Political Science

Faculty

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Chair

Cheryl M. Miller

Professors

Carol Barner-Barry
Louis J. Cantori
Arthur T. Johnson
George R. LaNoue
Roy T. Meyers
Nicholas R. Miller

Associate Professors

Devin T. Hagerty
Cynthia A. Hody
Thomas Schaller

Assistant Professors

Jeffrey Davis
Carolyn Forestiere
Brian K. Grodsky
Tyson King-Meadows
Harold L. Levy

Courses in this program are listed under POLI.

What is a political problem? Who governs, and what is the nature of power? How can justice be achieved in human society? When is a government legitimate, and what are its proper tasks? Such questions have fascinated men and women for centuries. Political science is the systematic attempt to answer them.

Political science is a liberal arts major that helps students to think more critically and coherently about political matters, to understand better what is going on in the world, to make reasoned value choices about contemporary political issues and to overcome personal alienation from political life.

In addition, a political science major prepares students for a variety of careers. The major in political science is a directed liberal arts program that is at once challenging, yet responsive to the individual student's intellectual and career interests. Its required components cover both long-standing philosophical questions and contemporary social scientific knowledge about political life. Students are exposed to the breadth of the discipline through lower-level survey courses taught by experts in the various subfields that define political science. At the upper-level, students take more specialized courses and can, if they wish, concentrate in particular areas of the discipline.

Many specific options are available to students within the study of political science at UMBC. First, in addition to its major, the political science department offers six minors and one certificate. These programs give students of all majors knowledge, as well as a solid foundation for careers or graduate studies in areas such as government, law, politics and international affairs. Second, the political science department runs three internship programs (administrative, legal and legislative), each of which places between 10 and 15 students a year into close professional working relationships with members of public agencies, nonprofits, law firms and state and federal legislative bodies. These internships provide valuable practical experience, job contacts and the opportunity for self-discovery. Third, students with special interests not adequately served by the regular course offerings may do independent study under the supervision of a faculty member. Fourth, qualified students may enroll in the departmental honors program. Finally, qualified undergraduates can take graduate-level courses offered as part of the Department of Public Policy.

Career and Academic Paths

Typical career options for political science graduates include: government service and diplomacy; politics; law; teaching; journalism; business; and work as lobbyists, public affairs officers and directors of non-profit institutions, interest groups and international organizations. UMBC political science students have gone on to such outstanding law and graduate schools as Yale, the University of Chicago and the University of Virginia, as well as all Baltimore and Washington metropolitan-area schools. They have become judges and major partners in law firms, executive officers of major corporations and some have held prominent administrative positions in the government. Some have become foreign-service officers or have achieved cabinet-level positions in state and local governments. Some have become tenured faculty members and administrators at colleges and universities. A large percentage of political science majors go on to take advanced degrees, many in law.

The Faculty

The political science faculty is committed to teaching as well as to research. Faculty members present papers at scholarly conferences throughout the nation, write books and publish articles in the best journals in the profession. But at the same time, faculty members are dedicated teachers. They teach all the courses within the department, from the introductory to the most advanced. They are evaluated and rewarded as much by the quality of their teaching as the quality of their scholarship.

Academic Advising

The Political Science and Prelaw advising office, in the Public Policy Building, room 357, offers a dedicated staff; access to graduate, law and professional school catalogs and information about internships available through the political science department and other institutions. Interested students should stop by the office or call 410-455-2063 for further assistance.

Major Program

To graduate with a major in political science, a student must complete a minimum of 36 credits in political science with a grade of “C” or better.

All students must complete the following lower-level course:

POLI 100
American Government and Politics [3]

Students are required to take four additional courses at the 200 level. Students may choose among the following:

POLI 200
Introduction to Political Science [3]
POLI 210
Political Philosophy [3]
POLI 220
The U.S. Constitution [3]
POLI 230
Introduction to Constitutional Law [3]
POLI 233
Common Law and Legal Analysis [3]
POLI 240
State and Local Politics [3]
POLI 250
Public Administration [3]
POLI 260
Comparative Politics [3]
POLI 280
International Relations [3]

At the upper level (300- and 400-level courses), students are required to take a minimum of 21 credits. All students are required to take one of the following three courses:

POLI 300
Quantitative Analysis in Political Science [4]
POLI 301
Research Methods in Political Science [3]
POLI 302
Analysis of Political Data [3]

Students are required to take six additional, three-credit, upper-level courses, with at least two of these six courses being 400-level courses.

