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The faculty of Political Science at Northern Kentucky University promotes a comprehensive understanding of politics - a process by which benefits and burdens are given out through public means. It does so by acquainting students with literature of the discipline in four areas of specialization:

American politics, comparative politics, international politics, and theory/practice; and by equipping students with methodological tools necessary for sound and critical analysis of political institutions of behavior and of processes by which public policy is formed.

The faculty also seeks to engage students in a partnership of research and other scholarly endeavors and in service to the community.

More specifically, the faculty provides

  1. Courses to comprise both a major and minor in political science;

  2. Courses that satisfy part of the general education requirements;

  3. Preparation for graduate and professional schools, particularly law
    school;

  4. Support courses for a variety of interdisciplinary programs such as
    environmental studies, international studies, Latin American studies,
    legal studies, and women’s studies;

  5. Courses that provide background for careers in business, public service
    in government or international agencies, and teaching.

BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMS

Political Science (Bachelor of Arts)
The major in political science (BA) consists of 39 semester hours.
There are 15 hours of core required classes and 24 hours of area requirements.

  1. PSC 100 or PSC 101.

  2. PSC 102, 103, 110, and 315.

  3. Twenty-four semester hours of upper-division coursework from
    the areas listed below; a minimum of one course is to be chosen
    from each area.
    a. American Government (PSC 301, 304, 305, 307, 308, 309,
    310, 311, 320, 394, 403*, 415**, 430, 496).
    b.     International Politics (PSC 338, 394, 410, 415**, 420, 470,
    480, 481, 486, 496).
    c. Comparative Politics (PSC 330, 335, 355, 366, 362, 382,
    394, 485, 496).
    d. Political Theory/Practice (PSC 312, 316, 370, 373, 374,
    394, 403*, 496, PAD 300, 412, 455, 475).
    * Can be used in either American or Theory/Practice category
    ** Can be used in either American or International category

A student may substitute one or two reading courses (PSC 499) for
courses required in number 3 above. Reading courses are designed primarily
for students who have an interest or academic curiosity not satisfied
by the existing curriculum but potentially covered by the expertise of the
faculty in the department; or for graduating seniors who, for reasons
beyond their control, are lacking a requirement. Such courses are normally
limited to a maximum of 6 semester hours for each student and
require the consent of the instructor and the political science chair. An
internship may not count as the only course in an area.

Legislative Internship

Students majoring in political science may apply for a legislative
internship (PSC 496) in Frankfort, Kentucky, or The Washington Center in Washington, D.C. for one semester. Those accepted will take up to 15  semester hours.

Students majoring or minoring in political science must earn at least
a C in each course counted as part of the major or minor.

Anyone pursuing teacher certification must schedule an appointment
with the coordinator of certification and advisement in the College
of Education at the beginning of the sophomore year.

Students working toward the Bachelor of Arts in political science
are strongly urged to fulfill the general education requirement in mathematics by taking Elementary Statistics (STA 205) and in writing by taking
Writing in Political Science (PSC 291W).

The degree of Bachelor of Arts is conferred upon those students
completing all requirements for the major in political science and other
NKU requirements for the degree.

Political Science (Bachelor of Science)

The major in political science (BS) consists of 42 semester hours. The program includes more rigorous quantitative skills than the BA program and is recommended for students considering graduate work in any social science. In addition to all the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Science requires Data Analysis (PSC 316) and Elementary
Statistics (STA 205). Students working toward the Bachelor of
Science may not use PSC 316 to satisfy the political theory/practice area
(3.d above). Students working toward the Bachelor of Science in political
science are strongly urged to fulfill the general education requirement in
writing by taking Writing in Political Science (PSC 291W).

The degree of Bachelor of Science is conferred upon those students
completing the requirements of the program and other NKU requirements
for the degree.

The Minor in Political Science

The minor in political science consists of PSC 100, 102, and 103
and 12 semester hours of upper-level courses in political science. Students
minoring in political science must earn at least a C in each course counted
as part of the major or major.

The Minor in Legal Studies
Michael Baranowski, Director

The minor in legal studies provides a coherent grouping of courses in the
foundations and applications of the law. Specifically, the program is
designed to acquaint students with:

  1. Different approaches to the study of law, including philosophical,
    sociological, political, and historical;

  2. The elements of legal reasoning;

  3. A body of case law in substantive areas;

  4. The functions and effects of law in American society.

Students majoring in subjects such as business administration, criminal
justice, economics, political science, and sociology may take legal
studies as a supplement to their major field. Other students who major in
non-law-related fields and who apply to law school might want some
exposure to legal courses before pursuing their professional education.
Note, however, that the minor in legal studies is neither a prerequisite nor
a stepping-stone for admission to law school.

The legal studies minor is divided into four course-categories. Students
are required to take the stipulated number of hours in each category
to fulfill 21 semester hours. Twelve of the 21 semester hours must be
taken at the 300-level and above.

Introduction
PSC 304 Introduction to the Law

Theory and Methods (9 semester hours required)
HIS 327 or 589 Anglo-American Legal History
JUS 317 Perspectives on Crime
PHI 330 Philosophy and Law
PSC 305 The Judicial Process
SOC 488 Sociology of Law

Law and Society (3-6 semester hours required)
JOU 385 or PSC 309 Law of Mass Communications
JUS 318 The African American Law and Courts
JUS 430 The Politics of Criminal Justice
PSC 307 Constitutional Law
PSC 308 Civil Liberties
PSC 480 International Law
SOC 202 Juvenile Delinquency
SOC 203 Sociology of Corrections
SOC 305 Criminology
SOC 380 Elite Deviance
SOC 455 Comparative CRiminal Justice
WMS 386 Women and the Law

Applications (3-6 semester hours required)
AVA 210 Aviation Laws and Regulations
BUS 230 Legal Environment
ENG 345 Legal Writing
ENTP 378 Emerging Enterprise Law
IET 427 Construction Law and Legal Contract
JUS 203 The Criminal Court System
JUS 302 Criminal Law
JUS 303 Criminal Procedure
LAS 302 Contract Administration and Dispute Settlement
LAS 303 Labor Law
LAS 320 Problems in Labor Law
PAD 412 Administrative Law
SPB 330 Sports Legal Environment
SWK 411 Social Work and the Law

The Minor in Public Administration (21 semester hours)

PAD 300 Introduction to Public Administration
PAD 401 Human Resource Management
PAD 411 Budgeting Technology and Applications
PSC 100 American Politics (or PSC 101 State and Local Politics)
Any three of the following courses:

PSC 403 Public Policy Analysis
PSC 316 Political Analysi
Any PAD course from PAD 412 to PAD 499

THE AREA OF CONCENTRATION IN PRE-LAW
Political science is one of the majors most frequently chosen by
those who plan to enter law school, but it should by noted that it is far
from being the only appropriate choice. Students considering law careers
may choose a legal studies minor or may simply wish to fulfill their
requirement for an Area of Concentration by taking four upper-division
political science law courses. Since upper-division political science
courses have a prerequisite of 3 semester hours of lower-division political
science work, it is suggested that students taking this concentration satisfy
this prerequisite by taking American Politics (PSC100). The suggested
course of study is as follows:

PSC 304 Introduction to the Law
PSC 305 The Judicial Process
PSC 307 Constitutional Law
PSC 308 Civil Liberties

It should be noted that undergraduate “law” courses should not be
taken for the purpose of learning the “law” and certainly are not necessary
for law school admission. Such courses may well be helpful, however, in
providing an understanding of the place of the law in society and a better
basis for students to estimate their potential interest in law school.

 

Designed by Suzanne Barton, send an email