POLITICAL SCIENCE AND GEOGRAPHY

Alexander Hall
206-281-2158
www.spu.edu/depts/polisci

FACULTY:  Kathleen Elizabeth Braden, Reed Marlin Davis, Douglas  Durasoff, Ruth Marie Ediger, Caleb B Henry

Seattle Pacific’s political science program equips students to become leaders and citizens who influence politics and public policy informed by Christian faith and tradition. Political science majors at SPU wrestle with some of the most fundamental questions underlying faith and the political order: What is the relationship between Christian principles and public policy? How can Christians model both the character and truth of Jesus Christ in the public square? How should we all live in local, national, and global community?

To assist in the exploration of these questions, political science majors at SPU receive broad training in political philosophy, government, law, public policy, geopolitics, international relations, and the political behavior of individuals and groups. In addition, majors are provided with peer support and co-curricular activities through the SPU Political Union, a nonpartisan student group.

Study of political science is especially useful for careers in law, public administration, government service, international affairs, journalism, teaching, and several fields of business. Dual majors or complementary minors are encouraged. Minors offered by the department include political science, geopolitics, and leadership studies. Special study programs in Washington, D.C., France, and elsewhere further enrich students’ academic experience. (For more information about these special study programs, contact Professor Reed Davis.)

• POL 2641 Christianity and American Politics, which studies the history of Christian involvement in politics from America’s founding to today.
• POL 2642 Christianity and World Politics, which looks at broader global areas and issues.
• POL 2900 Foundations for Leadership, which examines the implications of the Christian faith for leadership.
• POL 3410 Moral Foundations of Democracy, which explores the moral and spiritual roots of representative democracy.
• POL 4899 Political Science Capstone Seminar which challenges students to reflect on the relationship between faith and politics in light of their entire collegiate experience and is required of all political science majors.

Political Science Internships
Political science majors at SPU are strongly encouraged to gain real-world experience through internships, and faculty in the department work with students to arrange internships appropriate to their career interests. Internships are arranged with a wide variety of organizations, including public-policy groups, media organizations, and government offices at both the local and national level. Credit is offered through POL 4940 Political Internships.

Admission to the Political Science Major and Minor
To qualify for admission to the major, a student must have a 2.5 minimum GPA in previous courses in the major. Students are encouraged to apply for the major by the end of their sophomore year.

Requirements for the Political Science Major
For all three tracks, 25 credits must be upper-division.
Political science majors at SPU choose to organize their studies according to one of three tracks: general, which provides the most flexibility; public policy and law, which is especially appropriate for those considering careers in government or who plan to attend law school; and international affairs, which is designed for those interested in global politics and policy.

In addition to the course requirements for these tracks, majors are required to fulfill their Exploratory Curriculum mathematics requirement prior to the spring of their senior year by taking a statistics course such as SOC 2360 Introduction to Statistics in Social and Behavioral Sciences, MAT 1360 Introduction to Statistics or BUS 2700 Statistics for Business and Economics. Whenever possible, majors are also strongly encouraged to take POL 4643 Methods of Political Analysis in their junior (rather than senior) year.

Any course substitutions must be approved by the department chair. No more than a total of 10 hours of internship or independent study can be applied in meeting the required hours in political science, but additional credits above the required hours may be added. For students who wish to enhance their degree with additional specialization, applied coursework beyond the required credits and in associated majors or minors can be arranged in consultation with the political science advisor.

Political Science - General Track

Public Policy and Law Track
POL 4940 Intership is strongly suggested as an elective.

Political Science - International Affairs Track
In addition, at least one year of a foreign language or equivalent is required, and more than this is strongly encouraged.

Requirements for the Political Science Minor

Requirements for the Geopolitics Minor
SPU offers no baccalaureate degree specifically in geography, but studies in geography may be combined with political science for ageopolitics minor. Geography, along with history, is a critical servicecomponent for students majoring in other disciplines such as social-science education, and it provides an important dimension to a liberal arts education. (For more information, contact Professors Kathleen Braden or Ruth Ediger.)

Requirements for the Leadership Minor
Designed for student leaders, this interdisciplinary program draws on courses from such disciplines as political science, sociology, business, psychology, and philosophy. Admission to the leadership studies minor is selective and requires an application submitted to the Office of Student Life. Contact Dale Anderson for application information.

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