Major/Minor Guidelines
Guidelines
The major requirements of the Government and Political Affairs department here at Millersville University consists of thirty-six (36) credits of government and political affairs courses. This includes eighteen (18) credits in advanced 300-400 level courses in the major. At least six (6) credits must be completed in capstone 400-level courses taken after the student has earned credits and twenty-four (24) GOVT credits. As part of thirty-six (36) credits, all majors must complete GOVT 111, 221, 231, and 251 with a C- or better. For required related courses, see the Government and Political Affairs blue sheet. Last, all government and political affairs majors must have a minor.
The department's courses fall into three (3) areas:
I. American Government and Politics
GOVT 111: Introduction to American Government REQUIRED COURSE
GOVT 112: Introduction to State and Local Government
GOVT 205: Introduction to Public Policy
GOVT 215: The American Presidency (W) GOVT 111 is recommended.
GOVT 241: Public Administration and Public Service (W)
GOVT 312: American Political Parties and Interest Groups (W) GOVT 111 is recommended.
GOVT 314: The American Judiciary (W) GOVT 111 is required.
GOVT 315: Congress and Lawmaking (W) GOVT 111 is required.
GOVT 333: American Political Thought GOVT 111 recommended.
GOVT 341: Introduction to City Planning (P) GOVT 111 is recommended.
GOVT 355: American Foreign Policy GOVT 111 and/or GOVT 251 recommended.
GOVT 361: Politics of Race and Ethnicity (D)
GOVT 411: Constitutional Law: Separation of Powers and Federalism GOVT 111 is required. GOVT 314 recommended.
GOVT 412: Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties GOVT 111
GOVT 455: U.S. - Middle East Foreign Relations GOVT 355 required. Offered in spring semesters.
II. International/Comparative Politics
GOVT 221: Introduction to Comparative Political Systems REQUIRED COURSE
GOVT 251: Introduction to Global Affairs REQUIRED COURSE
GOVT 323: Politics of the Middle East (D)
GOVT 325: Politics of East Asia GOVT 221 is recommended.
GOVT 327: Canadian Government and Politics (P)
GOVT 351: International Law GOVT 251 and/or GOVT 352 is recommended.
GOVT 352: International Organizations GOVT 251 and/or GOVT 352 is recommended.
GOVT 355: American Foreign Policy GOVT 111 and/or GOVT 251 is recommended.
GOVT 421: Democratic Transitions and Trends (W) GOVT 251 is required.
GOVT 455: U.S. - Middle East Foreign Relations GOVT 355 required. Offered in spring semesters.
III. Theory and Methods
GOVT 231: Introduction to Political Theory REQUIRED COURSE
GOVT 331: Modern Political Thought (W) GOVT 111 and GOVT 231 required.
GOVT 332: Recent Developments in Political Theory GOVT 231 is recommended.
GOVT 333: American Political Thought GOVT 111 strongly recommended.
GOVT 401: Methods of Political Science GOVT 231 is required. Strongly recommended for students planning to enter graduate school or
GOVT 431: Literature and Politics (W) GOVT 111 and GOVT 231 is required. Restricted to Juniors and Seniors only.
IV. Other
GOVT 408: Seminar in Government and Political Affairs
Addresses special topics in the discipline at an
V. Additional Guidelines
Internships and Co-ops
A maximum of three internship/co-op credits may be counted towards the major or minor under the political science elective category at the 200-level.
Under special circumstances, depending upon the content and level of the internship/co-op and with the permission of the department chair, majors (not minors) may count
Department Honors Option
The University's policy regarding Departmental Honors
- To be eligible, students must have completed 75 s.h. and have a cumulative QPA of at least 3.0 and endorsement of a department faculty member (they need not be enrolled in the University Honors Program).
- The student must be committed to conducting a research/thesis program for two academic semesters prior to expected time of graduation for a total of 3 credits, which are not counted towards the requirements for the major.
- The student should be aware that the completed thesis will be submitted to, examined by and orally defended before a departmental committee.
- The student should be aware that the completed thesis will be submitted to, examined by and orally defended before a departmental committee.
Contact your advisor for further information on this option.
C. Pi Sigma Alpha
The Department maintains a chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. Majors who have at least a 3.0 overall QPA and at least a 3.35 QPA in the major by the semester they apply to graduate will be contacted by the Department. For those students eligible, a $