Political Science
Undergraduate Majors
MAJOR IN
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Thirty-six units with a grade equivalent of 2.00 or higher are required
for the major in Political Science. Students must complete the
following requirements:
-
At
least 9 units at the lower-division, of which no more than 3 units
may be at the 200 level
-
POSC
301 Political Research I
-
At
least 21 units at the upper-division, including courses in three of
the four topical areas: Comparative Politics, International
Politics, American Government and Public Administration, and Law and
Political Theory
Note:
Courses taught under Independent Study (POSC 490) or under Special
Topics (POSC 470-479) will be assigned to one of the four areas by the
department or students’ advisers. This is to assure that courses taken
under these two categories are not used in more than one area in order
to meet the three area requirements. Three units from among the approved
seminar courses. (Note: Seminar unit will not be given for Independent
Study POSC 490.) All courses must be completed with a grade equivalent
of 2.00 or higher except POSC 465. “Pass” will count only for POSC 465.
For course requirements please see the undergraduate catalog.
Required Courses
(36 units)
POSC 301
Political Research I (3)
At least
three of the following, of which no more than one may be at the 200
level:
POSC 101
Introduction to Political Science (3)
POSC 102
Honors Introduction to Political Science (3)
POSC 103
American National Government (3)
POSC 105
Governments of the World (3)
POSC 107
Introduction to International Relations (3)
POSC 108
Honors International Relations (3)
POSC 207
State Government (3)
POSC 209
Introduction to Law (3)
POSC 212
Honors in Political Science (3)
Approved Seminar
Courses
All
majors must take an approved seminar from the following list.
POSC 301
Political Research I must be completed before registering for a seminar.
POSC 455
Seminar: International Law and Organization I (3)
POSC 456
Seminar: International Law and Organization II (3)
POSC 457
Seminar: Use of Force in International Law (3)
POSC 481
Seminar: Public Policy Analysis (3)
POSC 482
Seminar in Political Science (3)
POSC 483
Seminar: Politics and the News Media (3)
POSC 485
Seminar: Democratic Theory Seminar (3)
POSC 486
Seminar: Justice and the Law (3)
POSC 488
Seminar: Topics in Public Policy (3)
POSC 491
Seminar in Contemporary United States Foreign Policy (3)
Electives
Twenty-one units of electives, not counting the required seminar, must
be taken at the upper division in three of the four topical areas of
political science. No more than 9 units of special topics courses
(470-479) may be united toward the major.
Topical Areas
The
department offers courses in four topical areas: Comparative Politics,
International Politics, American Government and Public Administration,
and Law and Political Theory. The numbers indicate courses that are
offered in each area.
Comparative Politics:
337, 339, 340, 351, 470, 471, 490, 498, 499
International Politics:
303, 307, 355, 432, 434, 436, 437, 441, 465, 472,
473, 474,
490, 491, 498, 499
American Government and Public Administration:
305, 375, 381, 383,
384, 401,
417, 421, 450, 459, 467, 475, 476, 477, 490, 493, 498, 499 WRIT 375
Law and Political Theory:
418, 419, 420, 422, 424, 425, 427, 428, 478, 479, 490,
498, 499
COMBINED MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND ECONOMICS
Completion of individual majors in Political Science and Economics requires the successful completion of 69 units (36 in political science and 33 in economics). However, by electing the combined major in Political Science and Economics, students will be able to complete both majors with a total of 57 units. Students interested in either of the combined majors should consult with an adviser in both departmentws to review requirements.
In political science, students must complete all requirements for the
major. However, they must substitute two of the following upper-level
courses (6 units) in economics toward fulfillment of the required seven
upper-level courses (21 units) in political science:
ECON 323 Comparative Economic Systems (3)
ECON 325 Economic Development (3)
ECON 331 Government and Economic Life (3)
ECON 337 Public Finance (3)
ECON 339 Health Economics (3)
ECON 351 Urban Economics (3)
ECON 375 Environmental Economics (3)
ECON 421 International Economics (3)
ECON 423 International Monetary Theory and Policy (3)
ECON 470-479 Topics in Economics* (3)
*Topic to be approved by the Department of Political Science
In economics, students must complete all requirements for the major.
