Program Outcomes

Department of Political Science

Degree Assessment

I. MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Bachelor of Arts (BA) program in Political Science at Georgia Southern University is to foster the development of civically-engaged students who will become productive citizens dedicated to serving their communities, their nations, and the world.  The BA in Political Science prepares students for active citizenship by preparing them for professional careers in government, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, business, studies in law, political science, and public policy.  Graduates of the BA program in Political Science will become life-long learners as they become cognizant of the institutions and processes of governance and the policies and historical and current events which shape their lives.

 

II. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

POLITICAL SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM GOALS

The goals of the degree programs in Political Science are designed to provide graduating seniors in Political Science with:

1.         A knowledge of the discipline of political science in terms of its sub-fields, purposes, concepts, theories, and varieties of methodologies utilized in the discipline.

2.         An ability to evaluate, analyze, and synthesize the nature of political processes and their subsequent policy formulations both in the United States and in comparison with the governments and politics of other nations.

3.         An ability to think critically and utilize a variety of theoretical constructs and a variety of research methodologies to understand and explain historical and contemporary political events and public policies.

4.         An ability to communicate effectively in both the written and oral form to be prepared to achieve personal goals in regard to domestic government employment and service, international or non-governmental service, private employment, and graduate or law school.

POLITICAL SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of a degree in Political Science, graduates should be able to:

1A.      Delineate the theoretical and methodological differences between the subfields of political science; i.e., American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, and Public Policy.

1B.      Utilize appropriate nomenclature of the various subfields in Political Science when discussing and writing.

2A.      Demonstrate an ability to distinguish between the political processes of different forms of government in both the international and domestic realm.

2B.      Recognize the underlying cultural, societal, philosophical, and political factors which have lead to the policies found in the United States and different countries around the world.

3A.      Demonstrate an ability to think critically by utilizing appropriate theoretical constructs in both qualitative and quantitative research projects.

3B.      Incorporate appropriate methodologies into narratives which add to the ability to both analyze and explain political events and public policies.

4A.      Demonstrate an ability to write with both clarity and precision by utilizing key phrasing relevant to the study of political science.

4B.      Participate in discipline-specific activities which will further career goals in the graduate’s field of study.

 

Last updated: 10/9/2017