FYI: Minor changes to Political Science major

1. 2.0 FYI: Minor changes to Political Science major Department of Social SciencesPresentation to UGSC October 25, 2011 C. Nippert-Eng, Dept. Chair U. Segerstrale, Dept. Rep. Famous political science major. And another one. Hmm. Looks like Michelle (Sociology major) might have a type…?

2. Rationale for revisions • Provide a more solid introduction to the key areas of the discipline for all students; • Increase appeal of major to students by allowing greater choice in major coursework; • Create greater predictability and less confusion in the schedule of course offerings and the requirements for graduation; • Decrease costs of supporting the major for small numbers of students with an equally small number of full-time faculty: scheduling nightmare, constant hiring of new adjuncts, and need to offer many required courses with little enrollment (e.g., typically, n=3 for # of majors needing a highly specialized course with little Gen Ed appeal.)

3. 2008 5 required courses: Intro Methods Theory Intro Int’l Relations or Comparative Pol Intro to American gov’t Required specialization American and Comparative, Urban Affairs, Policy Analysis/Technology, Society, Politics and Values, Interdisciplinary Approaches to Science and Technology, Customized required gateway and capstone for each plus 5 add’l courses from pre-determined list of options Required Minor 2011 8 required courses: Intro Methods Theory Intro Int’l Relations or Comparative Pol Intro to American gov’t Intro Policy Urban Affairs Senior Seminar No specialization Students now take one introductory course in each main area of the discipline and may continue to survey across areas or take courses within a particular area as they wish No minor requirement Allows for double majors, better accommodates transfer students with broadly distributed credits; normal for IIT - reduces confusion approved by department faculty October 13, 2011 Overview of Changes

4. Thank you! nippert@iit.edu

5. Bachelor of Science in Political ScienceRequired Courses                                  Credit Hours 2008 2012 Mathematics Requirements                         6 6Two courses of MATH 119 or above including PSYC 203 or BUS 221Humanities, Social Sciences Requirements 21 21Natural Sciences Requirements                  11 11Computer Science Requirement                 2 2CS 105Political Science Required courses              15 242008: PS 100, PS 200, PS/SOC 209, PS 273 or PS/SOC 210, PS 230 or PS 232 2012: PS 100, PS 200, PS/SOC 209, PS 273 or PS/SOC 210, PS 230 or PS 232, PS 306 or PS 353 (an introductory policy course), PS 315 (introductory urban politics), and PS 490 Senior Seminar (new course) Required Major “Electives” (21) 12 2008: Not really electives. Students were required to select a specialization from among 6 options. There was a required gateway and capstone course for each specialization. Additional courses must be chosen from a small list of options. 2012: Students may now select from any PS course to meet these elective requirements, distributing credits across substantive areas of the discipline or concentrating on a particular area as desired. Required Minor Electives                          15 0Free Electives                                          29 44Interprofessional Projects                          6 6Total Credit Hours in PS 36 36 Total Hours 126 126