Political Science

Seven required courses:

• POLI 100: American Government
• POLI 105: Global Issues
• POLI 437: Political Science Project
• Choose one of the following (three credits)
  • POLI 236: World Politics
  • POLI 240: Comparative Politics: Africa
  • POLI 241: Comparative Politics: Asia
  • POLI 242: Comparative Politics: Europe
  • POLI 245: Comparative Politics: Middle East
• Choose one of the following (three credits)
  • POLI 300: State and Local Politics
  • POLI 304: The Supreme Court
  • POLI 491: American Presidency
• Choose one of the following (three credits)
  • POLI 400: Political Theory
  • POLI 425: The Constitution and Civil Liberties
• One Research and Methods course (three credits)
  • PHIL 101: Introduction to Logic
  • CRJS 318: Introduction to Criminal Justice Research
  • POLI 290: Research Methods in Social Sciences
  • SOC 300: Sociological Research Methods
  • STAT 130: Introduction to Social Statistics
• And any eight Political Science electives

Each spring semester, the academic progress of students is reviewed in addition to course scheduling and regular advising. All political science majors and minors meet with faculty to discuss progress toward graduation, plans after graduation, student concerns, and other academic matters. An overall 2.5 GPA is required for admission to the major and must be maintained. 

With the assistance of a faculty advisor, a student can design a 21-credit minor that focuses on international relations and diplomacy.

Topics of Study

• Global Issues
• International Organizations and Diplomacy
• Comparative Politics
• Geopolitics
• American Foreign Policy

• POLI 100 American Government OR POLI 105 Global Issues OR POLI 150 American Political Activism (three credits) 

• Six additional POLI courses (18 credits) 

The concentration in International Relations emphasizes international politics and regional political systems in an era of globalization. The study of international relations affords students an appreciation of diverse views; an enhanced understanding of world events, political actors, and the conditions that influence political events; as well as tolerance for different cultures, beliefs, and societies. 

The study of political science is a great pathway toward law school. The Department of Political Science offers a robust pre-law curriculum designed to prepare students for advanced study of the law. Students who declare a pre-law concentration must complete four law-related courses. Students interested in pursuing the law are encouraged to join the Mercyhurst Pre-Law Society.

Law Schools Attended by Mercyhurst Political Science Students

At Mercyhurst University, students are encouraged to be active members of a learning community. One way students of political science participate in this community is by joining Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society.

Pi Sigma Alpha is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and has nearly 700 chapters at colleges and universities across the nation. The honor society seeks to promote excellence in the study of political science through a wide range of programs, including chapter activity grants, scholarships for graduate study, Washington internship scholarships, and awards for best chapters and senior theses. In recent years, the Mercyhurst University chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha has been awarded activity grants, and one of its students was awarded a $5,000 scholarship for graduate study.

In addition to the many professional benefits provided to members of Pi Sigma Alpha, the Mercyhurst chapter helps its members organize any number of campus events. For example, during presidential election years, Pi Sigma Alpha students organize a "presidential debate," where students represent different candidates in a formal debate. Pi Sigma Alpha students organize the department's annual holiday party, the end-of-the-year celebration, and the Ad Hoc dinners. Although not all students meet the requirements for membership in the honor society, every political science student benefits from its activities. With the exception of the Induction Ceremony, all political science majors and minors are invited to attend the society's events.

The MPLS is an RSCO-approved club. Students of all fields of study who are interested in the law are encouraged to join. The club meets regularly each semester and hosts a variety of activities. In the fall semester, the club holds a social evening in which local attorneys are invited to mingle with prospective law students. The club has invited past graduates to talk about their law school experience, held movie nights, and conducted LSAT study sessions.

While attending graduate school or law school is not required for many careers related to the political science major, many of the department’s graduates opt for a few more years of education. Each year, about one-third of the graduating class will apply for admission to graduate programs in political science or a related field, such as public administration, public policy, or law school. The Political Science Department has an excellent record of placing students in top-notch graduate programs and law schools. In fact, since 1993, 99% of political science majors who applied to law school were admitted to at least one program. This is a record that is rivaled by few political science programs in the nation.

Below is a list of graduate and law schools attended by students who graduated with a degree in political science from Mercyhurst University since 1993. Many of the schools listed below have educated multiple graduates of the Mercyhurst Political Science program.

Graduate Schools

Law Schools

Duquesne University and Cleveland Marshall law schools and Mercyhurst University have a 3+3 program, in which, after three years of academic study at Mercyhurst University, eligible students may complete their fourth year of undergraduate study during their first year as a law student. This means that students may earn their bachelor's and juris doctorate (law) degrees in six, rather than seven years. To take advantage of this opportunity, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 after three years at Mercyhurst (96 credit hours), complete all undergraduate curriculum in their major field and their REACH requirements, earn a minimum LSAT score in the 60th percentile (155+), be recommended by the vice-president of Academic Affairs, and participate in an interview with the dean of Admissions of Duquesne University or Cleveland Marshall law school. The application of each student will also be evaluated by a panel of two Mercyhurst University faculty members and one outside attorney. Each student in this early admission program will be awarded a bachelor’s degree by Mercyhurst University after successful completion of the first year of law school.

