*Attention*
The following information is for Political Science Majors declared after August 26, 2005. For those declared prior to that date, the old requirements apply.
INTRODUCTION
The undergraduate manual is intended as a guide for political science majors and minors. It contains information on requirements for the major and minor, advising services available to you, suggestions for selecting an overall program of study as well as for choosing specific courses, and an overview of special programs.
I. REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR or MINOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
Major Requirements
Declaring a Major . Students can declare a major by filling out a form at the Academic Advising Center , which is located in 1810 Liacouras Walk. You go through the same procedure if you want to change your major. Students at Ambler campus wishing to major in Political Science should contact Dr. Michael Hooper mhooper@temple.edu tel. 283-1537
Minor Requirements
To declare a minor, students must fill out a form at the Academic Advising Center .
Priority registration : You are strongly encouraged to register early so that you can get the courses and times of your choice. Priority registration occurs roughly in the middle of the semester. Precise dates and times are posted throughout the university and published in The Temple News. They are also on the web at www.temple.edu/tu_courses (look at academic calendars). Course schedules are available from the department prior to pre-registration.
Students should get a copy of their DARS form from the Political Science Office. It is also available to you through OWLNET. This form will tell you which courses you have taken and what requirements you still need to fulfill. Based on this information, you and an adviser should select the courses you want/need and alternatives in case your initial selections are already closed, and register by phone with your PIN number.
Drop/Add : Students may drop any course from their schedule without the permission of the instructor during the first two weeks of the fall and spring terms. Between weeks three and nine of the semester, students may drop with a grade of W. Students may add any open course without signatures for the first week of the Fall and Spring terms only. During the second week of the term, students must have the permission of the instructor to add a course. From the third to the ninth week of the semester, students may only add a course with a special letter from the instructor stipulating the circumstances of the late enrollment and permission from the Dean's office. NO SCHEDULE REVISIONS, ADD OR DROP, ARE PERMITTED AFTER THE NINTH WEEK OF THE SEMESTER.
II. ADVISING
It is important that you plan your program with the assistance of an advisor to ensure that you are fully aware of the opportunities open to you and to ensure that you follow a course of study that fits your needs and goals. Once you are a Political Science major your advisor will be a faculty member in the Political Science department. All faculty members in the department can serve as advisors.
One of the most important occasions (though surely not the only one) when you want to talk to an advisor is when you register (or priority register) for a semester. The best way to register is to make tentative selections before you see your advisor and be prepared to explain to the advisor why these courses make the most sense for you. Be sure to have your DARS form handy when you see your advisor. Keep in mind that you are ultimately responsible for your own academic program. Here are some questions you might want to think about before you see your advisor:
· Do these courses help you make progress toward meeting your degree requirements?
· Have you taken all the necessary pre-requisites for these courses?
· Do these courses help prepare you for what you plan to do after graduation?
· Do some of these courses build on what you have learned before?
SENIORS : Students registering for their senior year must go to Academic Advising for a "pre-graduate review." This process will ensure that you have fulfilled the necessary requirements to graduate.
TRANSFERS : Transfer students are strongly encouraged to see the Chair of Undergraduate Studies in the Political Science department as soon as they receive a statement of how their previous credits transfer to Temple . The department can help students interpret the special requirements that often apply to transfer students as well as help them evaluate how their classes transferred in political science. The sooner you make this appointment, the better off you will be. We can help students with important concerns about their transfer credits.
A faculty advisor in the department is the best place to come for general advising about your program at Temple , but keep in mind that there are a variety of other sources you can turn to for advising of various kinds:
Internship Coordinator : for information on internships and general advising for students in the department. For 2006-07, Courtney Broscious: courtb812@temple.edu
The Student Advisor/Ombudsperson - for information and advice from a student perspective. For 2006-07, Vanessa Kauffman : tua05984@temple.edu
Academic Advising Center ( http://www.temple.edu/advising/CLA/ ) for information about programs and courses outside the department and College of Liberal Arts or University policy.
Career Services ( http://www.temple.edu/careerdev/ ) - for advising about your plans after graduation.
