Program Requirements
B.A. in Political Science
All POSC courses that may be applied to the major as well as STAT 160 and STAT 330, are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.
Requirements
- POSC 111C – P3 Introduction to American Government (3)
- POSC 200 – Doing Political Science (3)
- POSC 208D – CC Introduction to Comparative Politics (3)
- POSC 209C – P2 Introduction to Political Thought (3)
- POSC 218 – P3 International Relations (3)
- POSC 400 – Portfolio Presentation (1)
- STAT 160 – P4 Introduction to Data Science (3)
- Three POSC 200–level electives (3)*
- Three POSC 300-level electives (3)**
Total: 37 credits
Note: Majors are required to complete POSC 400 – Portfolio Presentation during their senior year, unless an alternative course or time is approved by the department chair.
*Only POSC 200 level courses or above (with the exception of POSC 104, 105, and 106) may be used for elective credits in the major. Excludes internships and the following 200 level law/legal studies courses:
- POSC 210 – P3 Law, Politics, and Society (3)
- POSC 212 – Legal Research and Analysis (3)
- POSC 217 – The American Jury (3)
- POSC 252 – Theories of Law (3)
- POSC 254 – Criminal Courts and Trial (3)
- POSC 267 – P3 Foundations of U.S. Law (3)
**May include STAT 330 – Sample Survey Methods, but excludes internships, and the following 300 level law/legal studies courses:
- POSC 325 – Constitutional Law (3)
- POSC 326 – Judicial Behavior (3)
- POSC 355 – Issues in Lawyering (3)
- POSC 398 – Special Topics in Legal Studies (3)
Note: If a student has earned political science credit through the Washington Experience Program, only POSC 491 – Seminar, may be applied as a political science elective in the major.
Political Science Transfer Students
Major Requirements
Students transferring to Fisher with 60 credits are required to complete the following as part of the total 37 credit hours for the major:
- POSC 200 – Doing Political Science (3)
- POSC 400 – Portfolio Presentation (1)
- POSC 200-level electives (24)
Only POSC 200-level courses or above (with the exception of POSC 104, 105,106, and 111) may be used for elective credits in the major. STATS 160 may be applied as a political science elective. The same restrictions apply here as for traditional majors regarding the use of internships and law/legal studies courses as 200-level political science electives (see above). - POSC 300-level electives (9)
May include STAT 330 – Sample Survey Methods. Excludes internships. All or part of these nine hours may be accepted in transfer. The same restrictions apply here as for traditional majors regarding the use of law/legal studies courses as 300-level political science electives (see above).
Total: 37 credits
Honors in the Major
Students may complete a degree in political science with honors by declaring the intent to do so before the senior year, maintaining at least a 3.50 GPA overall, completing an independent Honors project (POSC 498H, 499H Honors Project) under the direction of a full-time department faculty member, and presenting and defending the project in a public forum.
3+3 Legal Education Admissions Program (LEAP)
St. John Fisher College, in conjunction with the University at Buffalo School of Law, Michigan State University Law School, and Ohio Northern University Petit School of Law, offers the opportunity for a selected number of qualified St. John Fisher College students to earn a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctor over the course of approximately six years of full-time study. Students interested in the specific requirements of the LEAP program should consult the Pre-Law Opportunities section of the Undergraduate Catalog, and speak with the chair of the Department of Political Science as soon as possible.
Upon acceptance into the program and in consultation with their political science advisor, LEAP students complete the following requirements.
Requirements
- POSC 111C – P3 Introduction to American Government (3)
- POSC 200 – Doing Political Science (3)
- POSC 208D – CC Introduction to Comparative Politics (3)
- POSC 209C – P2 Introduction to Political Thought (3)
- POSC 218 – P3 International Relations (3)
- POSC 400 – Portfolio Presentation (1)
- TWO POSC 300-level electives, excluding internships and the following courses:
- POSC 325 – Constitutional Law (3)
- POSC 326 – Judicial Behavior (3)
- POSC 355 – Issues in Lawyering (3)
- POSC 398 – Special Topics in Legal Studies (3)
- 15 law school credits in transfer (grades of "C" or higher)
Total: 37 credits