302 Protecting Civil Liberties
PSC303 Constitutional Law
PSC305 Judicial Politics
PSC430 Human Rights
PSC470
PSC100 Enduring Issues in Political Science
PSC101 Introduction to American Politics
One methods of inquiry course: PSC200 Empirical Political Science, PSC393 Game Theory and Politics, or PSC408 Basic Statistics for Social Science
Three 300/400-level PSC courses; at least one must be in comparative politics, international relations, or political philosophy
At least one additional political science course in any field at any level
Total required credit hours - 21
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Last updated: Thursday, 09-Dec-2004 15:21:19 EST
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