Aug 11, 2025  
2009-2010 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2009-2010 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science Major with Inclusive Childhood/Middle Childhood Education Major


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The purpose of the political science major is to educate students to become informed citizens and to move into careers in public service or political leadership. As a B.A. program, the political science major is solid general education as opposed to professional training. The program is flexible enough to allow students to take it in the particular direction they desire. In our courses we deal with intellectual and ethical issues of the exercise of political power and with government policy and citizenship as they apply to us as people of the United States and as members of the global community.

Political science majors at Nazareth take courses in each of the four major subfields of political science: political philosophy, U.S. government, comparative politics, and international relations. They also study the two major approaches to political science, namely, the traditional historical/philosophical approach and the behavioral approach.

Graduates of the program pursue careers in law, government service, politics, journalism, and education.

PSC majors have the option to double major in Political Science and Inclusive Childhood/Middle Childhood Education to achieve teacher certification.  Students are required to have a 2.7 GPA before beginning student teaching.

 

Political Science Core


The Political Science major has a total of 33 required credit hours. In addition to the core courses listed below, all Political Science majors are required to take one course in each of the four subfields of the discipline and three other upper division Political Science courses.

Elective Courses for Political Science Major with Inclusive Childhood/Middle Childhood Education


Students take one course in each of the 4 subfields of political science: Political Philosophy, U.S. Government, Comparative Politics and International Relations plus 3 additional PSC courses of their choice.

Required Courses for Inclusive Childhood/Middle Childhood Education Major


The following courses are required for the Inclusive Childhood/Middle Childhood Education major. The major prepares students for the initial teacher certification requirements in four certification areas: Childhood Education (Grades 1-6), Teaching Students with Disabilities at the Childhood Level (Grades 1-6), Middle Childhood Education - Generalist or Content Specialist (Grades 5-9), and Teaching Students with Disabilities at the Middle Childhood Level (Grades 5-9).

Political Science Senior Experience


The senior experience has two parts.  PSC 440 Junior-Senior Seminar in Political Science involves a comprehensive overview of political science as a discipline.  Throughout the semester students are required to apply what they have learned about the four subfields of political science.  Each student also undertakes a major project in political analysis.  After submission of the written project each student is required to do a public, oral defense of it.  PSC 499 - Senior Comprehensive Examination provides an opportunity for senior political science majors to demonstrate, in both oral and written form, a proficiency in the discipline appropriate to the undergraduate level.  Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of political science by applying the skills of analysis and synthesis to a specific event.

Sample Program for Political Science Major with Inclusive Education


Freshman Year


  • Modern Foreign Language Credits: 6
  • Math and Science Perspectives I Credits: 7
  • Perspectives I Credits: 6
As well as:

Sophomore Year


  • Perspectives I Credits: 9
  • Perspectives II Credits: 6
  • Political Science Subfield Credits: 9
As well as:

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