In addition to setting the preceding formal requirements, the political science faculty makes the following recommendations to its majors:
1. Majors are strongly urged to take one or more courses in English composition beyond ENGL 100.
2. Majors are urged to take additional courses in mathematics, computer science, principles of economics, American history, philosophy and other social sciences.
3. Majors planning to enter graduate or professional study are especially urged to take STAT 121 or a more advanced statistics course.

Political Science Double Majors

Political Science has no formal policy on counting courses for double majors. However, we do have some informal norms that are followed. For example, there are at least three potential areas of double counting - gender and women's studies, political theory minor, and the POLI methods requirement. On an ad hoc basis, other similar cases for other department/ programs will be considered. However, in all cases, the student would still need to complete 36 political science credits (21 upper level and two 400 level), which would include the double counted courses. The double counted courses would not need to be taken under the POLI rubric.

Gender and women's studies majors have two courses that could be considered for both majors POLI 328: Women and Politics and POLI 338: Women and the Law.

The political theory minor. We often accept classes from philosophy. The classes that are counted in this way are actually listed in the description of the political theory minor above.

The political science methods requirement - POLI 300, POLI 301 and POLI 302. In the case where the second major has a methods requirement or course, a student might take that course instead of one of the POLI methods courses. Approval would need to be granted by the student's political science adviser to make sure there was course equivalency. Sometimes, the department has also required STAT 121 in these cases.

Honors Program

An honors program is available for qualified majors. This program is especially recommended for students intending to go on to graduate or professional school or for those who wish to demonstrate specific skills and experience. Students interested in completing the honors program must have a 3.25 GPA overall and a 3.5 GPA in political science courses. Honors candidates also must write an honors thesis under the supervision of two faculty advisors. A complete description of the honors program and its requirements is available from the department office or honors advisor.

Accelerated B.A. and Master's in Public Policy Program

The political science department and the public policy department cooperate in offering qualified students a joint program leading to both a B.A. in Political Science and a master’s degree in public policy. Students in the joint program can earn the two degrees with 145 credits in five or five and one half years. If pursued separately, the two degrees would require 160 credits and at least six years.

Students with a GPA of at least 3.3 may apply for admission into the program after completing 75 credits. During their senior year, provisionally admitted students can take graduate-level courses. Full admission into the graduate program will take place after the B.A. has been granted, provided satisfactory grades have been obtained. The Graduate Record Exam is usually waived for accelerated pathways public policy students.

Graduate-level POLI courses can count toward the 36 POLI credits required for the B.A. The graduate methods sequence can be used to satisfy the undergraduate methodology requirement. A complete description of the M.P.P. program may be found in the Graduate Catalog. Further information on the joint program is available from the Department of Public Policy.

Minor Program

Note: No grade lower than a “C” in any course may count toward any minor.

Political Science Minor

Total credits for minor: 18
Political science is an important component of a liberal arts education. An understanding of government and politics is essential to be an engaged citizen and an effective contributor to one’s community. The political science minor is designed to permit students to pursue a specialization within political science not covered by the department’s other minor programs or to gain a broad understanding of political science concepts and theories. The minor is available only to those who are not majoring in political science.

A. Required Courses

POLI 100
American Government and Politics
POLI 210
Political Philosophy

B. Elective Courses (minimum of 12 credits)

Four POLI courses, one of which must be at the 400
level

International Affairs

Total credits for minor: 21, plus a language
This minor is designed for students in any major who want to concentrate in the study of international affairs. Students are required to acquire a significant language capability and an in-depth knowledge of one region of the world or of a policy area. Each student will be assigned a faculty minor advisor. The concentration provides a good foundation for further graduate study and careers in international affairs (e.g., international business, intelligence analysis, U.S. State Department, international development, international organizations, international private voluntary organizations, etc.).

A. Required Courses (12 credits)

POLI 260
Comparative Politics
POLI 280
International Relations
POLI 360
Comparative Political Analysis
POLI 487
International Political Economy

B. Language Requirements
Courses or proficiency through the 302 level in one language other than the student’s native language.

