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Chair: Kevin W. Hula, Associate Professor
Professors: Michael G. Franz; Diana J. Schaub
Associate Professors: Douglas B. Harris; Janine P. Holc; Kevin W. Hula; William I. Kitchin; Donald T. Wolfe (emeritus)
Instructor: Carsten T. Vala
Political science is the systematic study of government and politics. It deals with the making and implementing of public policy by means of decisions regarded as authoritative or binding for society.
Although lines of intradisciplinary specialization are not rigidly fixed, the principal subfields include political theory, American government and politics, comparative government and politics, and international relations. Within those subfields are more specialized areas of study such as political behavior and public opinion, political parties and interest groups, legislative process, the executive and public administration, public law and judicial behavior, and state and local government. There are also courses regarded as topical and courses dealing with methods used in the discipline.
Requirements for a major and an example of a typical program of courses are as follows:
Freshman Year
Fall Term
PL201 Foundations of Philosophy
PS101 Politics* or
PS102 American Politics*
WR100 Effective Writing
Language Core
Math/Science Core
Spring Term
HS101 History of Modern Western Civilization
PS101 Politics* or
PS102 American Politics*
PL200-Level Philosophical Perspectives Course
Language Core or
Elective
Non-Departmental Elective
Sophomore Year
Fall Term
EN101 Understanding Literature
TH201 Introduction to Theology or
Elective
History Core
Math/Science Core
Political Science Elective*
Spring Term
English Core
Fine Arts Core
Math/Science Core
Theology Core or
Non-Departmental Elective
Political Science Elective*
Junior Year
Fall Term
TH201 Introduction to Theology or
Elective
Political Science Elective*
Political Science Elective*
Political Science Elective*
Spring Term
Theology Core or
Non-Departmental Elective
Political Science Elective*
Political Science Elective*
Non-Departmental Elective
Senior Year
Fall Term
Ethics Core
Political Science Elective*
Political Science Elective*
Elective
Elective
Spring Term
Political Science Elective*
Political Science Elective*
Elective
Elective
Elective
* Required for major.
PS101, PS102, and any eleven PS300- or 400-level courses are required for the major.
Majors are advised, but not required, to take at least one upper-level course in each of the four main subfields of the discipline: political theory, American politics, comparative politics, and international relations.
Majors are advised, but not required, to take CS111 as one of the three course mathematics/science requirement.
Students are encouraged to study abroad, and the department is flexible in its acceptance of courses from foreign schools.
Students must complete the diversity requirement through a designated diversity core, major, or elective course (see Diversity Requirement under Curriculum and Policies).
The department sponsors independent study projects. The burden for developing a project rests with the student--in consultation with a member of the faculty whose interests include the prospective area of concentration. Assigned readings, conferences on a regular basis, and a substantial paper are standard requirements.
The department sponsors internships related to national, state, and local government and politics in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Although students are encouraged to consult with the department’s internship coordinator and to avail themselves of the resources of Loyola’s Career Center, the burden of applying for and securing an internship rests with the student. Examples of such internship opportunities might include the United States Congress; the White House and the executive branch; state and local legislative and executive branch offices; interest groups and public advocacy organizations; research groups and think tanks; media organizations; political campaigns; and various legal and judicial offices (individual attorneys, judges, courts, public defenders, etc.).
The internship’s “on-site” component is integrated with appropriate academic assignments including assigned readings, a weekly journal of experience and reflection, frequent contacts with the department’s internship coordinator, occasional class meetings, and a research paper due at the end of the semester. Approval of the department is required. Students with a cumulative grade point average below 3.000 generally are not recommended for internships. Only one internship can be counted toward fulfillment of the major.
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