Political Science
The political science department
is organized into two primary tracks:
American Institutions and Processes
and International Relations. The general
core curriculum and electives are
consistent with the requirements for an excellent
department as outlined by the
American
Political Science Association.
The goal
of the department is to equip students intellectually
to comprehend and analyze political information
no matter what the career choice or the talent
or interests. Political Science courses provide
good grounding in the substantive content of
the discipline. Courses in the major also emphasize
the development of good writing skills. In
addition, the department offers off- campus
experiences where students can participate
in "real world" political activities.
The political science
department at Spelman College
was inaugurated in 1966.
Prior to that year students
majored in social science
with a concentration in
Political Science. Many
of the political science
courses were taught at Morehouse
College and
Atlanta University (now merged with Clark College
to form Clark/Atlanta
University.
The Department began with only
one
faculty member. It soon grew to two members;
one member taught all of the courses in the
American Institutions and Processes track and
the other taught the courses in the International
Track. The department has grown to seven full
time faculty members.
Departmental
Objectives
Upon completion of courses
in the political science
major program students should
be able to:
- Demonstrate
an
understanding
of
the
concepts
and
principles
of
political
science
in
the
structures,
institutions,
and
processes
of
the
United
States
and
other
nations.
- Apply
the
knowledge
of
the
discipline,
using
technology
as
well
as
traditional
methods,
to
contemporary
questions.
- Organize
ideas
and
focus
them
effectively
on
the
issue
in
question.
- Demonstrate
outstanding
verbal and
written
communicative, analytical, and critical thinking
skills in various academic and professional
settings.
- Recognize
their
personal
value
systems
and
apply
these
to
their
social
and
political
worlds.
- Provide
content
for
integrating
skills
for
teacher
preparation, graduate, and professional schools.
Faculty
Departmental Honors and
Activities
Political Science Society
Pi Sigma Alpha
Model UN
Departmental
Requirements
Course Checkoff
Sheet
Research
Links
