Complete 2012-2014 Undergraduate Catalog - Virginia State ...

THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE,
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMICS
Chairperson:
Professors:
Maxwell Eseonu
Associate Professors: Ceslav Ciobani, Chaya Jain
Assistant Professors: Gary Baker, Theodore Brown
Description of the Department
The Department of Political Science and Public Administration prepares students for entry into various
careers in the public and private sectors. Faculty members also promote and maintain educational quality
to address the common core courses and specializations for students interested in pursuing graduate and
professional studies in political science, international relations, public administration, and public policy.
Through a senior thesis requirement, and internship opportunities, students participate in the practical
analysis of contemporary public problems, and experience the hands-on challenges of public policy and
management.
legislators, public opinion analysts, journalist, city planners, pollsters, or lobbyist, just to name a few.
The political science curriculum is designed to help the student develop the necessary knowledge, skills,
and abilities, to be able to reason logically and think critically about the important questions and problems
of the day. Students who major in political science have the opportunity to develop their writing and public
speaking skills, and acquire new skills in quantitative research that would allow them to demonstrate their
ability to collect primary information, analyze problems, and propose solutions that can make a difference
in the quality of life in our communities.
The Department internship program provides a unique opportunity for students to be pared with professionals
in public service, community service, law, environmental activism, and political campaigns. Students who
major in political science are not required to complete an internship, however, the Department strongly
encourages every student to take advantage of the internship opportunities.
Mission of the Department
The mission of the political science major is to offer an educational experience that emphasizes scholarship,
the pursuit of knowledge through research and instruction, and the development of a critical understanding
of the role of government, both nationally and internationally.
Degree Programs in the Department
The Department offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in political science.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science emphasizes academic excellence, the pursuit of knowledge
through research, instruction, and practical experience, and the development of a critical understanding
of the purpose, functions, and practices of government. Our goal is to produce graduates who have the
intellectual, critical and analytical reasoning skills to understand how political systems function, how to
become agents of change through participation in politics, and how to make rational choices about public
policy and those who are chosen to govern.