Political Science
Department of Political Science
College of Arts and Sciences
520 Park Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-4120
Phone: 716.645.2251
Fax: 716.645.2166
Web: www.polsci.buffalo.edu
Frank C. Zagare
Chair
About the Program
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 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.
Degree Options
General Concentration. 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.
Public Law Concentration. 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 public law concentration represents the department’s best collective recommendations for a structured undergraduate plan.
American Politics and Public Affairs Concentration. Prepares students for careers in public service or political organizations, and provides a solid background for the more than 15 million employment opportunities in local, state, or federal government. An internship is considered a useful part of this option.
International Politics Concentration. Students planning careers in the international field are encouraged to pursue this concentration.
Comparative Politics Concentration. Students planning careers in the comparative field are encouraged to pursue this concentration.
Advanced 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 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.
Double majors must satisfy all of the requirements of two departments.
Joint majors combine 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 PSC 100, PSC 101, one methods of inquiry course, four courses at the 300-level or above (three must be courses other than PSC 400, PSC 404, PSC 410, PSC 411, PSC 491, or PSC 499), and at least one course in comparative politics, international relations, or political philosophy.
Minors in political science must complete the three required courses, PSC 100, PSC 101, and PSC 200 or PSC 393 or PSC 408; 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.
Acceptance Information
Students should apply for admission to the major in political science no later than the beginning of their junior year. To become eligible, students must have completed two political science courses with a minimum GPA of 2.0, and have a minimum UB 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: PSC 100 during their first semester, and PSC 101 as well as PSC 200 or PSC 393 or PSC 408 during their second semester.
Advisement
After acceptance into the major or minor, students may consult with a departmental advisor for assistance in understanding departmental and university requirements for the degree. Advisor office hours are posted at the department office, 520 Park Hall.
Academic Requirements
Please note that a minimum GPA of 2.0 in both the major and overall is required for graduation.
Transfer Policy
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 at UB. The department gives transfer credit for a maximum of five political science courses. Where applicable, transfer courses may be used to meet specific departmental requirements.
Honors, Awards, and Scholarships
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 research project under the direction of a faculty mentor. It is particularly valuable for students who intend to pursue graduate work in political science.
Students 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.
Practical Experience and Special Opportunities
The department sponsors three internship programs: (1) the Washington Semester Program, administered through SUNY/ Brockport; (2) New York State Assembly and Senate internships; and (3) community internships.
Notable Program Features
Political Science Undergraduate Student Association. 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.
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.
Political Science - B.A.
General and Advanced Concentrations and Concentrations in Public Law, American Politics and Public Affairs, International Politics, Comparative Politics
Acceptance Criteria
Minimum GPA of 2.0 in the prerequisite courses.
Advising Note
Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall and in the major required for graduation.
Prerequisite Courses
Any two political science courses.
Required Courses
Twelve PSC courses, with no more than five courses in any particular distribution field, distributed as follows:
PSC 100 Enduring Issues in Political Science
PSC 101 Introduction to American Politics
Seven 300/400-level PSC courses, up to two of which may be from: PSC 400 Washington Semester Internship, PSC 404 Community Internship Program, PSC 410-PSC 411 New York State Senate and Assembly Internship, PSC 491 Honors Thesis, PSC 499 Independent Study
One methods of inquiry course: PSC 200 Empirical Political Science, PSC 393 Game Theory and Politics, or PSC 408 Basic Statistics for Social Science. Acceptable substitutions: SOC 294, ECO 480, PSY 207, STA 119, SSC 225, MGQ 301, and GEO 410.
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.
Summary
Total required credit hours for the major: 36
See Baccalaureate Degree Requirements for general education and remaining university requirements.
Recommended Sequence of Program Requirements
FIRST YEAR
Spring—One methods of inquiry course
Fall or Spring—PSC 100, PSC 101
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 PSC elective at any level
Spring—One PSC elective at any level
Concentrations
PUBLIC LAW
FIRST YEAR
Fall or Spring—PSC 100, PSC 101
Spring—One methods of inquiry 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 PSC elective at any level
Spring—Two 300/400-level PSC courses
AMERICAN POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
FIRST YEAR
Spring—One methods of inquiry course
Fall or Spring—PSC 100, PSC 101
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
FIRST YEAR
Spring—One methods of inquiry course
Fall or Spring—PSC 100, PSC 101
SECOND YEAR
Fall—PSC 102
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 PSC elective at any level
Spring—One 300/400-level PSC course
COMPARATIVE POLITICS
FIRST YEAR
Spring—One methods of inquiry course
Fall or Spring—PSC 100, PSC 101
SECOND YEAR
Fall—PSC 103
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 PSC elective at any level
Spring—One 300/400-level PSC course
ADVANCED
FIRST YEAR
Spring—PSC 200 or PSC 408
Fall or Spring—PSC 100, PSC 101
SECOND YEAR
Fall—PSC 393
Spring—PSC 200 or PSC 408; 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 PSC elective at any level
Electives and Course Groupings
Public Law List
PSC 215 Law and the Political Process
PSC 225 Equality and Justice in the United States
PSC 301 Cases in Civil Liberties
PSC 302 Protecting Civil Liberties
PSC 303 Constitutional Law
PSC 305 Judicial Politics
PSC 430 Human Rights
PSC 470 Legal Political Theory
Political Science - Minor
Required Courses
PSC 100 Enduring Issues in Political Science
PSC 101 Introduction to American Politics
One methods of inquiry course: PSC 200 Empirical Political Science, PSC 393 Game Theory and Politics, or PSC 408 Basic Statistics for Social Science. Acceptable substitutes: SOC 294, ECO 480, PSY 207, STA 119, SSC 225, MGQ 301, and GEO 410.
