Undergraduate

Major in Political Science

Students should apply for admission to the major in political science no later than the beginning of their junior year. To become eligible, students must have completed two political science courses with a minimum GPA of 2.0, and have a minimum UB GPA of 2.0. Applicants should bring a copy of their current UB DARS report directly to the Department of Political Science. Prospective majors are encouraged to complete the department's required courses: PSC 100 during their first semester, and PSC 101 as well as PSC 200 or PSC 393 or PSC 408 during their second semester.

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Political Science - B.A.
General and Advanced Concentrations and Concentrations in Public Law, American Politics and Public Affairs, International Politics, Comparative Politics

Prerequisite Courses
Any two political science courses.

Required Courses
Twelve PSC courses, with no more than five courses in any particular distribution field, distributed as follows:

  • PSC 100 Enduring Issues in Political Science
  • PSC 101 Introduction to American Politics
  • Seven 300/400-level PSC courses, up to two of which may be from: PSC 400 Washington Semester Internship, PSC 404 Community Internship Program, PSC 410-PSC 411 New York State Senate and Assembly Internship, PSC 491 Honors Thesis, PSC 499 Independent Study
  • One methods of inquiry course: PSC 200 Empirical Political Science, PSC 393 Game Theory and Politics, or PSC 408 Basic Statistics for Social Science. Acceptable substitutions: SOC 294, ECO 480, PSY 207, STA 119, SSC 225, MGQ 301, and GEO 410.
  • At least one course in any three of the following four fields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political philosophy

Note: Some concentrations have additional required courses.

Summary
Total required credit hours for the major: 36

Recommended Sequence of Program Requirements -- Concentrations

PUBLIC LAW

FIRST YEAR
Fall: or Spring PSC 100, PSC 101
Spring: One methods of inquiry course

SECOND YEAR
Fall: One 200-level PSC course from the public law list
Spring: One 300/400-level PSC course from the public law list

THIRD YEAR
Fall: One 300/400-level PSC course from the public law list
Spring: One 300/400-level PSC course from the public law list, one 300/400-level PSC course

FOURTH YEAR
Fall: One 300/400-level PSC course from the public law list, one PSC elective at any level
Spring: Two 300/400-level PSC courses

AMERICAN POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

FIRST YEAR
Spring: One methods of inquiry course
Fall or Spring: PSC 100, PSC 101

SECOND YEAR
Fall: One 200/300/400-level course in the American politics field
Spring: One 300/400-level PSC course in the American politics field

THIRD YEAR
Fall: One 300/400-level PSC course in the American politics field, one 300/400-level PSC course
Spring: One 300/400-level PSC course in the American politics field

FOURTH YEAR
Fall: Two 300/400-level PSC courses
Spring: One 300/400-level PSC elective, one 200/300/400-level PSC elective

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

FIRST YEAR
Spring: One methods of inquiry course
Fall or Spring: PSC 100, PSC 101

SECOND YEAR
Fall: PSC 102
Spring: Two 300/400-level PSC courses in the international field

THIRD YEAR
Fall: Two 300/400-level PSC courses in the international field
Spring: One 300/400-level PSC course in the international field

FOURTH YEAR
Fall: One 300/400-level PSC course, one PSC elective at any level
Spring: One 300/400-level PSC course

COMPARATIVE POLITICS

FIRST YEAR
Spring: One methods of inquiry course
Fall or Spring: PSC 100, PSC 101

SECOND YEAR
Fall: PSC 103
Spring: Two 300/400-level PSC courses in the comparative field

THIRD YEAR
Fall: Two 300/400-level PSC courses in the comparative field
Spring: One 300/400-level PSC course in the comparative field

FOURTH YEAR
Fall: One 300/400-level PSC course, one PSC elective at any level
Spring: One 300/400-level PSC course

ADVANCED

FIRST YEAR
Spring: PSC 200 or PSC 408
Fall or Spring: PSC 100, PSC 101

SECOND YEAR
Fall: PSC 393
Spring: PSC 200 or PSC 408; one 300/400-level PSC course

THIRD YEAR
Fall: One 300/400-level PSC course
Spring: Two 300/400-level PSC courses

FOURTH YEAR
Fall: Two 300/400-level PSC courses
Spring: One PSC elective at any level

Electives and Course Groupings

Public Law List
PSC 215 Law and the Political Process
PSC 225 Equality and Justice in the United States
PSC 301 Cases in Civil Liberties
PSC 302 Protecting Civil Liberties
PSC 303 Constitutional Law
PSC 305 Judicial Politics
PSC 430 Human Rights
PSC 470 Legal Political Theory