MARK JUBULIS, Ph.D., Director
FACULTY: Professors: David C. Kozak, Mark Jubulis, Thomas Ostrowski.
Lecturer: Paul Foust
Objectives:
The Department of Political Science offers an undergraduate program leading to
the Bachelor of Arts degree. The program is designed to provide a broad and
solid foundation in Political Science, Political Analysis, International
Affairs, and Policy Studies to help students develop knowledge and skills in
preparation for a professional career in the public, private, or not for profit
sectors.
The emphasis is upon the development of specific skills necessary for Leadership, management, planning, and evaluation of government programs; upon providing a comprehensive understanding of policy-making and policy-implementation; and upon the preparation for individuals interested in further professional education at graduate or law school.
Career Opportunities
Individuals with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science may
qualify for administrative and management trainee positions in such fields as
legislative and policy research, public relations, personnel work, budget
analysis, security investigation, etc. Employment opportunities also include
such professional careers as college and university teaching, law, city
management, urban planning, public administration, policy research and analysis,
foreign service and many other careers with local, national and international
organizations both public and private.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
POLI 101: Orientation
A required orientation program for freshman Political Science and Pre-Law concentrators.
NC/Fall
POLI 111: U.S. Government and Politics
Constitutional foundations of U.S. Government; structure and functions of Congress, the
Presidency, the judiciary; administrative institutions and processes, interest groups and
political parties; political behavior, and the electoral process.
3 credits, Fall/Spring
POLI 122: Public Policy Analysis
Principles and practices of policy analysis; emphasis on current national policy issues.
3 credits, Fall/Spring
POLI 133: Introduction to International Relations
Introduction to the nature of international relations, focusing on the role of the state and international
institutions; the role of ideology and culture in international affairs; and the nature of the
world economy and the process of globalization.
3 credits
POLI 210: Bureaucracy and Public Administration
Principles and practices of public administration in modern society with a special attention to
the administration of the American Federal government.
3 credits
POLI 220: Comparative Government
Principles of comparative political analysis; principles and features of selected European and
other governmental systems.
3 credits
POLI 260: Introduction to Law in Society
Introduction to legal institutions and processes; evolution of the American legal system; major
substantive areas of law; legal reasoning and the adversarial process; and, the role of attorneys
and courts in American society.
Cross listed with PLAW 111
3 credits
POLI 301: Leadership Studies I: Theory
Examines leadership theory, the differences between leadership and management, the skills
necessary for successful leadership, and various styles of leaders. Students will become
familiar with the “great books” of leadership, interact with practicing professionals, learn
leadership lessons from the study of the American Presidency, and experience negotiation and
creativity exercises.
3 credits
POLI 302: Leadership Studies II: Skills
Builds on the theoretical study of leadership with an emphasis on practice and application.
Students study leaders, systems analysis, planning, strategic thinking, and the requirements of
community leadership. Students participate in exercises to increase skills in communication,
media relations, and effective political leadership.
3 credits
POLI 311: State and Local Government
Institutions and processes of state and local government with special focus upon Pennsylvania.
3 credits
POLI 312: Parties and Political Behavior
The electoral and governmental functions of American political parties, with consideration
given to party systems at national and local levels, and the study of campaigns and elections.
3 credits
POLI 315: Congress and Legislative Process
The structure, functions and the role of Congress in both the policy process and the nation’s
political life.
3 credits
POLI 317: The American Presidency
Institution, politics, personality, and policies of the president.
3 credits
POLI 322-325: Regional Studies
Political structures and regional features of a select area of the world, such
as Russia and Eastern Europe, the European
Union, Latin America, Africa, or Asia.
3 credits
POLI 331: Urban Politics and Public Policy
The American urban political process and public policy. Community structure and the distribution
and use of power.
3 credits
POLI 340: Theories of International Relations
Analysis of major theoretical approaches to study of international relations and evaluation of
competing paradigms which claim to explain the nature of post-Cold War international relations.
Prerequisite: POLI 133
3 credits
POLI 332: Comprehensive Urban Planning
Consideration of the economic, political and social determinants of comprehensive urban land
use planning.
3 credits
POLI 341: The U.N. and International Law
Principles, rules, procedures and institutions of public international law and organization,
with focus on the United Nations. Gannon’s Model U.N. for High School students provides
opportunities for experiential learning.
3 credits
POLI 343: U.S. Foreign Policy
Historical and intellectual foundations of contemporary U.S. foreign policy.3 credits
POLI 350: Constitutional Law and the Judicial Process
Processes of constitutional development and interpretation; the Judicial system; judicial review;
the federal system; Presidency: office and powers; powers of Congress.
3 credits, Fall
POLI 351: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Constitutional basis of civil liberties; freedom of speech and press; freedom of association,
religious liberty and the separation of church and state; federal and state procedural due
process; substantive due process; equal protection of the laws.
3 credits, Spring
POLI 355: Administrative Law and Government
An analysis of rule making, adjudication and review in the administrative process. Political and
legal contexts of administrative and rule making activities.
Prerequisite: POLI 111 or consent of instructor.
