The Political Science major provides an understanding of political, constitutional, economic, social, cultural, and international policy issues and implications. This major enhances students’ perceptions of significant trends and patterns associated with political institutions and constitutional issues. Majors experience the political world through digital resources, small group discussions, lectures, projects, internships, and other engaging methods. Career opportunities are available in academia, government, public service, public administration, law, business, communications, journalism, political organizations, libraries, museums, archives, research, writing, publications, and related areas.
PLSC 100 – International Relations
3 credit hours
Individual, domestic, national and system effects on relations between states; war, diplomacy and other instruments of influence; contemporary and future international problems.
PLSC 125 – United States National Government
3 credit hours
Nature of government, Federal Constitutional principles; organization and functions of executive, legislative, and judicial branches; roles of interest groups and citizens in democracy.
PLSC 230 – Congress and the Presidency
3 credit hours
Background of the executive and legislative branches in the Constitutional Convention and their evolution to present; decision-making by Congress and the President.
Prerequisite: PLSC 125 or consent of instructor
HIST 390 – History/Government Practicum
3 credit hours
A capstone practicum which integrates knowledge gained through student’s major concentration and Penn Leadership Core courses.
Same as PLSC 390
Must complete 18 credit hours of PLSC here are some example classes
PLSC 150 – Comparative Politics
3 credit hours
The politics of Great Britain, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, and other major Western European states; the comparative method and its utility in the study of politics, comparison of political processes and political institutions. Offered spring of even years.
PLSC 200 – The Politics of War and Peace
3 credit hours
Major issues concerning war and peace and the search for peace; research on the causes of war at the individual, national and system levels; an examination of the ethics of war and the conduct of war; nuclear weapons and disarmament, nuclear war.
Prerequisite: PLSC 100 or consent of instructor
PLSC 210 – State and Local Government
3 credit hours
Organization and functions of state, county, and municipal government; examination of their financial problems, reorganization and urban-rural relations. Offered spring of odd years.
PLSC 217 – Ethnic and Race Relations
3 credit hours
Explores the historic and current problems faced by ethnic and racial minority groups in American society; the causes and consequences of prejudice and discrimination and the nature of current minority-majority interaction. Offered fall of even years.
Same as SOCI 217
PLSC 230 – Congress and the Presidency
3 credit hours
Background of the executive and legislative branches in the Constitutional Convention and their evolution to present; decision-making by Congress and the President.
Prerequisite: PLSC 125 or consent of instructor
PLSC 310 – Political Thought
3 credit hours
Analysis of political theory from the ancient, medieval, modern, and post-modern periods, with application to political issues and problems of the contemporary world. Offered fall of odd years.
PLSC 331 – Law and Society
3 credit hours
Evolution of law and legal institutions; theory of law and jurisprudence; use of law and the legal system for the development of public policy. Offered odd years.
Same as SOCI 331
Prerequisite: PLSC 125 or consent of instructor
PLSC 100 – International Relations
3 credit hours
Individual, domestic, national and system effects on relations between states; war, diplomacy and other instruments of influence; contemporary and future international problems.
PLSC 125 – United States National Government
3 credit hours
Nature of government, Federal Constitutional principles; organization and functions of executive, legislative, and judicial branches; roles of interest groups and citizens in democracy.
PLSC 230 – Congress and the Presidency
3 credit hours
Background of the executive and legislative branches in the Constitutional Convention and their evolution to present; decision-making by Congress and the President.
Prerequisite: PLSC 125 or consent of instructor
Must complete 9 credit hours of PLSC here are some example classes
PLSC 150 – Comparative Politics
3 credit hours
The politics of Great Britain, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, and other major Western European states; the comparative method and its utility in the study of politics, comparison of political processes and political institutions. Offered spring of even years.
PLSC 200 – The Politics of War and Peace
3 credit hours
Major issues concerning war and peace and the search for peace; research on the causes of war at the individual, national and system levels; an examination of the ethics of war and the conduct of war; nuclear weapons and disarmament, nuclear war.
Prerequisite: PLSC 100 or consent of instructor
PLSC 210 – State and Local Government
3 credit hours
Organization and functions of state, county, and municipal government; examination of their financial problems, reorganization and urban-rural relations. Offered spring of odd years.
PLSC 217 – Ethnic and Race Relations
3 credit hours
Explores the historic and current problems faced by ethnic and racial minority groups in American society; the causes and consequences of prejudice and discrimination and the nature of current minority-majority interaction. Offered fall of even years.
Same as SOCI 217
PLSC 230 – Congress and the Presidency
3 credit hours
Background of the executive and legislative branches in the Constitutional Convention and their evolution to present; decision-making by Congress and the President.
Prerequisite: PLSC 125 or consent of instructor
PLSC 310 – Political Thought
3 credit hours
Analysis of political theory from the ancient, medieval, modern, and post-modern periods, with application to political issues and problems of the contemporary world. Offered fall of odd years.
PLSC 331 – Law and Society
3 credit hours
Evolution of law and legal institutions; theory of law and jurisprudence; use of law and the legal system for the development of public policy. Offered odd years.
Same as SOCI 331
Prerequisite: PLSC 125 or consent of instructor