However, they must substitute two of the following upper-level courses
(6 units) in political science toward fulfillment of the required four
courses (12 units) of upper-division economics electives:
POSC 305 Urban Government and Politics (3)
POSC 375 Public Administration (3)
POSC 421 Politics and Environmental Policy (3)
POSC 459 Simulation and Games in Political Science (3)
POSC 470-479 Special Topics* (3)
POSC 481 Public Policy Analysis (seminar or lecture course) (3)
*Topic to be approved by the Department of Economics
COMBINED MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND
GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING
Completion of individual majors in Political Science and Geography
requires the successful completion of 75 units (36 in political science,
39 in geography). However, by electing the combined major in Political
Science and Geography, students will be able to complete both majors
with a total of 65 units. Students interested in this combined major
should consult with an adviser in both departments to review requirements.
In political science, students must complete all requirements for the
major. However, they must substitute two of the following upper-level
courses (6 units) in geography and environmental planning toward fulfillment
of the required seven upper-level courses (21 units) in political
science:
GEOG 317 Energy Resources (3)
GEOG 355 Historic Geography of Urbanization (3)
GEOG 359 Economic Geography (3)
GEOG 381 Political Geography (3)
GEOG 385 Population Geography (3)
GEOG 391 Urban Systems (3)
GEOG 393 Transportation and Infrastructure Planning (3)
GEOG 405 Comprehensive Planning (3)
GEOG 427 Global Economy (3)
GEOG 431 Geography of Africa (3)
GEOG 461 Geography of Latin America (3)
GEOG 470-479 Seminar in Geography* (3)
* Topic to be approved by the Department of Political Science
In geography and environmental planning, students must complete
all requirements for the major. However, they must substitute two of the
following upper-level courses (6 units) in political science toward fulfillment
of the required five courses (15 units) of lower/upper-division
geography and environmental planning electives:
POSC 303 Theory of International Politics (3)
POSC 305 Urban Government and Politics (3)
POSC 307 Contemporary International Politics (3)
POSC 337 Comparative Government of Foreign Powers: The
Western World (3)
POSC 340 Comparative Public Policy (3)
POSC 351 The Government and Politics of Latin America (3)
POSC 355 The Latin American Policy of the U.S. (3)
POSC 441 Contemporary U.S.-European Relations (3)
POSC 470-479 Special Topics in Political Science* (3)
POSC 488 Seminar: Topics in Public Policy (3)
* Topics to be approved by the Department of Geography and Environmental
Planning
COMBINED MAJOR PROGRAMS WITH MASS
COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES
Completion of individual majors in Political Science and
Communication Studies or Political Science and Mass Communication
requires the successful completion of 72 units (36 in each major).
However, by electing the combined major in Political Science and
Communication Studies or Political Science and Mass Communication,
students will be able to complete both majors with a total of 60 units.
Students interested in either of the double majors should consult with an
adviser in both departments to review requirements.
COMBINED MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND
COMMUNICATION STUDIES
Completion of individual majors in Political Science and
Communication Studies requires the successful completion of 72 units
(36 in political science and 36 in communication studies). However, by
electing the combined major in Political Science and Communication
Studies, students will be able to complete both majors with a total of 60
units. Students interested in either of the combined majors should consult
with an adviser in both departments to review requirements.
In political science, students must complete all requirements for the
major. However, they must substitute two of the following upper-level
courses (6 units) in communication studies toward fulfillment of the
required seven upper-level courses (21 units) in political science:
COMM 304 Persuasion (3)
COMM 331 Argument and Advocacy (3)
COMM 378 Intercultural Communication (3)
COMM 420 Communication in the Legal Process (3)
COMM 470 Special Topics* (3)
*Topic to be approved by the Department of Political Science
In communication studies, students must complete all requirements
for the major. However, they must substitute two of the following
upper-level courses (6 units) in political science toward fulfillment of
the required three courses (9 units) of communication studies electives:
POSC 301 Political Research I (3)
POSC 340 Comparative Public Policy (3)
POSC 375 Public Administration (3)
POSC 381 Presidency (3)
POSC 383 Congress (3)
POSC 417 Political Parties (3)
POSC 459 Simulation and Games (3)
POSC 470-479 Special Topics* (3)
*Topic to be approved by the Department of Mass Communication and
Communication Studies
COMBINED MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND
MASS COMMUNICATION
Completion of individual majors in Political Science and Mass
Communication requires the successful completion of 72 units (36 in
political science and 36 in mass communication). However, by electing
the combined major in Political Science and Mass Communication, students
will be able to complete both majors with a total of 60 units.
