B.A. in Political Science - Government and Politics Concentration
College of the Sciences and Mathematics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Academic Foundations | ||
| First Year Experience requirement | 4 | |
| English Composition requirement | 6-7 | |
| Mathematics requirement | 3-4 | |
| Interdisciplinary requirement | 3 | |
| Diverse Communities requirement | 3 | |
| Ethics requirement | 3 | |
| Distributed Disciplinary Foundations | ||
| Science requirement | 6-8 | |
| Behavioral & Social Science requirement | 6 | |
| Humanities requirement | 6 | |
| Arts requirement | 3 | |
| ADDITIONAL BACCALAUREATE REQUIREMENTS | ||
| University Requirements | ||
| Writing Emphasis requirement | 9 | |
| Speaking Emphasis requirement | 9 | |
| Degree Requirements | ||
| Language/Culture requirement | 0-15 | |
Demonstrating language proficiency through the intermediate level (202) or demonstrating language proficiency through the elementary II (102) level of a language and further acquiring a cultural foundation. | ||
| Capstone requirement | 1-15 | |
| MAJOR REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| With the exception of the Capstone Seminar, the core courses (15 credits) should be taken during the first and second year. | ||
| PSC 100 | United States Government and Politics | 3 |
| PSC 200 | Political Analysis | 3 |
| PSC 213 | International Relations | 3 |
| PSC 230 | Introduction to Political Thought | 3 |
| PSC 240 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| Additional 200-level Elective | ||
| Select one course: 1 | 3 | |
| Politics of Diversity in the U.S. | ||
| Elements of Public Administration | ||
| The Politics of the Judicial Process | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Institutions of American Government | ||
| Select two courses: | 6 | |
| U.S. Political Parties | ||
| U.S. Political Thought | ||
| Constitutional Law I: Government Institutions: Power and Constraints | ||
| Constitutional Law II: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights | ||
| Congressional Politics | ||
| Presidential Politics | ||
| Political Behavior | ||
| Select two courses: | 6 | |
| Gender and Politics | ||
| Public Opinion, Media and Politics | ||
| Racial/Ethnic Politics | ||
| Campaigns and Elections | ||
| Courts, Law and Policy | ||
| Contemporary Political Thought | ||
| Latinx Politics | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| Select two courses: 1 | 6 | |
| Urban Politics | ||
| U.S. Foreign Policy | ||
| Pennsylvania Government & Politics | ||
| Energy and the Political Process | ||
| Sustainability Politics and Policy | ||
| US Social Policy | ||
| Additional Upper-level Elective | ||
| Select an internship or additional 300-level course from above. 1 | 3-15 | |
| Internship In Political Science | ||
| Capstone Requirement 2 | ||
| PSC 401 | Senior Project in Political Science | 3 |
| or PSC 402 | Advanced Political Analysis | |
| Total Minimum Credits Required | 120 | |
- 1
Students interested in the MPA Accelerated Program should see the suggested course substitutions below.
- 2
These courses fulfill the Capstone requirement.
Accelerated B.A. in Political Science - Government and Politics Concentration to the Master of Public Administration Program
Any Political Science major with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher who has completed at least 90 credits may substitute up to 12 credits of graduate coursework in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program to satisfy course requirements for the B.A. in Political Science - Government and Politics Concentration. Those credits will also apply toward the MPA program. Students must apply to the MPA program after successful completion of 90 undergraduate credits with a 3.0 minimum GPA. If accepted, the student will receive conditional acceptance to the MPA program contingent on successful completion of their undergraduate degree.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional 200-level Elective | ||
| PPA 500 | Foundations of Public Service | 3 |
| Public Policy | ||
| PPA 504 | Public Human Resource Management | 3 |
| Additional Upper-Level Elective | ||
| PPA 501 | Analysis and Decision Making I | 3 |
| Free Elective | ||
| PPA 502 | Analysis and Decision Making II | 3 |
To track their individual degree progress, students are advised to access their Degree Progress Report (DPR) via myWCU regularly. For more information, visit wcupa.edu/DegreeProgressReport.
The following is a sample suggested course sequence for this program; course offerings and availability are not guaranteed. Students should consult their academic advisor with any questions.
Accelerated B.A. in Political Science - Government and Politics Concentration
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| PSC 100 | United States Government and Politics | 3 |
| WRT 120 | Effective Writing I | 3 |
| FYE XXX | First-Year Experience | 4 |
| Language 101 | 3 | |
| Humanities Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MAT 121 | Introduction to Statistics I | 3 |
| WRT 2XX | 200-Level WRT Course | 3 |
| Language 102 | 3 | |
| Behavioral & Social Science Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSC 230 | Introduction to Political Thought | 3 |
| PSC 240 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| Language 201 (or culture cluster) | 3 | |
| Arts Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Science Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSC 200 | Political Analysis | 3 |
| PSC 213 | International Relations | 3 |
| Language 202 (or culture cluster) | 3 | |
| Interdisciplinary Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Behavioral & Social Science Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSC 3XX | Political Behavior Course | 3 |
| PSC 3XX | Institutional Course in Group B | 3 |
| Science Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Humanities Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Elective or Culture Cluster | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSC 3XX | Institutional Course in Group B | 3 |
| PSC 3XX | Behavior Course in Group C | 3 |
| PSC XXX | Government and Politics Policy Course in Group D | 3 |
| Ethics Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Diverse Communities Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSC 401 | Senior Project in Political Science | 3 |
| PPA 500 | Foundations of Public Service | 3 |
| PPA 501 | Analysis and Decision Making I | 3 |
| Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSC XXX | Government and Politics Policy Course in Group D | 3 |
| PPA 502 | Analysis and Decision Making II | 3 |
| PPA 504 | Public Human Resource Management | 3 |
| Speaking Emphasis Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Elective or 300-Level Writing Emphasis Course if not already completed | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Summer Session I | ||
| PPA 601 | Public Policy and Administration Internship | 3 |
| PPA XXX | Public Policy Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer Session II | ||
| PPA XXX | Public Policy Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Year Five | ||
| Fall | ||
| PPA 503 | Public Budgeting & Finance | 3 |
| PPA 506 | Foundations in Nonprofit Administration | 3 |
| PPA XXX | Public Policy Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| PPA 505 | Public Sector Organization Theory | 3 |
| PPA 600 | Capstone Seminar in Public Administration | 3 |
| PPA XXX | Public Policy Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 148 | |
