Course Objectives and Program Description

GOALS

• To make students aware of the major historical and political developments, around the world.
• To give students experience in reading the relevant literary sources and to acquire skills of discussing, presenting and writing about them.
• To equip students with the requisite tools and methodologies for critical thinking, inquiry, discovery, and sustained curiosity for learning, leadership, and service.
• To keep students current about the latest developments and trends in their respective disciplines
• To promote initially interdisciplinary collaboration between History and Political Science and, where possible, with other disciplines.
• To evaluate the performance of students across various criteria and measures with express aims of improving rates of retention, performance, and graduation.

HISTORY OBJECTIVES

• To provide students with requisite knowledge, skills and competencies in History.
• To provide various methodologies and perspectives of historiography and historical inquiry about world civilizations and historical developments.
• To engage in interdisciplinary collaboration between History and Political Science and other disciplines.
• To expose students to educational enrichment activities, programs, and practical experiences that expands opportunities for making choices about careers and life-long engagements.
• To prepare students for graduate/professional studies in History or other career fields of interest.

POLITICAL SCIENCE OBJECTIVES

• To provide students with opportunities to acquire and apply core knowledge, skills and competencies in Political Science.
• To engage students in conducting and presenting Political Science research projects based on various methodologies and perspectives.
• To engage students in interdisciplinary activities for the benefit of learning, collaborating and networking with other students.
• To assist students with identifying opportunities for educational enrichment beyond their academic work in the classroom.
• To motivate and encourage students to pursue graduate/professional programs.
• To facilitate students appreciation of an active and sustained life of intellectual and social activity.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

History
History faculty members have several aims. The World Civilization and History of the United States sequences seek to provide students perspective, for understanding the present world and a foundation for further historical study. More advanced history courses, available to students in all majors to fulfill social science elective requirements, are designed to broaden the educational experience by providing students a deeper understanding of the past. The major in history encompasses a range of specialized courses and training in the techniques of historical research and writing. History is an especially suitable major for students preparing for careers in teaching, museum and archival management, law, civil service, diplomatic service, and politics.

Political Science
Political Science faculty seeks to create and improve an environment whereby the interplay of scholarly discourse and practices ensue, and students acquire political knowledge through formal study of politics and engagement in extracurricular activities. Special concentrations in Pre-Law, International Affairs, and Public Policy broaden and enrich the educational experience of students. It is the primary objective to deepen their understanding of politics and its interfacing with other realities (economy, society, technology, etc.) at the local, national, comparative and global levels. By taking core and elective courses and fulfilling other requirements, students acquire skills and competencies for advanced studies and career placement across diverse fields.

Members of the faculty of History and Political Science are committed to developing the abilities of students to be motivated about serious study and to think deeply about the importance of the mastery of their relevant subjects, character development, ethical values, and achievement with excellence. The faculty therefore undertakes its tasks and responsibilities with the idea that fully engaging students in their respective disciplines is indispensable to their wholesome growth and development and the commitment to life-long learning, service and leadership.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Humanities – 19 hours
English 0101 – 3
English 0102 – 3
Thirteen (13) additional humanities credit hours selected from,
THREE of the four discipline (Art, English, Music, Philosophy).
Social Sciences – 18 hours
History 0103 – 3
History 0104 – 3

Twelve (12) additional hours in the Social Sciences (Economics, History, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work), six (6) of which must be in the same discipline. Political Science majors do fifteen (15) additional hours in the Social Sciences. Twelve (12) semester hours of French or twelve (12) hours of Spanish or Approved options for majors with the exception of English, Political Science, and History. 12 semester hours in a pattern of courses in the same discipline.

Mathematics-107-4 Minimum math level for History and Political Science is Math 107. However, depending on (ACT or SAT) score, student could place above. If student places above the minimum level, he/she must still do the required two levels of Math.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS
The Department of History and Political Science offers students a rich and diverse educational experience to broaden and deepen student learning outcomes:

Freshman Honors Program
Students with outstanding high school GPA and SAT/ACT scores will be placed in the Political Science Freshman Honors Program. The Freshman Honors Program consists of two rigorous courses offered during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Senior Honors Program
The Seniors Honors Program consists of two courses, POLS H462 and POLS H463. The prerequisite is POLS 205 and is usually taken in the second semester of a student’s sophomore year. The course is open to all sophomores. Registration priority in the Honors Program is given to those juniors who are qualified candidates for admission into the Senior Honors seminar, POLS H462. Seniors entering their seventh semester who have attained at least a 3.00 grade point average overall and a 3.00 grade point average in Political Science are eligible for admission to this seminar.

Qualified juniors will be invited during the Spring semester of their junior year to enroll in POLS H462 to be offered during the ensuing Fall semester. Those who will be out of residence during one or both semesters of the junior year may enroll in the program with the consent of the Honors Coordinator and subject to review by the faculty in Political Science. Interested students will review their academic plans with the Honors Coordinator and receive his/her permission to enroll in a course that might properly prepare them for the Honors Program.

Political Science H462, a seminar usually taken in the Fall of the senior year, is devoted to the development of the honors thesis and includes close supervision of the writing stage of the project by a faculty supervisor selected by the Department Head and the student and subject to the faculty supervisor’s consent. Close faculty supervision of the project occurs in POLS H462 in the form of an independent study course.

Completion of the thesis, its evaluation, and its defense before at least a three-member faculty committee warrants graduation with distinction in Political Science if a grade of A- or better is assigned to the student’s thesis and his or her performance in POLS H462 and H463 is judged as outstanding. The intra-departmental Electives in Political Science are partially satisfied by the successful completion of the two courses of senior honors thesis seminar.

Successful completion of a senior honors thesis demands imagination, independence, and perseverance on the student’s part. The accomplishments of students are recognized and are communicated to members of the American Political Science Association.

Minors in History and Political Science
The Department offers minors in three areas: the Woodrow Wilson International Affairs Program, African Studies, and Public Policy Studies. All three areas provide an interdisciplinary approach, through a variety of disciplines, for study, analysis, and research of international, regional, and national affairs. The suggested requirements are as follows:

International Affairs
A student who wishes to complete a Minor in International Affairs must earn at least 18 credit hours. The courses from which requirements are to be completed include: AGEC 501, 502, 602; APSC 501; FPAR 203; BUSN 402, 412; ECON 412, 511, 512, 513; EDUC 422; ENGL 333, 501; GEOG 334; HIST 220, 221, 313, 345; MUSC 303; CSCI 100; POLS 320, 321, 330, 420, 421, SOCI 210, 360; and at least one (1) year of foreign language in one (1) language. Course listing subject to change.

African Studies
A student who wishes to complete a Minor in African Studies must earn at least 18 credit hours. The courses from which requirements are to be completed include: FPAR 203, ENGL 333, MUSC 303, PHIL 371, HIST 220, 221, 429, POLS 431, SOCI 210, 543, Project in professional area (AGEC, BUSN, or EVSC), and at least one (1) year of foreign language. Course listing subject to change.

Public Policy Studies
A student who wishes to complete a Minor in Public Policy Studies must earn at least 18 credit hours. The courses from which requirements are to be completed include: POLS 340, 341, 441, 350, 351, 450, 452, 454, SOWK 245, ECON 515, and POLS 465 (Internship Project in the public sector) Course listing subject to change.