C. Electives (9 credits)
To be chosen in terms of a particular regional interest of the student (e.g., Asia, Latin America, Africa, Europe, Middle East) or a policy area, such as the environment, public health, international economics or national security/foreign policy. For students pursuing a regional specialization, their elective credits should include a course on the politics of the region, unless this requirement is waived by the student’s advisor. Three elective credits may be in an independent study course, the topic and content to be worked out with an advisor.

Students also are encouraged to take an administrative internship in an international-related agency.

Minor in Political Thought

Total credits for minor: 18
The political thought minor allows students to acquire expertise on philosophical issues and themes that may have important implications for their major course of study. Those who undertake the program in political thought will complete a survey of the history of political philosophy and engage in a careful examination of various thinkers on a common theme. A course of independent study is required in which students combine topics from their majors with those of political philosophy. The intention of the minor program is to give students the ability to apply political-philosophical theories to topics in their major course of study and to prepare them for ethical debate in their area of expertise.
The political thought minor is open to political science majors who elect to complete the major through either the dual-concentration option or the single-concentration option in areas other than political philosophy.

A. Required Courses Core (9 credits)

POLI 210
Political Philosophy
POLI 310
Political Philosophy
Before 1600
POLI 315
Political Philosophy
After 1600
Individual Study (3 credits)
POLI 401 or POLI 402

Students will fulfill this requirement by writing a research paper that bridges their major course of study and one of the themes explored in the political thought minor. Students will submit a proposal for the paper during the semester prior to taking POLI 401 or 402.

B. Elective Courses
Six credits. Two courses from the following list:

POLI 319*
Selected Topics in Political Philosophy
POLI 320
American Political Thought
POLI 410*
Seminar in Political Philosophy
POLI 412
Ethics and Public Policy
POLI 419*
Selected Topics in
Political Theory
PHIL 150
Introduction to Ethics
PHIL 355
Political Philosophy
PHIL 356
Philosophy of Law

Other courses may be used with permission of the director of the program.
*May be repeated

Minor Program in Applied Politics

Total credits for minor: 23
The program in applied politics is designed for students in any major who are interested in careers in government and politics that do not fall within the traditional rubric of public administration. In particular, the program will provide a strong foundation for students interested in careers as legislative aides, lobbyists, party and campaign professionals, political affairs specialists and analysts for such agencies as the Congressional Research Service. The program also provides a solid background for graduate study in American politics.

A. Required Courses

POLI 100
American Government and Politics [3]
POLI 300
Quantitative Analysis in Political Science [4]
POLI 428
Politics Internship [4]

B. Elective Courses
Additional courses from the following to total 23 credits:

POLI 323
The Presidency
POLI 324
The Congress
POLI 325
Political Parties and Elections
POLI 327
Interest Groups and Lobbyists
POLI 401
Independent Study
(as approved by advisor)
POLI 402
Honors Research
(as approved by advisor)
POLI 423
Presidential Elections
POLI 425
Campaigns and Elections
POLI 426
Electoral Systems and Representation
POLI 427
African American Politics
POLI 440
Urban Politics

POLI 610*
American Political Institutions and Public Policy
POLI 615*
American Political Arena
POLI 620*
Community and Politics

* Graduate courses open to qualified undergraduates under conditions specified in academic regulations.

Minor Program in Legal Policy

Total credits for minor: 21
The program in legal policy is offered to students who wish to gain an understanding of law as an adjunct to their primary interests. Many fields, ranging from engineering to the arts, require an understanding of law. An understanding of law and legal issues is necessary to understand contemporary social issues and to be an effective advocate in the policy debates related to these issues. The legal policy minor will provide especially useful experiences and credentials for students in all majors who plan to attend law school. Core courses in the minor introduce students to the fundamentals of the study of American law, while the elective courses permit specialization appropriate to a student’s intellectual interests or professional goals.

