About the Program
Political science is the study of government and politics. The major is divided into five areas: American government and politics, international politics, comparative government and politics, political theory, and public law.
Students gain an understanding of government and politics through classes distributed among the five areas and a combination of directed research and experiential learning, e.g. participation in scholarly conferences and/or internships at the national, state or local level. Students are thus prepared for an array of career options in both the public and private sectors.
The Bachelor of Arts program in Political Science enables students to concentrate their studies in Public Legal Studies or commit to a broader program of study under the General Political Science concentration.
About the Government, Planning, and Philosophy Department
Cassety Hall 202
1300 Elmwood Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-6116
gpp.buffalostate.edu
Admission Requirements
Admissions Requirements: All matriculated students who are in good academic standing may enroll in this program, including incoming students.
Program Requirements
General Education 23 Requirements (33 credit hours)
33 credit hours 33
Political Science Major Requirements (39 credit hours)
Students will select one of the following concentrations: 39
General Political Science Concentration
Required Core Courses (18 Credits)
PSC 101 INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
PSC 102 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
PSC 203 POLITICAL ANALYSIS
PSC 204 POLITICAL STATISTICS
PSC 399 RESEARCH SKILLS
PSC 470 SENIOR SEMINAR
or PSC 488 INTERNSHIP
Political Science Distribution - Select one course from four of the five distribution areas (12 Credits)
American Government and Politics
PSC 210 THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
PSC 218 AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICAL CULTURE
PSC 225 WOMEN IN AMERICAN POLITICS
PSC 310 AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES
PSC 312 LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
PSC 315 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
PSC 410 POLITICAL BEHAVIOR AND PUBLIC OPINION
International Relations
PSC 104 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
PSC 302 INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION
PSC 305 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
PSC 308 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
PSC 309 INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
PSC 330 AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
PSC 333 AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
PSC 335 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
PSC 337 POLITICS OF GLOBALIZATION
PSC 338 POLITICS AND HISTORY OF MODERN TERRORISM I
PSC 339 POLITICS AND HISTORY OF MODERN TERRORISM II
PSC 430 UN AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS
Comparative Government and Politics
PSC 240 EUROPEAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS
PSC 340 POLITICS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
PSC 341 GOVERNMENT, POLITICS, AND POLICIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
PSC 344 COMPARATIVE DEMOCRACY
PSC 345/HIS 313 POLITICS AND HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST
Political Theory
PSC 351 HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT I
PSC 352 HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT II
PSC 355 AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
PSC 375 RACE, SEX, AND POLITICS OF MYTH AND STORY
PSC 450 CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THOUGHT
Public Law
PSC 221 JUDICIAL PROCESS AND POLITICS
PSC 223 SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH THE LAW
PSC 250 INTRODUCTION TO LAW
PSC 317 U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
PSC 320 U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES
PSC 321 CIVIL PROCEDURE
PSC 368 COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
PSC 420 CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
PSC 421 DISCRIMINATION AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
PSC 485 MOCK TRIAL (1-3)
General Electives in Political Science - Courses NOT used to fulfill Political Distribution Requirements may also be used as Political Science electives (9 credit hours)PSC 215 URBAN GOVERNMENT
PSC 319 GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUESTIONING POLITICS
PSC 327 PRACTICAL POLITICS
PSC 360 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
PSC 364 AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY
PSC 368 COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
PSC 389 TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
PSC 415 URBAN PUBLIC POLICY
PSC 495 SPECIAL PROJECT
PSC 497 WASHINGTON SEMESTER (1-16)
PSC 499 INDEPENDENT STUDY (3-12)
Public Legal Studies Concentration
Required Core Courses (30 Credits)
PSC 101 INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
PSC 102 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
PHI 103 INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC
or PHI 107 INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
PHI 112 PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
PSC 203 POLITICAL ANALYSIS
PSC 204 POLITICAL STATISTICS
PSC 221 JUDICAL PROCESS AND POLITICS
or PSC 250 INTRODUCTION TO LAW
PSC 317 U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
or PSC 320 U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES
PSC 399 RESEARCH SKILLS
PSC 470 SENIOR SEMINAR
or PSC 488 INTERNSHIP
Political Science Distribution - Select one course from each of the following distribution areas (9 Credit Hours)
American Government and Politics
PSC 312 LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
PSC 321 CIVIL PROCEDURE
PSC 420 CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
PSC 421 DISCRIMINATION AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
PSC 485 MOCK TRIAL (1-3)
International Relations/Comparative Gov't & Pol
PSC 302 INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION
PSC 308 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
PSC 344 COMPARATIVE DEMOCRACY
Political Theory & Philosophy
PHI 301 JUSTICE: LIBERTY VS. EQUALITY
PHI 304 PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
PHI 314 RIGHTS AND RESPECT
PSC 351 HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT I
PSC 355 AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
PSC 450 CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THOUGHT
All College Electives
48-51 credit hours 48-51
Total Credit Hours 120