Pre-Law Advisor - for those interested in a legal career, or information about law school: Dr. Conrad Weiler, Ext. 7746, Room 431. Email: weilerc@temple.edu .
University Honors and Double Majors: Please be aware that the department may not have a copy of your DARS form. Please bring a copy of your Student DARS with you for advising if you fall into one of those categories.
III. PLANNING A PROGRAM
Choosing courses in Political Science:
The principles of concentration and distribution should guide your choice of courses within Political Science. Five courses are required of all majors: Political Science 51, 52, 53, W101, and W304. These courses are designed to acquaint you with the broad spectrum of what constitutes Political Science. The discipline can be loosely divided into a number of fields (see below) and each of these courses introduces you to one of those fields.
If you are planning to apply to law school you should be aware that law-related courses will neither enhance nor diminish your chances of being admitted. Law schools tell us they are simply looking for students with strong liberal arts records, who can research, analyze, and write effectively.
In choosing courses you may want to keep in mind that some courses tend to complement one another such that understanding the material in one may help you understand more fully the material in another. For example, understanding the American Presidency may help you understand the formation of American Foreign Policy. Courses in related social sciences, (history, sociology, economics, etc.) may also complement your courses in Political Science. Your advisor can be especially helpful in assisting you in locating such courses.
All courses are 3 s.h., and have no prerequisites unless otherwise stated.
Courses numbered 1000-1999 are Lower Level
Courses numbered 2000+ are Upper Level
IV. SPECIAL PROGRAMS
1. Honors Programs There are two distinct honors programs for undergraduates. One is called the Honors Certificate Program , for which incoming first-year and transfer students are automatically screened for admission by the university. Students completing this program receive a general honors certificate. The other program is the Honors Scholars Program , for which students must apply and fulfill specific political science honors requirements. Students completing this program receive honors in political science. For a summary of requirements and further information please click on: http://www.temple.edu/honors/honors_applications.htm ach term, at least one honors seminar is offered by a faculty member focusing on major issues in one of the major fields of Political Science (international relations, American government, political theory, comparative politics, urban politics, public policy and administration). Each seminar provides a dynamic and participatory environment in which the best and most motivated students in the department can engage some of the most pressing issues in national and international politics. Recent courses have explored the politics of democracy and authoritarianism, money and the electoral process, and constitutional law. Honors seminars will guide students through the type of intellectual work done in these and additional fields in graduate and professional schools. In addition, graduate schools will recognize that honors students have received a stronger academic training than the average undergraduate. While each seminar will involve close reading of a significant body of literature and the writing of either several analytic essays or a research paper, the time demands of the seminar will not interfere with successful performance in your other courses. Those interested in applying for admission should consult the TU Honors website http://www.temple.edu/honors/honors
You may also write or call the Honors Program Coordinator, Prof. Hawley Fogg- Davis hfd@temple.edu tel. 204-6929
2. COOP Program. The Cooperative Education Program at Temple is designed to provide experience in an actual job situation for which the student earns academic credit when their work is done in conjunction with academic supervision. Interested students should see Cor , the Coop Coordinator, for more information: Courtney Broscious courtb812@temple.edu 431 Gladfelter, 204-6795.
3. Pre-law Curriculum : Political Science is one of the most popular majors for pre-law students. Although law schools neither give preference to any particular choice of major nor require any specific undergraduate courses, they do make some general recommendations about getting a sound Liberal Arts education. Students should visit the CLA website, http://www.temple.edu/claprelaw/ , for more information.
· First, develop skill in communicating your ideas in both written and spoken form. Courses in composition, literature, speech, and other humanities and social sciences can help you improve these skills, which are essential to success in law school and in the profession of law.
· Second, sharpen your analytical abilities. Take courses that challenge you to think logically. Courses in mathematics, science, computer programming, logic, argumentation, philosophy, literature, other humanities and social sciences should help you develop your powers of critical thinking.
Third, law schools suggest that you acquire in-depth understanding of at least one social science (in your case Political Science).
