Download Department of Political Science

Department of Political Science 1
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL
SCIENCE
Political Science and Economics, students will be able to complete both
majors with a total of 60-61 units. Students interested in either of the
combined majors should consult with an adviser in both departments to
review requirements.
OFFICE
TRANSFER CREDIT POLICY
LA 3210, 410-704-2958
Fax: 410-704-2960
PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT
The program of courses in political science aims to promote
understanding of the nature of political relationships. The department
offers a major and minor in Political Science. In addition, the Department
of Political Science offers combined majors with the Department of
Economics, the Department of Mass Communication and Communication
Studies, and the Department of Geography and Environmental Planning.
Students wishing to major in both Political Science and Economics;
Political Science and Geography and Environmental Planning;
Political Science and Mass Communication; or Political Science and
Communication Studies can obtain a combined major which certifies that
the requirements of both departments have been completed. Students
should refer to the section on combined majors listed below. The major
prepares students for advanced study and provides the foundation for
careers in public administration, law, public relations, business and
research, and urban and regional planning.
The Prelaw Advising Program is administered by the Department of
Political Science.
COMBINED MAJOR PROGRAMS
WITH MASS COMMUNICATION AND
COMMUNICATION STUDIES
Completion of individual majors in Political Science and Communication
Studies or Political Science and Mass Communication requires the
successful completion of 75 units (36 in communication studies or
mass communication and 39 in political science). However, by electing
the combined major in Political Science and Communication Studies
or Political Science and Mass Communication, students will be able
to complete both majors with a total of 69 units. Students interested
in either of the double majors should consult with an adviser in both
departments to review requirements.
COMBINED MAJOR PROGRAM WITH
GEOGRAPHY
Completion of individual majors in Political Science and Geography
requires the successful completion of 79 units (39 in Political Science,
40 in Geography). However, by electing the combined major in Political
Science and Geography, students will be able to complete both
majors with a total of 67 units. Students interested in this combined
major should consult with an adviser in both departments to review
requirements.
COMBINED MAJOR PROGRAM WITH
ECONOMICS
Completion of individual majors in Political Science and Economics
requires the successful completion of 75-76 units (39 in Political Science
and 36-37 in Economics). However, by electing the combined major in
Students who transfer to Towson University in senior standing are
expected to complete a minimum of 15 units of upper-division political
science courses. Those who transfer below senior standing normally
will be expected to complete 21 units of upper-division political science
courses at Towson University.
CAREERS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
Political Science majors generally prepare themselves, at the
undergraduate level, for careers in law, government (federal, state
and local), service in public and private interest groups, business, and
journalism and the media, as well as research and teaching at various
levels of the education system.
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
Activities
In addition to its academic curriculum, the department offers
opportunities providing a broad range of related experiences. Classes
travel to Annapolis and Washington, D.C., to observe first-hand the
political workings of government. Political Science majors are given the
opportunity to edit the Towson Journal of International Affairs, one of the
few undergraduate academic journals in the United States.
Internships
An integral part of the Political Science curriculum is the opportunity
for students to participate in an internship in their junior or senior year.
Students are placed in all branches of government and at all levels of
government. Placements with the Maryland General Assembly or a
member of Congress are most common.
PRELAW ADVISING
Coordinator: Jack Fruchtman (Political Science)
Office
LA 3241, 410-704-3350
http://www.towson.edu/polsci/1%20-%20Program%20Information/
preLaw.asp
Students contemplating law school after graduation should make an
appointment with the university’s Prelaw adviser, Dr. Jack Fruchtman.
He can provide prospective students with a copy of the Towson Prelaw
Handbook, introduce them to the Prelaw Society, and offer advice
concerning courses of study, preparation for the Law School Admission
Test (LSAT) and other matters pertaining to what students need for their
application to law school. In general, students should concentrate on
improving their reading, writing, speaking and thinking skills.
Dual Degree Program
Towson University offers qualified students the opportunity to apply to
the early admission program at the University of Baltimore School of
Law. Admission is not automatic but is contingent upon acceptance
by the University of Baltimore Law School, including review of LSAT
scores. Transfer to the UB law program can only take place at the end
of a spring term. To qualify for entrance to the dual-degree program,
2 Department of Political Science
students must fulfill the first three of the standards listed below; to
qualify for graduation from Towson University, they must also fulfill the
fourth standard listed:
1. Completion of at least 91 units at TU with at least a 3.50 GPA
2. Completion of all TU Core Curriculum requirements
3. Completion of a major at TU with at least a 3.50 GPA in the major. No
specific areas of study or disciplines are required for this program;
accordingly, students may choose majors in which they are most
interested
4. Successful completion of 29 units at the University of Baltimore
School of Law, and of all other TU graduation requirements as listed
in the catalog under the heading Degree Requirements
Subsequent completion of all requirements at the University of Baltimore
Law School is necessary in order to earn the J.D. degree from the
University of Baltimore. Students interested in this program should
contact the TU Prelaw adviser, Dr. Jack Fruchtman, in the Department of
Political Science.
Majors in Political Science
• Major in Political Science (http://catalog.towson.edu/undergraduate/
liberal-arts/political-science/political-science)
• Combined Major in Political Science and Economics (http://
catalog.towson.edu/undergraduate/liberal-arts/political-science/
combined-political-science-economics)
• Combined Major in Political Science and Geography and
Environmental Planning (http://catalog.towson.edu/undergraduate/
liberal-arts/geography-environmental-planning/combined-geographypolitical-science)
• Combined Major in Political Science and Communication Studies
(http://catalog.towson.edu/undergraduate/fine-arts-communication/
mass-communication-communication-studies/combinedcommunication-political-science)
• Combined Major in Political Science and Mass Communication
(http://catalog.towson.edu/undergraduate/fine-arts-communication/
mass-communication-communication-studies/combined-masscommunication-political-science)
MINOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
• Political Science (http://catalog.towson.edu/undergraduate/liberalarts/political-science/political-science-minor)