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.
Summary
Total required credit hours for the minor: 21
Course Descriptions
PSC 100 Enduring Issues in Political ScienceCredits: 3 | PSC 101 Introduction to American PoliticsCredits: 3 | |
PSC 102 Introduction to International PoliticsCredits: 3 | PSC 103 Politics AbroadCredits: 3 | |
PSC 104 Introduction to Political PhilosophyCredits: 3 | PSC 105 Democracy in AmericaCredits: 3 | |
PSC 180 Election Year PoliticsCredits: 3 | PSC 200 Empirical Political ScienceCredits: 3 | |
PSC 211 Issues in Contemporary PoliticsCredits: 3 | PSC 214 Congressional ElectionsCredits: 3 | |
PSC 215 Law and the Political ProcessCredits: 3 | PSC 222 Politics and SocietyCredits: 3 | |
PSC 225 Equality and Justice in the United StatesCredits: 3 | PSC 229 East Asian Political EconomyCredits: 3 | |
PSC 276 African American Political SystemsCredits: 3 | PSC 301 Cases in Civil LibertiesCredits: 3 | |
PSC 302 Protecting Civil LibertiesCredits: 3 | PSC 303 Constitutional LawCredits: 3 | |
PSC 304 Legislative PoliticsCredits: 3 | PSC 305 Judicial PoliticsCredits: 3 | |
PSC 306 The American PresidencyCredits: 3 | PSC 307 Political PartiesCredits: 3 | |
PSC 308 Organizational Theory in Political InstitutionsCredits: 3 | PSC 309 American FederalismCredits: 3 | |
PSC 310 Public AdministrationCredits: 3 | PSC 311 State PoliticsCredits: 3 | |
PSC 312 Urban PoliticsCredits: 3 | PSC 313 Voting and Public OpinionCredits: 3 | |
PSC 314 Public Policy MakingCredits: 3 | PSC 315 American Political EconomyCredits: 3 | |
PSC 316 Politics of Political ChoiceCredits: 3 | PSC 319 Media in American PoliticsCredits: 3 | |
PSC 320 Political SocializationCredits: 3 | PSC 325 American Foreign Policy ProblemsCredits: 3 | |
PSC 326 War and International SecurityCredits: 3 | PSC 327 The Cold War and AfterCredits: 3 | |
PSC 328 Economics and Foreign PolicyCredits: 3 | PSC 330 International Relations ProblemsCredits: 3 | |
PSC 331 Foreign Policy MakingCredits: 3 | PSC 332 International OrganizationsCredits: 3 | |
PSC 333 International Relations TheoryCredits: 3 | PSC 335 American Foreign PolicyCredits: 3 | |
PSC 336 Soviet Foreign PolicyCredits: 3 | PSC 338 Comparative Foreign PolicyCredits: 3 | |
PSC 339 International LawCredits: 3 | PSC 340 Politics in Western EuropeCredits: 3 | |
PSC 341 Political ChangeCredits: 3 | PSC 342 Politics of Developing NationsCredits: 3 | |
PSC 344 Political CampaignsCredits: 3 | PSC 345 Canadian PoliticsCredits: 3 | |
PSC 346 Individuals and World PoliticsCredits: 3 | PSC 350 Politics of the U.S.S.R.Credits: 3 | |
PSC 355 Asian PoliticsCredits: 3 | PSC 370 African PoliticsCredits: 3 | |
PSC 371 Middle Eastern PoliticsCredits: 3 | PSC 372 Latin American PoliticsCredits: 3 | |
PSC 373 International FuturesCredits: 3 | PSC 376 Money in PoliticsCredits: 3 | |
PSC 378 Politics of GenderCredits: 3 | PSC 380 Classical and Medieval Political PhilosophyCredits: 3 | |
PSC 382 Machiavelli to Marx Political PhilosophyCredits: 3 | PSC 383 Twentieth-Century Political PhilosophyCredits: 3 | |
PSC 384 American Political Thought I: Colonial Era to the Civil WarCredits: 3 | PSC 391 Morality and International PoliticsCredits: 3 | |
PSC 393 Game Theory and PoliticsCredits: 3 | PSC 400 Washington Semester InternshipCredits: 1 - 15 | |
PSC 401 Advanced Civil LibertiesCredits: 3 | PSC 404 Community Internship ProgramCredits: 1 - 6.5 | |
PSC 408 Basic Statistics for Social ScienceCredits: 3 | PSC 410 New York State Legislative Internship ProgramCredits: 1 - 6 | |
PSC 411 New York State Legislative Internship ProgramCredits: 1 - 10 | PSC 418 The International SystemCredits: 3 | |
PSC 420 Comparing Political PartiesCredits: 3 | PSC 421 Comparative BureaucraciesCredits: 3 | |
PSC 430 Human RightsCredits: 3 | PSC 436 Citizen ParticipationCredits: 3 | |
PSC 438 Civil-Military RelationsCredits: 3 | PSC 470 Legal Political TheoryCredits: 3 | |
PSC 491 Honors ThesisCredits: 3 | PSC 492 Pre-Law Honors SeminarCredits: 3 | |
PSC 499 Independent StudyCredits: 1 - 3 | ||
Updated: Nov 16, 2005 10:50:10 AM