Political Science

Chair: Dr. Lowell Gustafson
Office: 202 St. Augustine Center
Tel. (610) 519-4710
Website: http://www.villanova.edu/artsci/psc/
Course descriptions: http://www.artsci.villanova.edu/courses/psc.html

MAJOR: Thirty credit hours in political science courses are required for a major including the two introductory courses PSC 1100 and PSC 1200; research seminar PSC 1900, and a senior seminar (PSC 6900, restricted to Political Science senior majors).

Elective courses are divided into three areas:
• American Government and Public Law (2000 and 3000 level)
• Comparative Government and International Relations (4000 and 5000 level), and
• Political Theory and Behavior (6000-6875).

Political Science majors must take one course from each area in order to meet our 1-1-1 distribution requirement. With the exception of internships (up to 6 credits), courses taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis cannot be used to satisfy requirements for the major.

Any senior with a GPA of 3.0 or above may request to take a graduate PSC course. A Junior may apply for the five year BA / MA program.

CERTIFICATES and CONCENTRATIONS WITHIN THE MAJOR: A political science major may choose to earn one or more certificates or concentrations within political science in International Relations, Comparative Politics, Pre-Law, American Politics, Public Administration, Political Theory, and National Security Studies. Students satisfying the requirements for these receive a document testifying to this with their diploma at graduation. The certificate or concentration does not appear on the student’s transcript.
Please see http://www.villanova.edu/artsci/psc/ for details about the five year BA / MA program, certificates, and other PSC programs.

MINOR: Fifteen credits consisting of American Government (PSC 1100), International Relations (PSC 1200), plus any three advanced PSC courses numbered 2000 and above will earn a student a minor in Political Sciences. With the exception of a 3 credit internship, courses taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis cannot be used to satisfy requirements for the minor.

See the website address above for more information.