Political science majors at Mercyhurst University have the option of applying for early admission to the prestigious Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. GSPIA offers three main academic master’s degree programs, and each can be completed in either 20 months of full-time study or on a part-time basis. The degree programs include the Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Public & International Affairs (MPIA), and Master of International Development (MID). Each master’s degree provides several options for a major, and students have the flexibility to customize their education as any major can be taken as a minor. Students interested in pursuing early admission to GSPIA work closely with their political science faculty advisor during their third year at Mercyhurst as they complete the application process.

The Political Science Department has a long and distinguished history of helping students to achieve academic excellence. The department’s innovative curriculum, abundant extracurricular opportunities, and outstanding faculty not only help students to learn about politics and the methods we use to study political phenomena but also foster the inquisitiveness and creativity that are hallmarks of outstanding students. As a result, graduating political science majors and minors are regularly honored by Mercyhurst University with prestigious senior awards. These awards are given to a single student from each graduating class whose accomplishments far exceed those of any of their classmates. Political science students who recently received a university or college award are listed below.

Carpe Diem Award: Vince Marrazzo (triple major), 2019; Jonah Jackson (major), 2018; Sam Lioi (double major), 2017; and Caleb Ohmer (double major), 2016

This honor is the highest award presented by Mercyhurst University to a traditional-aged student. It is given in recognition of intellectual competency, personal integrity, and, especially, leadership impact. It is presented to the outstanding graduating senior who has the most positive impact on the life of the Mercyhurst community and who best exemplifies the university motto "Carpe Diem," to "Seize the Opportunity." The name and criteria for this award were established by the Sister of Mercy under the leadership of Mother Borgia Egan, the founding president of Mercyhurst University.

Bishops Award of Excellence: Emily Francis (major), 2015 and Alethea Gaarden (double major), 2014

This award is chosen by grade point average and overall academic record. The winner must have taken the majority of classes toward the degree requirement at Mercyhurst University, with the exception of Study Abroad or a Mercyhurst-affiliated program. The Catholic Diocese of Erie sponsors this award. This award is presented at commencement.

Mother Borgia Egan Award: Stefani Baughman (double major), 2015 and Matt Hatfield (triple major), 2016

This award recognizes the model honors student who fully embodies the spirit of a liberal arts education. He or she will have completed all the requirements of the Mercyhurst Honors program and will possess the following qualities: academic and scholarly/professional accomplishments, community service, and an appreciation of and participation in the cultural environment of the university.

President’s Award for Excellence: Maggie Hackney (double major), 2019; Meghan Maker (minor), 2019; Morgan Stacey (minor), 2019; Yedzin Tobgay (double major), 2018; Hallie McDonald (major), 2015; and Mary Mancuso (major), 2014

Each of the five schools at the university, under the direction and guidance of the respective school dean, nominate three traditional seniors in their respective schools. The criteria for selection are GPA and overall contribution to the respective school. The award is given to the student who is considered to be the top scholar in each respective school.

Catherine McAuley Adult Student Award: Audra Alexander (double major), 2018; Nina Aamodt (major), 2015

This award is presented to an adult student in recognition of superior work, as well as personal and professional achievement. The non-traditional student who wins this award will be the student who has been judged to be the most outstanding adult student in the graduating class. The award is based on GPA but also takes into account professional achievement, family responsibilities, and other challenges that face adult students.

President's Award for Adult Excellence: Jason Shaffer (double major), 2018

Under the direction and guidance of the school deans, each school nominates an adult student for this award. The criteria for selection are GPA and overall contribution to the university. The award is given to one adult student who is considered to be a top scholar at the university.

The Mercyhurst Center for Applied Politics (MCAP) began operations in July 2010. Inspired by the mission of Mercyhurst University and guided by the college’s core values, the center promotes reasoned discourse about problems facing communities, states, and nations. It accomplishes this objective by providing elected officials, government agencies, news organizations, and nonprofits with accurate and unbiased assessments of public opinion and offering a nonpartisan forum for public debates and roundtable discussions that address pressing public problems.

Each year, more than one hundred students with a wide range of majors help MCAP to conduct public opinion polls. The vast majority of these students are volunteers who want to serve their community and enjoy the camaraderie that polling creates among interviewers. In fact, roughly 90% of all student interviewers are volunteers. Political science majors and minors who are work-study eligible can apply for paid positions with the center. Like the volunteers, employees are trained in the science of public opinion polling and spend at least one year refining their interviewing skills while working as a student interviewer. During their second year, employees have the option of taking on the responsibility of training new student interviewers, and in their third year, they may apply for a position as a project manager. Regardless of whether a student is a volunteer, employee, trainer, or project manager, the experience they acquire is invaluable. The knowledge and skills that students acquired at the center have led to internships, jobs, and research assistantships in graduate school.