Political science is a liberal arts discipline designed to prepare students as informed citizens and leaders in contemporary society. A major in Political Science must take a minimum of 33 credit hours within the discipline. These credit hours are divided into required core courses, upper-division courses selected from different subject areas, and the capstone seminar. In addition, there is an optional concentration that entails 6 credit hours, and optional Honors program.
Fredonia graduates hold responsible positions in businesses and corporations as well as in federal, state, and local governments. Following completion of university, some of our students continue their studies in graduate or law school. The latter become attorneys in the public and private sectors. The department has regular advisory meetings on careers for its majors and sponsors a variety of internships. Each year the department selects students to spend a semester in Washington, D.C. Selectees may be either majors or non-majors, but must be juniors or seniors at the time they go to Washington. Fifteen credit hours are granted for participation in the program.
Similar in structure to the Washington Semester Program but with residence in Albany, the Albany Semester Program provides an internship with a state agency or the New York State Legislature. It earns 15 credit hours.
The Department of Political Science also offers a number of internships in local government and local law-related agencies.
Awards
The department is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national Political Science Honor Society. Outstanding undergraduates majoring in Political Science are admitted to membership.
The Department of Political Science gives at least three scholarships to entering freshmen, good for two years, based on merit: the Political Science Alumni Scholarship, the Political Science Department Faculty Scholarship and a J.R. Soukup Freshmen Award.
The Department of Political Science annually gives the Erna G. and J. Murdoch Dawley Award to the outstanding graduating senior in Political Science. This endowed award is given at the conclusion of the spring term.
A J.R. Soukup Pi Sigma Alpha Award is given annually to the outstanding junior who not only demonstrates scholarship but is pursuing studies and/or a career in some form of private or public community service. This will be awarded in the spring term.
The department awards the John R. Quatroche Jr. Award to a Political Science student who demonstrates an outstanding record of involvement in extracurricular affairs, campus service and leadership.
The department provides advice to students interested in law school and law-related careers. It maintains an up-to-date collection of law school catalogs which are available in the Erna G. and J. Murdoch Dawley Reading Room (E369 Thompson Hall). The department’s pre-law advisors provide assistance in evaluating the results of the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
Students interested in majoring or minoring in Legal Studies (Pre-Law) should consult the Legal Studies Program. The Legal Studies program is administered through the Department of Political Science.
Political Science majors can belong to the student Political Science Association, which organizes a variety of activities. These include trips to Washington, D.C., career days, election year debates, voter registration projects, parties, and others. Political Science majors may also participate in the Mock Trial program and competitions and in the annual simulation of European Union policy deliberations, in which many U.S. and European colleges and universities participate.
Political Science majors are encouraged to satisfy College Core Curriculum distribution requirements with courses in history and economics where possible. They are also advised to consider these departments in their selection of electives.
Students wishing to teach political science in the secondary schools may obtain provisional certification by completing the Social Studies Adolescence Education program. Students in all education programs are required to demonstrate competence in a foreign language. This requirement may be satisfied in any one of the following four ways: (1) completion of course work at the 116 level at Fredonia, or (2) transferring of two successful college semesters, or (3) scoring at the 50th percentile or higher on the CLEP exam, or (4) completion of three years of high school language with a passing Regents score (passing = 65). The College Core Curriculum foreign language requirement differs from the certification requirement and must be satisfied for degree conferral. The procedure to be followed for admission to the professional sequence of courses is described on page 27. For updated information on the department, its programs and faculty, consult the department website.