3 credits
POLI 357: Legal Analysis and Persuasion
Legal analysis and persuasion will introduce the student to the fundamentals of legal thinking;
including the critical examination of case law and other written materials. Applying this legal
analysis, students will learn to persuade a targeted audience in both written and oral forms.
Classroom exercises include briefs, mock appellate arguments and/or mock trial.
Cross listed with PLAW 357
3 credits
POLI 360: Political Theory
The Classical and Christian tradition of political theory and philosophy. Reading and
discussion of select works of Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas and
Machiavelli. Modern Political Theory and philosophy. Reading and discussion of select works,
including writings of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, John Stuart Mill, and Marx.
3 credits, Fall
POLI 390-394: Special Topics
Such as Futurism, Strategic Thinking, National Nominating Conventions Field Experience,
Presidential Campaigns and Elections, Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict.
1-3 credits
POLI 395-399: Independent Study
1-3 credits
POLI 400: Political Analysis Senior Coordinating Seminar
The Coordinating Seminar is designed to enhance and integrate the student’s comprehension of
politics; and to develop further, critical and analytical skills in reading, writing and
research.
3 credits, Fall
POLI 490: Fieldwork and Internships I
Qualified individuals will be placed in internship positions with public officials, political
organizations and governmental agencies particularly, not exclusively, in the local community.
Students may also design, in consultation with the program director, an appropriate program of
field research.
Prerequisite: Permission of Department.
3 credits, Fall
POLI 491: Fieldwork and Internships II
Prerequisite: Permission of Department.
3 credits, Spring
Political Science Curriculum
Core of Discovery Requirements:
39 credit hours
Program Requirements:
Concentrators should successfully complete 33 credit hours in Political
Science and 43 credit hours in cognate and elective subjects, including the following courses:
Freshman Orientation: POLI 101 (NC)
Introduction: POLI 111, 112, 133
Upper Level Core: Upper Level
Core:
POLI 360; 400, one of the following: POLI 220, 321, 322, 340, 341 343
and one of
the following: POLI 210, 260, 312, 315, 317, 350, 357.
Program Electives: 12 credit hours - 3 of which may be taken in Internship
Fieldwork,
Independent Study of Intersession Courses.
Cognate Requirements: 36 credit hours including:
Social Science Cognates: 6 credit hours from Economics/BCOR 111 or
BCOR 112 or
Sociology/SOCI 110 or Psychology/PSYC 111.
Mathematics: 3 credits.
Statistics: 3 credits
Language: 6 credit hours in Language
History: 6 credit hours of HIST 221 and HIST 222
Unspecified Cognates: 15 credit hours.
Cognates may be taken in Political Science and/or related fields
depending on
the individual student’s interests and career plans. In all
cases students must
have the approval of the Department in selecting
cognate courses.
Electives: 14 hours
Legal Studies: Law and Politics
Students pursuing this track will take most of the required courses in the
Political Science major, but will substitute 2
legal courses, Introduction to Law & Society and Legal Analysis & Persuasion,
for 2 upper level Political Science courses.
Students who intend to go on to law school are encouraged to complete the
Legal Studies Certificate. The certificate can be completed within the four year
program by using those courses as the allowable cognates and electives offered
in the Political Science Program. If the pre law school student does not want to
complete the certificate, they are encouraged to take some of the Legal Studies
courses so that they can learn skills that could enable them to find summer
employment and/or part-time employment in legal settings. Some helpful courses
would include Legal Research & Writing I and II, Public Records Research, and
Computers in Law.
Political Science/Public Administrative/Public Management
Five Year BA/MPA or MBA Program
Gannon University’s Political Science Department in
cooperation with Gannon’s Graduate Center offers a special program for qualified
undergraduates leading to a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and the
Master of Public Administration Degree. Alternatively, students may elect to
pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Business Administration Degree with a public management focus. Both programs may be
completed in five years of full time study of 158 credit hours.
Political Science Curriculum
(Numerals in front of courses indicate credits)
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The Gannon University – Duquesne School of Law, 3+3 Early Admissions Program has been designed for qualified students to earn an undergraduate and a law degree in six years rather than seven. Under the early admissions program students may receive a Bachelors Degree in Political Science after three years of undergraduate work and the successful completion of the first year of full time study at the Duquesne School of Law. The student would then receive their Law Degree after successful completion of the second year at Duquesne School of Law. Qualified students may wish to pursue this Political Science Program option.
POLITICAL SCIENCE MINOR
A minor in political science may be accomplished by taking the 6 credit
foundations sequence - POLI 111 U.S. Government and either POLI 122 Public
Policy, or POLI 133 Introduction to International Relations plus 12 credits in
upper level courses. This minor is strongly recommended as preparation for
teaching social studies and civics at the elementary and secondary levels.
Students are encouraged to plan the minor in consultation with an advisor from
the political science department.
THE NEXT STEP
Baccalaureate Degree program for Graduates of Two Year Colleges
Political Science/Pre-Law
(Numerals in front of courses indicate credits)
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All students graduating from the College of Humanities must have completed six credits of a Modern Foreign Language.