Political Science (B.A.)
The political science major prepares students for careers in electoral or interest group politics, political and public policy consulting, the civil service, and the diplomatic corps, whether in the United States or abroad, and for careers or graduate study in any of the vast array of public- and private-sector fields that require a broad liberal arts education and the analytical and communication skills that the political science major provides, such as journalism, business, or education.
The major also prepares students for graduate study in political science or public policy, and for law school, as well as for a lifetime of citizenship in a politically complex and increasingly globalized world. For more information about career opportunities for political science majors, see Careers and the Study of Political Science: A Guide for Undergraduates, which is available at SNHU's Shapiro Library or through the American Political Science Association.
- Major Requirements
- Semester In Washington, D.C.
- Latin American and Caribbean Field Experiences
- New Hampshire Presidential Primary
- Political Science Faculty
B.A./B.S. Core
Liberal Arts Core
(Courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted)
POL 210 American Politics
POL 211 International Relations
POL 213 Comparative Politics
POL 214 Political Theory
Choose Three:
POL 305 State and Local Government
POL 306 The American Legal Tradition
POL 308 Latinos in the United States
POL 319 US Environmental Law and Politics
POL 324 Congress and the Legislative Process
Choose Three:
POL 304 Sustainable Development in Less Developed Countries
POL 304A Sustainable Development: Latin American Field Experience
POL 304B Sustainable Development: Caribbean Field Experience
POL 310 Latin American Politics
POL 310A Revolution and Social Change in Latin America: Field Experience
POL 315 Political Conflict and Social Change in the Caribbean
POL 315A Political Conflict and Social Change in the Caribbean: Field Experience
Choose Three:
POL 301 The United States as a World Power
POL 302 Globalization, Community, and Culture
POL 303 International Security Studies
POL 381 Model United Nations I
POL 382 Model United Nations II
POL 383 Model United Nations III
POL 384 Model United Nations IV
**Students may use no more than six credits of this course to fulfill concentration requirements, but may use any additional credits to fulfill political science elective requirements or as free electives.
Choose Three:
POL 306 The American Legal Tradition
POL 316 Legal Reasoning and the Judicial Process
POL 319 US Environmental Law and Politics
POL 344 Political Theory, Liberal Democracy, and the Constitutional State
Choose Three:
GEO 200 World Historical Geography
LFR XXX Six or nine credits of French Language/Culture Courses
LSP XXX Six or nine credits of Spanish Language/Culture Courses
POL 3XX Any 300-level POL course not used to fulfill concentration requirements
SNHU 101 First Year Seminar: Foundations in Critical Thinking
Free Electives
Beginning in their junior year, political science majors may elect to spend a semester in the nation's capital as a student in SNHU's Semester in Washington, D.C., program. The Semester in Washington, D.C., program promotes learning by doing among SNHU political science majors and minors and other SNHU students through for-credit internships and academic seminars hosted by The Washington Center in Washington, D.C. The Washington Center is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1975 has provided internship programs and academic seminars to college students from throughout the United States and around the world, and is affiliated with more than 850 colleges and universities nationwide. The Washington Center provides students with housing and places them in internships appropriate to their interests. For more information, see the course descriptions for POL 410A through 413A and POL 410B through 413B, Paul Barresi (Political Science Chair) and The Washington Center.
Students who enroll in selected political science courses on Latin America, the Caribbean, or sustainable development may earn additional course credit in the context of a faculty-led, group trip to Latin America or the Caribbean that takes place during winter break. For more information about these field experiences, see the course descriptions for POL 310 and POL 310A ; POL 315 and POL 315A; POL 304, POL 304A and POL 304B, or E-mail Paul Barresi (Political Science Chair.)
Southern New Hampshire University's location in the largest city of the state with the first-in-the-nation presidential primary offers political science majors a unique opportunity to observe and participate in presidential politics at the grass-roots level. In POL 312, which is offered during the height of the New Hampshire presidential primary season, students not only study presidential politics at the grass-roots level, but acquire hands-on experience as interns with presidential campaigns.For more information about the New Hampshire presidential primary, see The New Hampshire Political Library
Southern New Hampshire University programs are accredited by:
- Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration
- American Culinary Federation Educational Institute
- Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs
- European Council for Business Education
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- New Hampshire Postsecondary Education Commission
- New Hampshire State Department of Education for Teacher Certification
- North American Society for Sport Management