Political Science B.A.

The B.A. in Political Science provides a broad education with a solid grounding in social sciences and the major areas within political science. The program offers the flexibility to focus on American politics, law, or international affairs through electives in the major. Open electives enable students to choose a minor if they wish.

Graduates go on to careers in politics, government, law, international relations, and foreign affairs. Jobs include attorney, community organizer, FBI agent, foreign service officer, government affairs officer, legislative analyst, lobbyist, paralegal, and politician.

Interested students in this course of study may be eligible for the Early Law School Admission Program.

Contact Information

Kathryn Dennick-Brecht, Ed.D. 
Department Head, Social Sciences
brecht@rmu.edu
412-397-5419 

Justin P. DePlato, Ph.D. 
Assistant Professor of Political Science
deplato@rmu.edu
412-397-5912 

4-Year Course Plan

Freshman Year, Fall

• CSEN1020 ARGUMENT & RESEARCH
• HIST1100 U.S. HISTORY I
• MATH1050 OR MATH1010 OR MATH1020
• POLS1010 INTRO TO POLITICAL SCIENCE
• SOCI1010 PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY

Freshman Year, Spring

• CSCM1030 PUBLIC SPEAKING & PERSUASION
• HIST1200 U.S. HISTORY II
• POLS1020 AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
• PSYC1010 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
• STAT2110 STATISTICS

Sophomore Year, Fall

• CSCM2040 PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
• ECON1020 MACROECONOMICS
• GEOG1020 WORLD GEOGRAPHY
• HUMA1010 HUMANITIES ART & MUSIC
• POLS1030 POLITICAL SYSTEMS OR HIST3400 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY

Sophomore Year, Spring

• CSCM2050 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS
• ECON1030 MICROECONOMICS
• INFS1020 FUNDAMENTALS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
• POLS3030 AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
• POLS1040 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OR POLS3070 PENNSYLVANIA POLITICS

Junior Year, Fall

• POLS3010 POLITICAL THOUGHT OR POLS3050 AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES
• POLS1030 POLITICAL SYSTEMS OR HIST3400 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY
• SCI CORE COURSE
• OPEN ELECTIVE
• OPEN ELECTIVE

Junior Year, Spring

• POLS1040 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OR POLS3070 PENNSYLVANIA POLITICS
• POLS3020 THE CONSTITUTION
• POLS3040 AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY OR POLS3060 CIVIL RIGHTS & LIBERTIES
• SOSC3800 SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH METHODS
• OPEN ELECTIVE

Senior Year, Fall

• POLS4803 PRACTICUM
• POLS3010 POLITICAL THOUGHT OR POLS3050 AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES
• ELIT CORE COURSE
• OPEN ELECTIVE
• OPEN ELECTIVE

Senior Year, Spring

• POLS4800 SENIOR THESIS
• POLS3040 AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY OR POLS3060 CIVIL RIGHTS & LIBERTIES
• OPEN ELECTIVE
• OPEN ELECTIVE
• OPEN ELECTIVE

Practicum Information

All traditional undergraduate students majoring in the social sciences must complete a practicum their senior year. This involves 120 hours of documented experience at an internship related to the student's field that has been pre-approved by the student's faculty mentor and the department head.

Participation in professional activities allows students to experience the work environment in their chosen field, make informed career choices, and enhance their employment credentials. These experiences reinforce the connection between professional and liberal learning through the application of classroom theories to actual occupational problems. 

Completing the practicum involves keeping a journal with daily entries and weekly reflections and a timesheet signed by the supervisor and writing a 12-page paper comparing and contrasting their experiences in the practicum with the theories and information presented in the social sciences coursework which was completed at RMU. It should also explain why the site was selected for the practicum and give any recommendations for future social sciences students about the practicum experience.

More details are available here.