Students interested in either of the combined majors should consult with
an adviser in both departments to review requirements.
In political science, students must complete all requirements for the
major. However, they must substitute two of the following upper-level
courses (6 units) in mass communication toward fulfillment of the required seven upper-level courses (21 units) in political science:
MCOM 350 Media Law (3)
MCOM 352 Media Criticism (3)
MCOM 385 Mass Media and Society (3)
MCOM 431 Public Opinion and the Press (3)
MCOM 433 Media Ethics (3)
MCOM 479 Special Topics*
*Topic to be approved by the Department of Political Science
In mass communication, students must complete all requirements for
the major. However, they must substitute two of the following upperlevel
courses (6 units) in political science toward fulfillment of the
required seven courses (21 units) of electives in mass communication:
POSC 301 Political Research I (3)
POSC 340 Comparative Public Policy (3)
POSC 375 Public Administration (3)
POSC 381 Presidency (3)
POSC 383 Congress (3)
POSC 417 Political Parties (3)
POSC 459 Simulation and Games (3)
POSC 470-479 Special Topics* (3)
*Topic to be approved by the Department of Mass Communication and
Communication Studies
TRANSFER CREDIT POLICY
Students who transfer to Towson University in senior standing are
expected to complete a minimum of 15 units of upper-division political
science courses. Those who transfer below senior standing normally will
be expected to complete 21 units of upper-division political science
courses at Towson University.
CAREERS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
Political Science majors generally prepare themselves, at the undergraduate
level, for careers in law, government (federal, state and local), service
in public and private interest groups, business, and journalism and
the media, as well as research and teaching at various levels of the education
system.
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
Activities
In addition to its academic curriculum, the department offers opportunities
providing a broad range of related experiences. Classes travel to
Annapolis and Washington, D.C., to observe first-hand the political
workings of government. The annual Earle T. Hawkins Symposium on
International Affairs brings to campus noted scholars to lecture on topics
of contemporary relevance. Political Science majors are given the
opportunity to edit the Towson Journal of International Affairs, one of
the few undergraduate academic journals in the United States.
Internships
An integral part of the Political Science curriculum is the opportunity for
students to participate in an internship in their junior or senior year.
Students are placed in all branches of government and at all levels of
government. Placements with the Maryland General Assembly or a
member of Congress are most common.
PRELAW ADVISING PROGRAM
Coordinator: Jack Fruchtman (Political Science)
OFFICE
Linthicum Hall 118B, 410-704-3350
www.towson.edu/polsci/prelaw
The Program
Students contemplating law school after graduation should make an
appointment with the university’s Prelaw adviser, Dr. Jack Fruchtman.
He can provide prospective students with a copy of the Towson Prelaw
Handbook, introduce them to the Prelaw Society, and offer advice concerning
courses of study, preparation for the Law School Admission Test
(LSAT) and other matters pertaining to what students need for their
application to law school. In general, students should concentrate on
improving their reading, writing, speaking and thinking skills.
Dual Law Program
Towson University offers to qualified students the opportunity to apply
to the early admission program at the University of Baltimore School of
Law. Admission is not automatic but is contingent upon acceptance by
the University of Baltimore Law School, including review of LSAT
scores. Transfer to the UB law program can only take place at the end of
a spring term. To qualify for entrance to the dual-degree program, students
must fulfill the first three of the standards listed below; to qualify
for graduation from Towson University, they must also fulfill the fourth
standard listed:
1. Completion of at least 91 units at TU with at least a 3.00 GPA
2. Completion of all TU General Education requirements
3. Completion of a major at TU with at least a 3.25 GPA in the major.
No specific areas of study or disciplines are required for this program;
accordingly, students may choose majors in which they are most
interested.
4. Successful completion of 29 units at the University of Baltimore
School of Law, and of all other TU graduation requirements as listed
in the catalog under the heading Degree Requirements.
Subsequent completion of all requirements at the University of
Baltimore Law School is necessary in order to earn the J.D. degree from
the University of Baltimore. Students interested in this program should
contact the TU Prelaw adviser, Dr. Jack Fruchtman, in the Department
of Political Science.
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