A political science education for everyone.

Program Information

The Political Science program at Robert Morris University takes pride in our award-winning faculty, curriculum, and student engagement. Students learn about American politics, law, international affairs, and Pennsylvania politics and government. The curriculum is flexible, allowing for the opportunity to minor in International Studies, Legal Studies, Economics, History, Criminal Justice, or another field. Through a partnership with The Washington Center, students can spend a semester living and working on Capitol Hill. Study abroad opportunities include semester abroad programs and shorter faculty-led trips, including the possibility of interning abroad. Capstone experiences include a multi-semester research project and a practicum. Our students have won Gilman Fellowships and Finegan Fellowships, studied abroad and in Washington, D.C., interned in local, state, and national politics, and have gone on to graduate school, law school, and positions in state and local politics and government. For students interested in law school, the Early Law Admission Program is an option.

Social Sciences Department

The social sciences prepare students for careers across a broad range, and build transferable skills that will serve them throughout their lives. Our majors include undergraduate degrees in Criminal Justice, Economics, History and Political Science, and a graduate degree in Cyber Investigations and Intelligence. We provide all of our students with opportunities to engage in out-of-the-classroom activities in preparation for their professional careers.  Each of our programs prepares students for the growing demand for skilled professionals in both the public and private sectors.

The Department Head's Welcome

Welcome to the website for the Social Sciences Department! We have an outstanding faculty, who regularly publish scholarly works and are committed to student learning.  Our professors work with every student each semester to provide academic advisement, helping students to choose elective courses, clarify career goals, and participate in student engagement opportunities.

Degree Requirements and Courses

This study plan below is for guidance only. Always review your individual check sheet for your degree requirements. 

View Printable Course Sheet

MAJOR  - 45 CREDITS REQUIRED

(minimum grade of “C” must be earned for each course)

• POLS1010 Intro to Political Science - 3
• POLS1020 American National Government - 3
• POLS1030 Comparative Contemporary Political Systems - 3
• POLS1040 International Relations - 3
• HIST3400 Pennsylvania History - 3
• POLS3070 Pennsylvania Politics - 3
• POLS3010 Political Thought - 3
• POLS3020 The Constitution - 3
• POLS4803 Political Science Practicum -3
• POLS4800 Senior Research Project - 3
• HIST1200 U.S. History II - 3
• STAT2110 Statistics - 3
• GEOG1020 World Geography - 3
• ECON1030 Microeconomics - 3
• SOSC3800 Social Science Research Methods - 3

RESTRICTED ELECTIVES*  - 12 CREDITS REQUIRED*

• Restricted Elective - 3
• Restricted Elective - 3
• Restricted Elective - 3
• Restricted Elective - 3

OPEN ELECTIVES  - 12 CREDITS REQUIRED

• Open Elective 2 - 3
• Open Elective 3 - 3
• Open Elective 4 - 3
• Open Elective 5 - 3
• Open Elective 6 - 3
• Open Elective 7 - 3
• Open Elective 8 - 3

RMU CORE COURSES  - 39 CREDITS REQUIRED

• HIST1100 U.S. History I - 3
• CSEN1010 or CSEN1020 Reading & Writing Strategies; or Argument & Research - 3
• MATH1050 or MATH1010 or MATH1020; Math Reasoning & Application; or College Mathematics; or Pre-Calculus - 3
• CSEN1020 or CSCM1030 Argument & Research; or Public Speaking & Persuasion - 3
• PSYC1010 General Psychology - 3
• ECON1020 Macroeconomics -3
• CSCM1030 or CSCM2040 Public Speaking & Persuasion; or Professional Comm in Workplace - 3
• HUMA1010 Humanities: Art and Music - 3
• CSCM2040 or CSCM2050 Prof Comm in Workplace; or Intercultural Communications - 3
• INFS1020 Fundamentals of Information Technology - 3
• SOCI1010 Principles of Sociology OR SOCI1020 Contemporary American Social Problems - 3
• Natural Science Elective - 3
• ENGL Literature Elective - 3

*Select from: POLS2020 Criminal Law and Evidence; POLS3030 The American Presidency; POLS3040 American Foreign Policy; POLS3050 American Political Parties/Elections; POLS3060 Civil Rights and Civil Liberties; HIST3500 History of Urban America; or 3000-4000-level Political Science or History course, as approved by the department

Student Organizations

• Pi Gamma Mu - Pi Gamma Mu is the oldest and preeminent interdisciplinary social science honor society.  Its mission is to encourage and promote excellence in the Social Sciences and to uphold and nurture scholarship, leadership, and service.
• Political Science Club - The political science club invites students of all backgrounds and majors. The club focuses on intelligent conversations around contemporary politics. The club often sponsors speakers and campus wide debates.

Scholarships, Professional Opportunities

Social Sciences Endowed Scholarship
The department awards an endowed scholarship to an outstanding junior majoring in one of our programs.  The scholarship applies to tuition in their senior year.

Internships at The Washington Center

Practicum Locations

• Congressional Office of Representative Glenn Thompson
• Congressional Office of Representative Guy Reschenthaler
• Coraopolis Community Development Corporation
• DC Bar Foundation
• Law Office of Edgar Snyder & Associates
• Law Office of Jason Plakosh
• Municipality of Monroeville
• Office of the Honorable Judge Daniel D. Regan, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
• Office of Pennsylvania Representative Jim Marshall
• Republican Committee of Allegheny County
• State Representative Chris Sainato
• Three Rivers Battalion Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps

RMU Scholarship Information

Meet the Faculty

https://www.rmu.edu/academics/schools/sihss/faculty

News and Events

• News and Events for the School of Informatics, Humanities and Social Sciences
• RMU Participates in College Election Roundtable

Meet Our Alumni

Ashleigh Presnar

Field Representative for US Rep. John Joyce

“Robert Morris provided me with world class education and unique opportunities that have helped me grow as a
student and professional. The dedication from the Political Science staff was unmatched and they continue to be a motivating factor in my professional career. During my time at RMU, I was able to travel to Poland and interned in Senator Ted Cruz’s Washington, DC office. The knowledge and experience Robert Morris University offered me allowed me to join the workforce prepared and ready to succeed.”

Advisory Board

• David Abbate, Homeland Security Investigations, Assistant Special Agent in Charge
• Brian Ashton, UPMC, Interface Analyst-Senior, CRENER and EPIC Interfaces
• Lawrence Barger, CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), Principal, Manufacturing and Distribution
• Thomas Boss, Webco International, Senior Commercial Analyst
• Joshua Caskey, Amazon Logistics, Operations Manager, Delivery Operations
• Nicholas Martini, Stowe Township, Township Manger
• Dennis Logan, Allegheny County District Attorney, Chief of Investigation
• Shawn P. Reed, Coraopolis, Mayor
• Devlin Robinson, Pennsylvania Senate, Senator
• Soo Song, United States Attorney’s Office/Western District of Pennsylvania, Head of National Security, Assistant U.S. Attorney
• Benjamin Stahl, Veteran’s Leadership Program, Chief Executive Officer
• Daniel Taylor, African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania, Executive Vice President

Contact

Contact Information

Soren I. Fanning, Ph.D.
Interim Department Head, Social Sciences
Associate Professor of History
World history, Russian history, geography, national identity
fanning@rmu.edu
412-397-5403

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

https://www.rmu.edu/academics/schools/sihss/news