Political Science Degree (B.A.), Public Administration Concentration

Courses in the Public Administration major concentration provide you with the necessary academic and technical expertise for professions in the public sector and graduate study in public administration.

Requirements

Requirements for the Political Science Major

39 total credits are required to fulfill this major's requirements, as defined below:

  • 12 credits of Political Science Core courses 
  • 12 credits within the chosen concentration
  • 15 credits of additional Political Science electives

Students pursuing the Interdisciplinary Options for Law and International Studies concentrations should expect to complete 18 credits within their concentration, and 9 credits of elective coursework.

Students transferring in coursework from other schools must complete a minimum of 18 credits in Political Science at Westfield State University.

The Department of Political Science encourages students to participate in internships. Students may apply up to 6 Internship credits toward the 39 credit major.

  • 3 of these Internship credits may be applied to the concentration.
  • Up to 3 of these Internship credits may be applied toward the 18-credit minor.

For details about Political Science Internship credits, please click here to view the department's Internship manual, or contact the department.

Required Major Core Courses (12 credits)

Required Major Core Courses (12 credits) 

POLS 0101 - American National Government Credits: 3 

POLS 0206 - Political Analysis Credits: 3 

ENGL 0204 - Comp II: Rhetoric and Research Credits: 3 

 

And one of the following political theory courses 

POLS 0215 - American Political Thought Credits: 3 

POLS 0301 - Classical Political Thought Credits: 3 

POLS 0302 - Modern Political Thought Credits: 3 

POLS 0335 - Feminist Political Thought Credits: 3 

POLS 0340 - Politics and "The Family" Credits: 3 

* Additional theory courses may qualify with department chair approval 

Required Electives (9-15 credits)

Students must complete 15 credits of additional Political Science coursework.

Students pursuing the Interdisciplinary Options for Law or International Studies concentrations should expect to complete 9 credits in this area.

Public Administration Concentration (12 credits)

This concentration offers courses that allow students to explore how public policies are made and enforced in the United States, and how government agencies and regulatory bodies function.

12 total credits are required for this concentration. Choose four courses from below:

Additional Graduation Requirements

All students must meet the University Graduation Requirements and complete a common core of studies, distributed among the different academic areas as detailed in the Common Core.

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate critical political thinking, reading, writing and speaking skills.
  • Students will identify and articulate an ideological stance.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative political research of others, and conduct their own political research.
Public Administration students in discussion