The Washington State University Pullman Catalog

Program in Political Science

The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective.

Program in Political Science

Johnson Twr 801
509-335-2544

POLITICAL SCIENCE:

Associate Professor and Chair, S. Stehr; Professors, W. Budd, C. Clayton, M. Cottam, N. Lovrich, A. Mazur, D. Nice, T. Preston; Associate Professors, A. Appleton, C. Long, M. Pickerill, T. Ridout, M. Stephan, P. Thiers; Assistant Professors, D. Baker, C. Faricy, A. Luedtke, C. Metelits, M. Weidenfeld.

Courses in political science are offered in political institutions (presidency, congress, the courts, political parties, mass media), public policy formation and evaluation, public law, civil liberties, international relations (foreign policy, strategic policy, conflict resolution), comparative government (area studies, post-industrial societies, cross-national comparisons), political philosophy and methodology.

The department offers courses of study leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Master of Arts in Political Science, and Doctor of Philosophy.

The department is the locus of the Criminal Justice Program, which offers courses of study leading to the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice. For details, see the criminal justice section of this catalog.

The undergraduate programs in the Department of Political Science are designed to prepare students to be more thoughtful consumers and producers of information related to political phenomenon in the U.S. and in other nations. More specifically, the department's programs aim to: (1) develop the ability to think critically about social and political values; (2) produce graduates with an understanding of the importance of a global perspective on political issues; (3) understand the fundamental theories and frameworks currently used to explain a wide range of political behaviors; and (4) develop and cultivate the ability to write, read, and think critically and effectively.

Prelaw Studies

No specific major is required to be eligible for law school. The department’s Prelaw Advising Center assists all students interested in law school regardless of their intended major.

Through its prelaw curriculum, the department offers a selection of courses designed to prepare students adequately for law school and eventual careers in law. This curriculum reflects recommendations of the Association of American Law Schools. Students choosing other departmental options are also eligible to attend law school if they meet admission requirements.

Public Service

Government is the nation’s largest employer. Many public officials are political science graduates. The department advises students concerning training and career opportunities in federal, state, and local governments, the Foreign Service, and related occupations. Its extensive internship program places students in public agencies, political parties, and similar organizations. The department also encourages and advises students on study abroad as part of preparing for careers in international affairs.

Division of Governmental Studies and Services

The department’s Division of Governmental Studies and Services (DGSS) is an instrument for extending beyond the classroom and into public service the resources represented in the department’s teaching and research personnel. Functions of the division include performing research and issuing publications relating to government and public affairs; providing training and consulting services to public agencies and private organizations concerned with public affairs; and administering internship programs to provide practical experience in government. DGSS maintains a collection of specialized government publications and related materials and, in general, acts as a link between teaching and the conduct of public affairs.

Preparation for Graduate Study

Students with some undergraduate course work in political science while majoring in such subjects as economics, business administration, history, criminal justice or sociology may readily pursue graduate study in political science. Undergraduates at other institutions or in other departments at this institution who contemplate graduate work in this department should acquire some training in political science. For graduate study and its graduate degree programs, the department clusters its courses in three subfields: American institutions and processes; foreign systems and world politics; and administration, justice, and applied policy studies.



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