Political Science Minor Overview
Through the study of Political Science, students will explore human nature and will learn to appreciate the inherent dignity of every person, appreciate and value cultural differences and similarities, appreciate that community is essential to being and becoming human, and appreciate their personal responsibility to maintain and strengthen society by helping others and advancing justice. Political Science students systematically study (1) the nature of individual dignity, popular sovereignty, political power and political authority; (2) American democracy as a political system based on federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, civil rights and liberties, elected representation, and popular participation; (3) the organization, powers, and politics of the national, state, tribal, and local units of American Government; (4) the role of public opinion, elections, interest groups, and political leaders in building compromise and policy making; (5) the American political system compared with forms of Government and politics of other countries of the world and of American Indian tribes; and (6) the nature of international relations and the principles and organizations that are used to mediate multinational conflict and achieve multinational order.
Political Science Minor Program Objectives
- Construct effective arguments to articulate political issues.
- Assemble historical information to assess the relevance of present-day issues.
- Evaluate the American system in comparison with other forms of politics and Government, and examine analyze, and evaluate international relations, principles, and organizations.
- Analyze and evaluate cultural diversity in relation to the historical, social, and political connections, and commonalities of human experience.