Finally, some knowledge of business structure and terminology may be useful once you are in law school. Accounting and/or economics are therefore useful to some pre law students. Please contact Professor Conrad Weiler (Room 431, Ext. 7746, Email address: weilerc@temple.edu) for additional assistance. Dr. Weiler has regular advising hours in Sullivan Hall, Academic Advising and Gladfelter Hall.
4. Temple Abroad : Temple provides a number of opportunities for students to study in foreign countries. While this may cost more than a semester at Temple , the opportunities to live in, and meet people from, other cultures, to see different countries, and to learn a foreign language while earning credit towards the degree, can greatly enrich the undergraduate experience. The Office of International Programs: (200 Tuttleman Learning Center, ext. 0720 www.temple.edu/intlprog ) has information on a variety of programs. Students considering study abroad should contact this office. Informational brochures and student advising for those interested in studying abroad are available at this office. Examples of study abroad locations include Tokyo , Rome , Israel , London , Paris , Germany , Ghana , and Mexico .
5. Political Economy Program : The Department of Political Science and the Department of Economics offer an interdisciplinary program leading to a Certificate in Political Economy. Because the program focuses on the interaction between government and the economy, the program is ideal preparation for students planning careers in either the public or private sector. It also provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies in law, the social sciences, and public administration. The program is open to all matriculated students in the University. Contact Dr. Richard Deeg (1-7123, email rdeeg@temple.edu ) or see here in the online bulletin for specific details and requirements.
THE POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
The offices of the Department of Political Science are located on the fourth floor of Gladfelter Hall, 12th Street and Berks Mall. In addition to instruction and advising, the department also offers several services, activities, and programs for students. This section of the handbook contains information on:
A. Important Officers and Committees
B. Student Organizations in the Department
C. Faculty (Offices, Phones, Specialties).
A. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
Department Chairperson: The Chairperson of the Department is Dr. Gary Mucciaroni , Gladfelter Hall 409 gmucciar@temple.edu tel. 204-7536. The head secretary for the department is Ms. Beverly Mitchell bmitch01@temple.edu tel. 204-7796.
Undergraduate Committee : The Undergraduate Committee is charged with the administration of undergraduate affairs. Its primary responsibility is for all aspects of the undergraduate curriculum. The Committee is also responsible for the maintenance and review of the academic records of all undergraduate majors. Also, the Chair of the Undergraduate Committee is available to discuss complaints with any undergraduate on an informal basis. Formal complaints, however, should be directed either to the Department Chairperson or the Student Ombudsperson (see below). Student participation in the Committee is provided through the presence at all meetings of voting delegates from the Political Science Undergraduate Majors' Association and the Student Advisor/Ombudsperson.
Undergraduate Chair : Any questions or suggestions concerning undergraduate affairs should be directed to the Chair of the Undergraduate Committee, Dr. Hawley Fogg-Davis hfd@temple.edu tel. 204-6929
Student Advisor/Ombudsperson : For advice and information from a student perspective, an undergraduate may contact the Student Advisor-Ombudsperson, Ms. Vanessa Kauffman , tua05984@temple.edu. General academic information is also available from the SAO should faculty be unable or unavailable to answer questions. The Student Advisor is also the Ombudsperson. Undergraduates with complaints or academic grievances should discuss them first with the Ombudsperson. The Ombudsperson provides advice and information concerning, and acts as the student advocate during, the grievance procedure.
B. STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
The Political Science Majors Association . The Political Science Majors Association is the organization of all Political Science majors at Temple University . The primary purpose of the Association is to relay the Undergraduate Major's opinions and interests in the Political Science Department and in the College of Liberal Arts . The Association has sponsored various activities for the Undergraduate major including: career forums, lectures, student and faculty mixers, law and graduate forums, seminars on popular topics, and trips to Harrisburg .
Pi Sigma Alpha Pi Sigma Alpha, the national Political Science Honor Society, exists for the purpose of conferring honor on those students who have distinguished themselves in the field of Political Science. Inquiries about membership in Pi Sigma Alpha should be directed to the faculty advisor of Pi Sigma Alpha, Dr. Robin Kolodny, rkolodny@temple.edu tel. 204-7709.
C. FACULTY
http://www.temple.edu/polsci/Faculty/
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