Politics and International Relations (B.A.) with American Politics Concentration

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s Politics program can:

  1. Explain foundational content, practices and philosophical and ethical assumptions of political science.
  2. Explain the empirical and normative approaches of political science inquiry.
  3. Demonstrate commitment to representative democracy, human rights and freedoms, civic engagement, rule of law, and government accountability.
  4. Demonstrate writing, information search methods, and forms of documentation appropriate to the discipline of Political Science and the procedures for pursuing research in the discipline of Political Science.
  5. Demonstrate proficiency in the field of political science sufficient to pursue a career and/or continue education at the graduate level.
  6. Identify options for employment, voluntary service, and/or graduate education in the field of Political Science and identify one’s sense of vocation in this field.
  7. Articulate how faith connects to the field of Political Science and to potential career options in the field of Political Science.
  8. Explain the impact of political forces, institutions, policy and law on the American political system.
     

 


Program Overview

The Politics and International Relations program explores how people make collective decisions through government. From a Christian perspective, politics is part of God's provision for Creation, a means of reconciling self-interest and social interaction. The major nurtures the analytical, verbal, and written abilities that are the hallmark of the liberal arts. 

Faculty encourage students to think independently, engage opposing points of view, and develop an abiding concern for public life in the interest of social justice. These perspectives prepare students for thoughtful and meaningful participation in democracy to solve problems facing society.  Moreover, students analyze the forces of globalization—the power relationships responsible for an increasingly integrated world.

Students have the opportunity to pursue internships in a variety of sectors, conduct specialized research, and apply their learning through off-campus study in the US and abroad. Our graduates have served in various capacities in both the public and the private sphere including but not limited to: law, consulting, business administration, data analytics, government relations, journalism, think tanks campaign management, non-profit creation and administration, foreign service, national security, and, of course, government service.

The American Politics concentration within the major provides a rich understanding of the country’s political system with a focus on the political forces that emerge from the culture, the institutions that make decisions, and the impact of the policy resulting from those decisions. 

Major Requirements

Nine credits is the maximum number of internship/practica credits that can apply toward the Politics major. This maximum includes any courses or experiential credit earned as a part of a semester-long off-campus program.

Complete the following for your major:

POLI 113American Government

3

POLI 212International Politics

3

POLI 213Comparative Politics

3

POLI 243Political Research Methods

3

POLI 494Politics Seminar

3

American Politics concentration (21 credits)

POLI 314Constitutional Law: Governmental Powers and Constraints

3

POLI 323Public Policy

3

POLI 332Congress

3

POLI 352American Presidency

3

Three credits of 200- or 300-level POLI courses

3

Three credits from the following:

POLI 220Parties and Elections

3

POLI 334Polling and Public Opinion

3

Three credits from the following:

POLI 372Preparing for Public Service

3

INTE 391Internship

1-3

INTE 391: Three credits needed to fulfill major requirement.

General Education Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement   0
General Education requirements   Credits
First Year Seminar IDFY 101/102H  3
Written Communication ENGL 110/110H 3
Oral Communication COMM 105 3
Mathematical and Scientific Ways of Knowing Mathematics 3 or 4
Science with Lab 3 or 4
Social Scientific Ways of Knowing

Social Science (POLI 113)

met/major
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing 24GE History 3
Literary & Aesthetic Ways of Knowing
Literature or Arts 3
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing
Philosophy or Religion 3
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing 1st and 2nd Level Language 6
Intercultural Perspectives Intercultural Global or International Cross-cultural or 3rd Level Language 3
Bible
24GE Bible 3
Christian Beliefs
24GE Christian Beliefs 3
Holistic Wellness
WELL 1xx 1
Ethics and the Common Good
24GE Ethics and the Common Good 3
Intercultural Perspectives
Intercultural U.S. (if POLI 334or Domestic Cross-cultural 3
Common Learning
Experiential Learning  
General Education requirements   46-48
Major requirements (inclusive of concentration)   36
Free Electives    39-41
Total credits   123