2021-2022 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]
Department of Political Science
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 Return to: The Henry Kendall College of Arts and Sciences
For more information about degree offerings from the faculty of political science, visit the Department of Political Science webpage.
There are myriad ways in which political ideas, political institutions, and political processes touch and mold our lives, but typically this dimension of society is little noticed and nearly invisible when things are going well or appear normal. However, when the world is in turmoil, in recession or depression, caught up in war or in need of new leaders, laws, and practices, politics makes itself felt. At this moment politics appears everywhere and intrudes upon everything. It emerges as the now-visible set of causes that structures and establishes the tone for our collective existence together.
We study political science not so much because it is a science. It is a science but in addition to that, it is a source for hints, suggestions, and direction that might begin to explain what politics has to do with the turmoil we feel around us. We look for insight into the ideas that have set the ideological agenda and for insight into the challenger ideas hidden in the long history of our societies. We are on the track of insight into the contingent facts of institutions and their development that could have turned out differently than they did, and which may someday change again, for good or for ill. We seek insight into the intersecting causes that frame conflict and cooperation, whether on the global or the local scale.
Turmoil exposes the background machinery that creates, sustains, or destroys arrangements of power and relationships of authority. It raises questions about what is possible in a given space of power. It shows us why political ideals depend for their realization on the times in which we live and how time both renews and erodes ideals and the practices in which they are embodied.
Even in normal times, political insight is useful. Scientific research itself is heavily indebted to the political structures that fund it and to the public opinion that supports funding. We need insight into how this works. A democratic society is a wonderful engine of dynamic innovation, but this very fact creates social and economic instabilities. For some, precious customs are constantly under challenge and politics provides insight into their conservation. For others, change is desired and analysis of power and authority will enable them to establish strategies for transformation. The liberties which the ideals of our society uphold require citizens who have studied their meaning and place, or else they will have no traction upon on our actual lives.
As no career is untouched by politics, political science also makes a good second major and a good minor. For majors, political science is one of the grand entrances into law, government service, and teaching. It is also critical for anyone who expects to join a not-for-profit agency or a for-profit corporation that is impacted by domestic political processes or by international events.
Undergraduate Academic Programs
The faculty of political science offers courses leading to the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in political science .
The faculty encourages students to study abroad.
Program Learning Outcomes
By the time students have finished the three introductory 2000-level courses, they will have competency in at least one of the three Learning Outcome rubrics listed under each subfield.
- Students will achieve both Program Learning Outcomes in any subfield in which they have taken one or more 3000 to 4000-level courses and/or have completed the Senior Project.
Students from the American politics subfield will be able to:
- Explain current political and governmental structures and/or processes in the United States.
- Critically analyze the social, cultural, and ideological development of American political ideas and/or institutions.
Students from the international studies subfield will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of politics, institutions, culture and governance issues within and among states, regional, international and transnational actors.
- For International Relations courses: Analyze the historical development and patterns of interaction among the above actors and evaluate the structural, ideological, social, economic, and political factors that shape those interactions.
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- For Comparative Politics courses: Comprehensively synthesize in comparative context the political structures, institutions, governing processes, and cultures of a diverse selection of developed and developing countries.
Students from the political and legal theory subfield will be able to:
- Explain the great political thinkers and arguments that have shaped the development of political life in the West for over 2500 years.
- Critically analyze contemporary arguments about recurrently contested political ideas, such as equality, liberty, virtue, tolerance, and justice.
Teacher Education Program
Students seeking secondary teacher certification in social studies must declare education as a second major. This double major leads to teacher certification in Oklahoma (and preparation for certification in other states). In order to qualify, students must complete all the tasks listed on the Department of Education page of this Bulletin, including acceptance into the Teacher Education Program and to the Student Teaching Semester.
In addition, social studies education majors must include the following courses as part of their political science major:
Social studies education majors are assigned two faculty advisors, one in the Department of Political Science and one in the Department of Education .
Faculty
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Chairs
Ryan Saylor
Matt Hindman
Professors
Jeffrey D. Hockett
Michael A. Mosher
Karen Petersen
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Associate Professors
Matthew Hindman
Gaurav Kampani
Kalpana Misra
Ryan Saylor
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ProgramsMajorMinorCoursesPolitical Science
Return to: The Henry Kendall College of Arts and Sciences
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