Political Science Program Requirements for 2023-2024

B.A. in Political Science

All POSC courses that may be applied to the major as well as STAT 160 and STAT 330, are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.

Requirements

  • POSC 111C – P3 Introduction to American Government (3)
  • POSC 200 – Doing Political Science (3)
  • POSC 208D – CC Introduction to Comparative Politics (3)
  • PHIL 270C – P2 Political Philosophy (3) or POSC 209C - P3 Intro to Political Thought (3)
  • POSC 218 – P3 International Relations (3)
  • POSC 400 – Portfolio Presentation (1)
  • ECON 221 - SQ Statistics (3)
  • Three POSC 200–level electives (3)* to be chosen from: POSC 202, 211, 220, 223, 224, 232, 233, 235, 240, 245, 259, 269, 272, 279 and 280.
  • Three POSC 300-level electives (3)** to be chosen from: POSC 306, 317, 318, 327, 335, 345, 350, and 399.  STAT 330 and POSC 491, the DC Internship program seminar, can be counted as a 300-level elective.

Total: 37 credits

Notes:

Electives to be applied to the major exclude any foundational core course (Learning Community,  Research-Based Writing, Data Analysis) as well as the Advanced Writing Courses/AWC (3990). Core Exploration courses can count as 200-level electives for the major.

Majors are required to complete POSC 400 – Portfolio Presentation during the spring of their senior year, unless an alternative time is approved by the department chair.

*The following courses DO NOT COUNT as political science major electives, but only count for the legal studies requirements:

  • POSC 210 – P3 Law, Politics, and Society (3)
  • POSC 212 – Legal Research and Analysis (3)
  • POSC 217 – The American Jury (3)
  • POSC 252 – Theories of Law (3)
  • POSC 254 – Criminal Courts and Trial (3)
  • POSC 267 – P3 Foundations of U.S. Law (3)
  • POSC 325 – Constitutional Law (3)
  • POSC 326 – Judicial Behavior (3)
  • POSC 355 – Issues in Lawyering (3)
  • POSC 398 – Special Topics in Legal Studies (3)
  • POSC 495 – Internship (3)

Political Science Transfer Students

Major Requirements

Students transferring to Fisher with 60 credits are required to complete the following as part of the total 37 credit hours for the major:

  • POSC 200 – Doing Political Science     (3)
  • POSC 400 – Portfolio Presentation       (1)
  • POSC 200 and 300-level electives *     (33)

* STAT 330, as well as POSC 491 (Washington, DC Internship program Seminar) may be applied as a political science 300-level elective. 

*The same restrictions apply here as for traditional majors regarding the use of legal studies courses as 200 and 300-level political science electives. Legal courses courses (see list above) DO NOT count for the Political Science majors requirements.

Total: 37 credits

Honors in the Major

Students may complete a degree in political science with honors by declaring the intent to do so before the senior year, maintaining at least a 3.50 GPA overall, completing an independent Honors project (POSC 498H, 499H Honors Project) under the direction of a full-time department faculty member, and presenting and defending the project in a public forum.

3+3 Legal Education Admissions Program (LEAP)

St. John Fisher University, in conjunction with the University at Buffalo School of Law, and Syracuse University College of Law, offers the opportunity for a selected number of qualified St. John Fisher University students to earn a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctor over the course of approximately six years of full-time study. Students interested in the specific requirements of the LEAP program should consult the Pre-Law Opportunities section of the Undergraduate Catalog, and speak with Jane Snyder, the College LEAP coordinator, as soon as possible.

Upon acceptance into the program and in consultation with their political science advisor, LEAP students complete the following requirements.

Requirements

  • POSC 111C – P3 Introduction to American Government (3)
  • POSC 200 – Doing Political Science (3)
  • POSC 208D – CC Introduction to Comparative Politics (3)
  • PHIL 270C – P2 Political Philosophy (3) OR POSC 209C – P3 Intro to Political Thought
  • POSC 218 – P3 International Relations (3)
  • POSC 400 – Portfolio Presentation (1)
  • TWO POSC 300-level electives, including POSC 491, but excluding the following courses:
    • POSC 325 – Constitutional Law (3)
    • POSC 326 – Judicial Behavior (3)
    • POSC 355 – Issues in Lawyering (3)
    • POSC 398 – Special Topics in Legal Studies (3)
    • POSC 495 – Internship (3)
  • 15 law school credits in transfer (grades of "C" or higher)

Total: 37 credits

Minor in Political Science

A grade point average of 2.00 is required for all courses taken in residence that may be applied to the minor.

Requirements

  • POSC 111C – P3 Introduction to American Government (3)
  • POSC 208D – CC Introduction to Comparative Politics (3)
  • POSC 270C – P2 Political Philosophy (3)
  • POSC 218 – P3 International Relations (3)
  • TWO POSC electives at the 300 level or above (6)* to choose from: POSC 306, 317, 318, 327, 335, 345, 350, 399, and STAT 330. POSC 491, the DC Internship program seminar, can be counted as a 300-level elective.

Total: 18 credits

Below are 300 level law/legal studies courses. These law/legal studies courses and DO NOT count for the POSC minor:

  • POSC 325 – Constitutional Law (3)
  • POSC 326 – Judicial Behavior (3)
  • POSC 355 – Issues in Lawyering (3)
  • POSC 398 – Special Topics in Legal Studies (3)

Note: No course taken to meet a student's major may also be applied to the political science minor unless approved by the department chair.

Note: The program requirements listed are for the current academic year. Past and future program requirements may differ.