A. Required Courses
Twelve credits. Each student must complete:

POLI 230
Introduction to Constitutional Law
POLI 233
Common Law and Legal Analysis

Each student also must complete two of the following four courses:

POLI 337
Comparative Justice
POLI 432
Civil Rights
POLI 433
First Amendment Freedoms
POLI 435
Legal Reasoning

B. Elective Courses:
Nine credits (at least three courses). POLI courses not taken as a core requirement may be taken as electives. Additional elective options:

ECAD 360
Business Law
AFST 275
Criminal Justice Process and Black Americans
AFST 371
The Female Offender
HIST 447
History of Civil Rights Since the Civil War
PHIL 356
Philosophy of Law
SOCY 371
Criminology and Penology
SOCY 372
Juvenile Delinquency
POLI 334
Judicial Process
POLI 338
Women and Law
POLI 339
Legal Advocacy (no more than 3 credits)
POLI 352
Administrative Law
POLI 436
Health Law
POLI 438
Legal Internship
(Highly recommended)
POLI 439
Selected Topics in Public Law
POLI 445
Law, Politics and American Educational Policy

Minor in Public Administration/Certificate in Public Administration and Policy

Total credits for minor: 18
Total credits for certificate: 36
Students interested in pursuing a career in public administration or other government service should consider completing the requirements for the minor in public administration or, if qualified, the Certificate in Public Administration and Policy, in addition to completing the requirements for their chosen major.

See the section on Administrative and Managerial Sciences for a full description of the requirements for the certificate. The requirements for the minor are as follows:

Required Courses:

POLI 250
Introduction to Public Administration
POLI 350
The Policy-making Process
POLI 352
Administrative Law
POLI 353
Government Budgeting and Financial Administration
POLI 354
Public Management and Personnel Systems
ANY course in the POLI 440-459 range

Non-political science majors may substitute for POLI 350 a policy-related course from their majors, subject to approval of the minor coordinator.

Legal Studies Pre-law Advisors:
Jeffrey Davis
George R. LaNoue

The political science department offers a strong preparation for students interested in law school or employment in law-related areas that do not require law school (e.g., regulatory agencies, judicial administration, etc.).

Courses on legal subjects also may be useful to political science students who have other goals and to students in history, economics, American studies, Africana studies and other majors. Several levels of courses exist. For students interested only in introductory course overviews in the legal area, the department offers POLI 230: Introduction to Constitutional Law and POLI 233: Common Law and Legal Analysis. For pre-law students, or those who wish to build a solid background in law for graduate school or employment, the department offers the legal policy minor, as well as focused work in basic legal areas: POLI 334: Judicial Process, POLI 432: Civil Rights, POLI 433: First Amendment Freedoms.

In addition, specialized courses (POLI 352, 435, 439, 445 and, with permission, POLI 438, 621 and 626) provide students with rich opportunities to develop legal skills and knowledge.

The department maintains a pre-law advising office in the Public Policy Building (PUP) 357, the resources of which are available to all UMBC students and through which appointments with Pre-law faculty advisors may be scheduled.

Special Opportunities

The department’s internship programs in law, public administration and politics allow students to gain practical experience within an academic framework and to test their career aspirations.

The legal internship program, POLI 438, places selected interns with trial and appellate judges and with private and government attorneys.

The administrative internship program, POLI 458, places selected interns with public officials at the local, state and federal levels.

The politics/legislative internship program, POLI 428, places selected interns with state legislators, members of Congress, political parties and interest groups.

In addition to their work with these officials, interns participate in a program of directed reading, research and seminars. Some students have used contacts made during these internships to find permanent positions after graduation.

Student Organizations

Council of Majors; Pre-law Society; Pi Sigma Alpha - Political Science Honors Society
The Political Science department has a Council of Majors; a Pre-law Society and a national honors society, Pi Sigma Alpha. Among other activities, these organizations foster opportunities for students to build informal relationships with faculty members, assist with departmental decision-making, host forums on graduate and law school, and network with other political science students and alumni.

UMBC Model United Nations
UMBC also sponsors a Model United Nations program whose members attend national conferences. Recently, the UMBC Model United Nations group joined Berkeley, Georgetown, West Point and Chicago in earning “Outstanding Delegation” honors at a Model U.N. conference.

UMBC Mock Trial
The political science department hosts the UMBC Mock Trial team. In Mock Trial students prepare a case for trial and compete against universities from around the country. They become experts in the rules of evidence and procedure, the law of the case and litigation techniques.

Political Science Department Home page

Students and others are encouraged to visit the department’s Home page to learn more about political science faculty members and selected courses and to connect with a large number of politically relevant links to government and political data and career information. The department’s home page is www.umbc.edu/poli.