Department Chair: R. Smith
Department Members: A. Fetter-Harrott, R. Smith
Major: Political Science, Political Economy
Minors: Political Science, International Relations, Political Economy
The political science department provides the means by which, within the liberal arts curriculum, undergraduate students learn to understand the political process (at both domestic and international levels.) The place of political science in a liberal arts setting has been established for the better part of 3,000 years. The department offers two sets of courses: one concerned with international politics, and another concerned with American politics. Like the ancient Greek philosophers, political science is concerned both with understanding and evaluating the processes which allocate societal values. In so doing, our students will be able to appreciate and understand these two levels of the political process. The department offers core coursework within two majors, which each focus on different aspects of the study of politics.
The major in Political Science builds from a core academic and philosophical examination of politics through to practical application. Students majoring in Political Science live the connection between theory and practice as they explore the interplay of politics/law in their choice of an immersive learning experience. Throughout the rest of the curriculum students expand upon this knowledge and experience base to build a formidable resume that includes completion of their own independent research prior to graduation. As a result of this training, students will be able to think analytically about the problems that face humankind internationally and domestically. They will be prepared for such things as law school, graduate school, employment by government at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as careers in teaching.
All political science majors and minors must earn a grade of C- or better in all required political science courses. Students majoring in political science must complete the 29 semester hours of political science with a minimum graduation GPA of 2.00 (A=4.00). Students wishing to minor in political science or international relations must complete all required courses with a minimum graduation GPA of 2.00 (A=4.00).
The major in Political Economy is Franklin College’s interdisciplinary major. Coursework within the major examines the relationship between politics and economics in modern societies and focuses on problems of both domestic and international policy. Students majoring in Political Economy study the political and economic factors that affect, and are affected by, systems of production, exchange, and distribution. That is, political economy majors analyze how international and domestic political factors interact with micro- and macro-economic factors to determine outcomes in a wide variety of areas including globalization, international trade and finance, regulation, development, taxes, and income distribution. As a result, students will be able to think logically and analytically about the problems that face humankind internationally and domestically. They will be prepared for law school, graduate school and employment by private sectors and government at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as careers in teaching.
All political economy majors and minors must earn a grade of C- or better in all required coursework for the major, minor and related field. Students majoring in political economy must complete the all required major/minor courses with a minimum graduation GPA of 2.00 (A=4.00).. Furthermore, regardless of major, all students taking economics courses must complete all prerequisites with a C- or better.
Political Science Major
Core Requirements
POL 110 American National Government
POL 360 Social and Political Thought
POL 469 Methods of Political Inquiry
POL 470 Senior Seminar
POL 499 Senior Competency Practicum
MAT 224 Basic Applied Statistics
One of the following courses
POL 410 American Constitutional Law I: Powers and Duties
POL 420 American Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties
Immersive Learning Requirement – one of the following courses
POL 225 State and Local Government
POL 234 American Political Participation
POL 275 Law and Politics in American Society
Any other experiential course relating to political science by approval of the Department
Two of the following courses – not the same courses as used above
POL 225 State and Local Government
POL 234 American Political Participation
POL 275 Law and Politics in American Society
POL 316 American Presidency
POL 317 American Congress
POL 336 Introduction to Public Policy
POL 350 Public Administration
POL 410 American Constitutional Law I: Powers and Duties
POL 420 American Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties
Two of the following courses – not the same course as used above
POL 120 Introduction to International Relations
POL 130 Introduction to Comparative Politics
POL 320 International Security and Conflict Management
POL 341 International Law and Organizations
POL 355 Comparative Politics in Developed Countries
POL 390 American Foreign Policy
Additional POL credits, if necessary, to meet the minimum required of 25 hours beyond POL 110.
Professional Development Requirements
POL 498 Portfolio (take with POL 470)
SNR/SNT489 (POL) Senior Internship/Project
Related Field Requirement
Twelve semester hours in a related field such as journalism, philosophy, history, economics, psychology, or sociology (any variations must be approved by the department and submitted in writing to the Academic Records Office). Courses may be taken outside these departments for a related field only with the consent of the chairperson of the department of political science. All related field courses must be completed with a grade of D or better.
NOTE: POL 110 should be taken before the completion of the sophomore year.
Political Economy Major
Cannot be combined with Economics and/or Political Science majors
Core requirements
Political Science Field
POL 110 American National Government
POL 120 Introduction to International Relations
POL 130 Introduction to Comparative Politics
POL 336 Introduction to Public Policy
POL 360 Social and Political Thought
Economics Field
ECO 115 Principles of Economics
ECO 223 Intermediate Macroeconomics
Statistics Field
ECO 380 Econometrics
Senior Capstone Courses
ECO 475 Strategic Implementation Project
ECO 499 Senior Competency Practicum or POL 499 Senior Competency Practicum
Elective courses
Political Science Field – choose three courses from the following
POL 316 American Presidency
POL 317 American Congress
POL 320 International Security and Conflict Management
POL 341 International Law and Organizations
POL 350 Public Administration
POL 390 American Foreign Policy
POL 410 American Constitutional Law I: Powers and Duties
POL 420 American Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties
Economics Field – choose two courses from the following
ECO 330 Money and Banking
ECO 350 International Business and Finance
ECO 360 Labor Economics and Management
Professional Development Requirement
PDP 200 Preparing for Your Internship
INT XXX Internship in Economics or related field (4 credits) or SNR/SNT489 (POL) Senior Internship/Project (4-6 credits)
ECO 498 Portfolio or POL 498 Portfolio (take with POL 470)
Related Field Requirement
MAT 131 Introduction to Quantitative Analysis
MAT 224 Basic Applied Statistics
Two of the following courses
ACC 341 Introduction to Taxation
BUS 341 Business Law I
PHL 220 Principles of Ethics
PSY 320 Social Psychology
SOC 210 Criminal Justice
SOC 321 Criminology
Other courses approved by faculty from both political science and economics
Political Science Minor
Core requirements
POL 110 American National Government
POL 120 Introduction to International Relations
POL 130 Introduction to Comparative Politics
POL 360 Social and Political Thought
One of the following courses
POL 410 American Constitutional Law I: Powers and Duties
POL 420 American Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Liberties
International Relations Minor
Note: This minor is not available to political science majors.
Core requirements
POL 120 Introduction to International Relations
POL 130 Introduction to Comparative Politics
POL 341 International Law and Organizations
POL 360 Social and Political Thought
One of the following courses
BUS/ECO 350 International Business and Finance
CAN/POL 355 Comparative Politics in Developed Countries
HIS 361 East Asian History
HIS 365 History of the Middle East
PHL/REL 250 Living Religions East
Two semesters of a foreign language offered by Franklin College.
Political Economy Minor
Note: This minor is not available to political science majors or minors, economics majors or minors, or international relations minors.
Core requirements
Political Science Field
POL 110 American National Government
POL 120 Introduction to International Relations
POL 336 Introduction to Public Policy
Economics Field
ECO 115 Principles of Economics
ECO 223 Intermediate Macroeconomics
Elective courses
Political Science Field – choose one course from the following
POL 130 Introduction to Comparative Politics
POL 225 State and Local Government
POL 316 American Presidency
POL 317 American Congress
POL 360 Social and Political Thought
Economics Field – choose one course from the following
ECO 330 Money and Banking
ECO 350 International Business and Finance
ECO 360 Labor Economics and Management
Revised 11-22-21