Political Science Minor

Program Coordinator/Contact

William Prigge, Department Head
Department of History, Political Science, Philosophy, and Religion
West Hall Room 109
E-mail: will.prigge@sdstate.edu
www.sdstate.edu/hist
Click here for additional information.  

Program Information

The study of Political Science examines politics, governments, and political processes. The Political Science program prepare graduates for work in government agencies, party headquarters, political consulting firms, advocacy organizations, business, or non-profit agencies. The flexibility of the program also positions students for law school and other professional or graduate degree programs.  Students may focus their minor by selecting courses that concentrate on American or comparative/international politics.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates with a minor in Political Science will be able to:

• define concepts, theories and methods of political science.
• demonstrate the ability to analyze political issues using the theories and methods of political science.
• develop a disciplined, skeptical stand and outlook on the world that demands evidence and a sophisticated use of information.  This includes recognizing the difference between strong and weak arguments based on evidence, use of proper citations and peer review.
• demonstrate the ability to frame a scholarly question and develop research strategies to address it, identify and summarize the arguments of other scholars, generate arguments that are reasoned and based on evidence selected, arranged and analyzed.
• effectively navigate the library and online databases.

Course Delivery Format

The program provides courses online and face to face on campus and at various off-campus attendance centers.